Manuscript appraisals and editorial services from experienced publishing-industry editors
The Manuscript Appraisal Agency (MAA) provides professional manuscript development and publishing support services including appraisals (assessments), editing, publishing consultancy and mentorship/book coaching opportunities for authors, writers’ centres, agents and publishers.
In the highly competitive world of publishing, getting your manuscript read, assessed and/or edited can be the first step to finding success. We can help you take those first publishing steps, getting your manuscript ready for agents, traditional publishers, and self-publishing. We help authors navigate the publishing world and help make this space more accessible and less daunting.
The MAA has worked with over 800 authors since 2014, helping them reach their publishing dreams. See our book reel to see just some of the titles we’ve helped along the way!
How can we help
Whether you are trying to develop your writing style, tackle a plot line, or simply get a reaction to your work, our development services are a good place to start. We offer honest, objective and constructive feedback to help you in your manuscript development and publishing journey. If we genuinely feel that your narrative is ready for publishers then we will be sure to let you know and help guide you to the next phase in your journey, just as we’ve helped others before you to reach their publishing dreams.
Appraisals (assessments)
A manuscript appraisal (also known as a manuscript assessment) offers a broad overall assessment of your manuscript, outlining strengths and weaknesses – provided in the form of a report. Specific problem areas may be flagged and general suggestions for improvement may be made, but a critique won’t provide line editing or scene-by-scene advice for revision. Appraisals are tailored to your manuscript and will look at areas such as narrative development, plot, voice, tone, writing style, characterisation etc. It will provide an overview of where your manuscript’s strengths lie and where work is required to prepare it for publishing.
Mentoring & Book Coaching
Sometimes we need a little more help and support than what the appraisal offers but we’re not quite ready for editing … this is where author mentoring comes in. Mentorships offer you an opportunity to work directly with Kit Carstairs, MAA Director, in order to develop your manuscript, work on your writing technique, enjoy the support of an advocate generally while you sculpt your narrative. It is like having a good friend… who will give you the truth (the whole truth) and will push you in the direction you need to be pushed. We welcome authors at all stages of their writing career, however mentoring opportunities are limited to Kit’s availability.
Editing & Proof reading
Book editing refers to the process of reviewing and revising a manuscript or written work with the intention of improving its overall quality and preparing it for publication. It involves various levels of editing, including developmental/structural editing, copy editing/line editing, and proofreading, depending on the specific needs of the book.
The purpose of book editing is to enhance the readability, clarity, and overall quality of the book, ensuring that it meets the standards of the intended audience and provides a satisfying reading experience.
Publishing
Publishing is a discombobulating space for many authors. We’re here to help take the guess work out of it and make it a little less overwhelming. If you feel you need a little guidance in this area, then we’d love to book in a chat with you. These chats can cover various aspects of the publishing process (both traditional and self-publishing) and give you a chance to ask some of those burning questions you might have.
We’re also very aware of how important your synopsis and cover letter are for your submission to publishing houses, we’re here to help you with these all-important documents.
Publishers and agents are no longer looking for just potential, they want manuscripts that are structurally ready for publishing. The MAA helps you prepare your narrative for the competitive world of publishing. Very few authors work in isolation. The MAA team has been partnering with writers for nearly three decades to achieve the best outcomes for their work. Our intention is to help you to see your work from a publisher’s perspective. We offer objective feedback on how your work might be received by a publisher based on market appeal, narrative interest, and writing competency.
Why choose us?
We’re a team of publishing-industry editors, publishers, literary agents, and booksellers with years’ of experience under our belts. We use senior, skilled, experienced editors/appraisers and our work is widely supported by the publishing industry and writing community.
‘The Manuscript Agency are a brilliant editorial one-stop-shop solution. I have worked with them closely across a number of varied projects and they handle everything with expertise, sensitivity and a high level duty of care. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.’
— Lou Johnson, Publishing Director of Murdoch Books and Co-Founder of The Author People
This interview was filmed in 2023. If you would like information/consultation about editing and the publishing industry, please get don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
This interview was filmed in 2018, whilst much on the information is still relevant, some information about the publishing landscape has since evolved. If you would like information/consultation about the publishing industry now, please get don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
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