Alpha Assessment:
- Overview assessment, generalized commentary in document to point out critical issues
- Brief summarizing report with recommendations for next steps
- 1 pass
What is it?
I wondered, what if an author just needs a basic review of a manuscript without all the bells and whistles?
The type of service I'm offering here, the Alpha Assessment, is a critique. It is not detailed or exhaustive. It is about over-view impressions, with a few specifics pointed out, and some generalized commentary (using Track Changes in the manuscript), all with the goal of pointing the author toward some critical issues that need to be sorted to make their story stronger. In my report I will address:
I wondered, what if an author just needs a basic review of a manuscript without all the bells and whistles?
The type of service I'm offering here, the Alpha Assessment, is a critique. It is not detailed or exhaustive. It is about over-view impressions, with a few specifics pointed out, and some generalized commentary (using Track Changes in the manuscript), all with the goal of pointing the author toward some critical issues that need to be sorted to make their story stronger. In my report I will address:
- Story Opening
- Characterization
- Pacing and Tension
- Motivation and Believability
- Confusions and Inconsistencies
- Writing Technique
- Reader Impact
- Afterglow
Who might need the Alpha Assessment service?
Some authors like to have a professional editor in their stable of beta readers - an alpha reader, if you will. :)
Sometimes an author just needs a trusted professional impression of a new story idea.
Or maybe an author needs a fresh look at a previously published story that isn't getting the love they expected from reviewers.
I can be that trusted professional editor in your back pocket, so to speak.
If you think your story, either a new or previously published one, needs this kind of caring, professional attention, I would be happy to work with you. I will read your story and write up a critique, usually in just a week. As part of this service I can assess what I think your next step should be in terms of editing, as well.
Some authors like to have a professional editor in their stable of beta readers - an alpha reader, if you will. :)
Sometimes an author just needs a trusted professional impression of a new story idea.
Or maybe an author needs a fresh look at a previously published story that isn't getting the love they expected from reviewers.
I can be that trusted professional editor in your back pocket, so to speak.
If you think your story, either a new or previously published one, needs this kind of caring, professional attention, I would be happy to work with you. I will read your story and write up a critique, usually in just a week. As part of this service I can assess what I think your next step should be in terms of editing, as well.
If another service is booked as a result of this Assessment, I will apply the fee for the Alpha Assessment toward the cost of the additional service.
The Beta Plus:
- Beta reader feedback with light developmental commentary
- Recommendations for specific issues with explanations in margins
- Option of getting more eyes on your story from my BFF Beta Brigade
- Plus: Follow-up consultation
- 1 pass
What is it?
The Beta Plus includes a beta reader-type feedback as well as a light developmental-type commentary in the margins of the manuscript using Track Changes. I also write a separate report that sums things up.
Let's break that down, shall we?
Beta reader commentary (in the margins of the manuscript) - it is helpful for authors to get a sense of how readers will react.
I describe, as a reader, if and how:
Light Developmental Commentary (summed up in a separate document)
I offer observations regarding:
Along with these sorts of commentary on your writing, I can provide explanations for why I’ve made the suggestions I have.
The Beta Plus includes a beta reader-type feedback as well as a light developmental-type commentary in the margins of the manuscript using Track Changes. I also write a separate report that sums things up.
Let's break that down, shall we?
Beta reader commentary (in the margins of the manuscript) - it is helpful for authors to get a sense of how readers will react.
I describe, as a reader, if and how:
- jokes hit their mark
- my emotions were engaged
- characters were relatable
- consistency of tense and POV
- vocabulary suggestions
- description
- the plot
- cohesiveness
- believability
Light Developmental Commentary (summed up in a separate document)
I offer observations regarding:
- narrative voice
- flow
- pacing
- continuity
- clarity
- consistency
- point of view
- vocabulary suggestions
- writing patterns
- the need for more description or less
- obvious verb tense discrepancies
Along with these sorts of commentary on your writing, I can provide explanations for why I’ve made the suggestions I have.
Who might need the Beta Plus editing service?
Some authors don’t have supporters with the experience or training to give them candid, discerning, and insightful feedback on their story in the earlier stages of development. And let's face it, it is probably both awkward for family or friends to try to advise or critique your work and uncomfortable for you to receive it. If you need constructively critical yet supportively encouraging feedback from a person whose favorite thing in the world (one of them, anyway) is reading, then I am happy to step into this role!
Some authors don’t have supporters with the experience or training to give them candid, discerning, and insightful feedback on their story in the earlier stages of development. And let's face it, it is probably both awkward for family or friends to try to advise or critique your work and uncomfortable for you to receive it. If you need constructively critical yet supportively encouraging feedback from a person whose favorite thing in the world (one of them, anyway) is reading, then I am happy to step into this role!
