"The Book Midwife": Manuscript Evaluations and Story Editing

"Barbara Kyle enlightened me how to mend my wayward chapters, tighten my paragraphs, knock my plot into a compelling story. Sounds simple? Few can do what she has achieved: taking a good amateur writer to the elite chosen few of a top New York agent."  Rico Provasoli (San Rafael, California)


"You assess writing with extraordinary clarity. Thank you very much." Barbara Wade Rose, award-winning writer for the New York Times and the Globe and Mail. (Toronto, Ontario)


What Is a Manuscript Evaluation, and Why Do You Need One?

You've finished your novel. First, congratulate yourself. Writing a book is a marathon, and only those who've made it to "The End" understand the determination it requires.

Now, you want to get it published – and therein lies the challenge. When submitting a manuscript in today's tough fiction marketplace you get only one chance with a publisher or literary agent. If they reject it because it needs more work, you won't get another chance with them on that book. You've likely spent at least a year writing it, probably longer, which is a huge investment of time. It’s also an investment of your hopes and dreams: you want this book to sell well and reach a large readership. So, before submitting your manuscript, it pays to have it assessed by a professional.

“I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done to improve my writing. I believe your insight and advice helped to get my current book SEVEN SONGS OF SUSAN nominated and subsequently win Honourable Mention for the Rupert Hughes Award.” James Lamb (Hamilton, Ontario)

My agent, Albert Zuckerman, a top New York agent and book doctor to dozens of best-sellers, tells writers in his own book Writing the Blockbuster Novel: "The likelihood of your novel being terrific in every respect the first time you set it down is from slight to nonexistent. Virtually all popular best-selling novelists need and get help from others in enriching their characters and maximizing the drama of their work."

Established authors have an advantage that you don’t: their publishers provide them with editors who pore over their manuscripts and make detailed comments toward revision. In addition, many authors benefit from the fine editorial skills of their agents (in my own case, the wonderful Al Zuckerman). But writers who don't yet have this kind of expert back-up team need to find help elsewhere.


The Myth of Immediate Perfection

There's a pervasive myth that the art of writing flows from inspiration alone; that it shouldn't be "work." Such thinking hobbles true creativity. For most successful writers, the work of revision – honing the tale – is what they enjoy most. But beginning writers often fall prey to the myth and expect perfection in a first draft. When it falls short they're dispirited, as though they've somehow "failed." Nonsense. Do what experienced and successful writers do: expect that your first draft needs work, seek constructive input, then embrace the task of improving it.

“I just received the manuscript evaluation and am delighted. This is definitely money well spent. Very helpful.” Jaki Nocolls (Bowen Island, British Columbia)


What You Can Expect From a Manuscript Evaluation

I'll show you what you need to do to focus, tighten, and enrich your story. You'll get a multi-page critique that pinpoints your story’s strengths and weaknesses, and offers suggestions for improvement.

Revision is usually about deepening the characters' relationships and tightening the pace. Maybe you need to intensify the conflict between your protagonist and antagonist, or make your main character more empathetic, or enrich a parent-child or husband-wife relationship. Maybe you need to cut the flab in a scene, or focus the POV (point-of-view). Maybe you've written too much telling and not enough showing. All these weaknesses can be fixed, and I'll recommend ways you can do it.

"I have received your evaluation of my manuscript, and I can't thank you enough -- you have exceeded my expectations and then some! This is exactly what I need. I had a ‘feeling’ that I didn't have my story quite right, but I couldn't quite put my finger on what many of the problems were. Now I know the things I can do to improve it. Thanks a million!"  John Blair (Toronto, Ontario)

I've been asked: "Do you evaluate manuscripts in a genre or style different than the novels you write?" The answer: Absolutely. I've delivered evaluations for writers of mysteries, romances, thrillers, literary novels, young adult fiction, narrative nonfiction, and short stories. There are no rules in writing, but certain principles have shaped the art of storytelling for centuries. I apply these time-tested criteria about plot, character, and style (which have helped my own novels sell well throughout North America) so that you can strategically apply them to your writing.

