The Manuscript Diagnostic
A Manuscript Diagnostic is for you if you have a more or less complete manuscript or screenplay that isn’t quite working.
Maybe you suspect that something’s out of order, or missing and you can’t quite put your finger on it. Perhaps you have concerns about pacing or length. Your beginning, middle and end aren’t as tight or clear as you’d like. You’ve had feedback that your story is good but not quite “there” yet.
The Diagnostic is fun. It’s challenging. It’s practical. And it’s done in a month.
After I read and assess your work, we’ll talk. I’ll ask you a lot of questions. I’ll listen. I’ll give specific feedback—what’s working, what isn’t, and why—and put you on the path to making your story the best it can be.
"What does that mean?"
Good stories are made of well-defined parts. Different story types require different sets of parts. We’ll zero in on what kind of story you’re trying to tell, identify all the parts you need to add or take out, and find opportunities to build the kind of narrative drive that keeps readers turning pages.
Does this mean I’ll make you write a cookie-cutter story? Absolutely not. The diagnostic edit looks at story form. It doesn’t prescribe a formula.
As I read your manuscript, I’ll be scanning its landscape for the dynamics—the ups and downs—your type of story requires. They need to be in the right places and happen in the right order.
I’ll be looking for opportunities to shape your narrative, so that no matter which kind of reader you want to appeal to, they will remember, recommend, and revisit your story.
The diagnostic is designed to set you on the path to completing a story that lasts. The kind of story that changes hearts and minds.
No cookie-cutters here!
Clearly-defined deliverables:
Shortly after our call, you’ll receive:
- An audio recording of the call.
- Macro level analysis of your story primary and supporting story types.
- A distillation of your plot’s act structure and your story’s premise, wording which you’re free to use in developing your agent pitch, book cover blurb, or other marketing materials.
- A detailed examination of several scenes.
- A template for analyzing all your scenes.
- A personal recommendation letter that will help you navigate through your next draft.
- A set of Story Type keys that will help you further unlock the theme and spine of your story.
"How much does all this cost?"
The cost varies with the word count of your manuscript. Click below to book your appointment.
"What if my manuscript is longer than 140,000 words?"
I’ll read up to about the 140K mark, and make recommendations for shortening it based on that.
This is not to say that a novel can’t be longer than 140,000 words. Many have been. But as a general rule, a well-told story for a contemporary audience can and should be told in under 400 pages, or a maximum of about 130,000 words.
To learn more about making cuts to long manuscripts before engaging an editor, have a look at my article Taming the Giant Manuscript.
"I still have a few questions."
Book an initial $79 exploratory call (refundable with diagnostic booking) and let’s talk about them.