Writing fiction is an intensely personal venture. The goal is a story that is both compelling and marketable. When you entrust your manuscript to me, I will respect its integrity and help you make it the best it can be.

"Your evaluation was wonderful…You treated my story with respect, and have given me a wealth of information for use not only in this story but in any future works." Sharyn Heagle (Ottawa, Ontario)



Manuscript Evaluation and Story Editing Rates

1. Basic Manuscript Evaluation

The Basic Evaluation provides a comprehensive overview of your work's strengths and weaknesses – story structure, characterization, dialogue, setting, style – and offers recommendations on how you can improve and develop the work. You will receive an evaluation letter that runs from five to seven single-spaced pages, depending on the length of your manuscript. Please note that all manuscripts must be double-spaced. (See "The Fine Print" below.)

Rates:  Manuscripts under 300 pages: $700
            Manuscripts 300 pages-450 pages: $900
            Manuscripts 450 pages - 550 pages: $1200
            Manuscripts over 550 pages: $1500

“Thanks so much for your quick and thorough analysis… Your advice is excellent …This is a wonderful push in the right direction.”
Anne Osborne (St. Catharines, Ontario)

"Barbara, I want to let you know how worthwhile I have found your recent critique … I've carefully considered the suggestions you made and have seen the wisdom of incorporating nearly all of them. I appreciate the serious attention you gave to my work." John Jeneroux (London, Ontario)


2. Manuscript Evaluation + Story Editing

The “top gun” treatment. I’ll work with you as your personal editor to help you hone your book through up to two more drafts. As a first step, you’ll receive a Basic Manuscript Evaluation as outlined above, at the rate listed above. Then, once you’ve had a chance to look over my suggestions, we’ll have an editorial conversation by whatever mode you prefer: phone, email, or surface mail. After we establish a mutually agreeable schedule, we’ll continue the critique dialogue so that, periodically, you can discuss with me every detail of the revisions throughout your next draft, and if you wish another, final draft. As you complete your next draft or drafts I will give you a detailed manuscript evaluation for each one. Professionals sometimes call the editor in this process a “book doctor.” I prefer to call myself your personal coach. Working together, we’ll get your book into top shape.

Rate: $2,000 to $3,000 depending on manuscript length, time required to complete an intensive story edit, and the number of drafts. The fee will be agreed upon before the editing process begins. Note: the Basic Manuscript Evaluation fee is not included in this fee.

"Thank you so much for the very thoughtful and helpful assessment. It was without a doubt the wisest investment I've made on this endeavor." Carrie Rubin (Hudson, Ohio)


3. The Fine Print
  • Rates are based on manuscript pages that are double spaced, using Times New Roman or Arial font, 12-point, printed on only one side of the page.
  • For manuscripts originating in Canada, GST (5%) will be added to these prices. No GST tax will be added to manuscripts originating in the U.S.
  • Rates are commensurate with those of The Writers Union of Canada.
  • Turnaround time for Option #1 is two to three weeks, depending on the manuscript length. Turnaround time for Option #2 will be determined after an editor-client discussion to establish a mutually agreeable schedule.
  • Payment in full is required for commissions up to $900 prior to the commencement of the manuscript evaluation or story editing work. For commissions exceeding $900, one half of the fee is required when the manuscript is submitted, with the balance due upon completion of the work. Please include your check or money order made payable to 'Barbara Kyle' with your manuscript, or pay with a credit card through PayPal (see below). 
  • Manuscripts will not be returned; they will be shredded after completion of the manuscript evaluation and/or the story editing process. 
  • To schedule a manuscript evaluation, please e-mail me at bkyle@barbarakyle.com or telephone me at 1.416.435.3318
Payment may be made by credit card through PayPal.

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