Storytelling for Impact: Full Manuscript Critique
Deep-dive feedback on your manuscript to help you strengthen your novel’s structure, develop your understanding of story craft, and highlight the heart of your story, so it can touch your readers’ souls.
You’re here because you want to tell stories that are more than good entertainment.
Your goal is to write with meaning and depth. But you might wonder if your message comes across as heavy-handed instead of flowing naturally from the story.
You want to create relatable characters who will forge a strong connection with readers and lead them on a powerful emotional journey. But maybe you’re still trying to find the spark that will bring your story people fully to life.
You’re seeking to develop a gripping plot, grounded in truth. But you might be wondering if the logic of your story make sense to anyone but you.
Or maybe you’re not sure exactly where your novel needs strengthening—you just know you need a second pair of eyes to help you see and act on opportunities for improvement.
If this is you, you’re in the right place.
I believe excellent storytelling has the power to leave a lasting impact on the hearts and minds of real people.
Great stories have made a difference in my life. They’ve taught me to love truth and beauty and the One who defines both. They’ve enriched my view of the world through the perspectives of their authors. They’ve shaped the person I’ve become.
I want to help you and your story to do the same for your readers.
Working with Bethany was a great experience! Her vast knowledge of character and plot structure helps her help you make your story the best it can be! I highly recommend working with her for developmental editing!
—Valerie Howard, Christian author
Want to test out what it’s like to work with me?
As your editor and storytelling ally, I’ll encourage you to develop your story’s strengths, guide you in building up its weak areas, and help you discover solutions for the things that aren’t working. I’m on your story’s side, and I want to see it succeed in touching lives.
I want to help you feed your readers’ souls with a story that is:
Emotionally Resonant
Speak directly to your reader’s hearts and give them an unforgettable emotional experience that connects with their deepest longings.
Believable
Build trust with your readers by grounding your story in solid truth and sound logic.
Thought-Provoking
Prompt your readers to thoughtfully consider hard questions and pursue solid answers.
Gripping
Captivate your readers with emotionally-charged stakes, compelling conflict, and a powerful sense of purpose and direction.
Fresh & Original
Lean into your unique perspective and fascinate readers with a story they’ve never seen before.
Marketable
Know where your book fits in the fiction market and how to reach your ideal readers with a story that more than satisfies expectations.
Surprising
Delight your readers with contradictory characters, unconventional ideas, and unexpected turns of plot.
Consistent
Satisfy your readers with a story world where all the pieces fit together in a cohesive whole.
Deeply Meaningful
Impact your readers’ reality by changing the way they see the world and stirring a desire for something more.
What sets my approach apart?
I believe that helping you discover your own solutions is the best way to serve your story. I’m not here to insert my ideas into your story; I want to empower you to enrich your story and solve problems in a way that fits with your vision. I’ll listen to you. I’ll let you know where change is needed and why, but my commentary will engage you in the conversation, using questions, prompts and examples to get you thinking.
I’m here to help you grow as an author just as much as I am to help you prepare your book to impact readers. I’ll help you level up your skills in the art of story craft so your next novels will be even stronger, and I’ll guide you in developing your powers of observation so you can share your unique perspective at its vibrant best.
I’m here to help you grow as an author just as much as I am to help you prepare your book to impact readers. I’ll help you level up your skills in the art of story craft so your next novels will be even stronger, and I’ll guide you in developing your powers of observation so you can share your unique perspective at its vibrant best.
I want to help you strengthen the heart and soul of your story. I’ll encourage to you deeply engage with the questions your story asks and the things it elevates as valuable.I’m committed to listening to the vision behind your storytelling and the reasons why your book matters to you, because those are the things that will matter to your readers.
I believe the rules exist to serve stories, not the other way around. If you ask me what I think of your choice to try something risky (like alternating between 3rd and 1st person POV or creating a War & Peace meets Winnie the Pooh mashup), my first question will be “Is this right for your story?” My second question will be “What’s the best way to make this work?”
I believe the rules exist to serve stories, not the other way around. If you ask me what I think of your choice to try something risky (like alternating between 3rd and 1st person POV or creating a War & Peace meets Winnie the Pooh mashup), my first question will be “Is this right for your story?” My second question will be “What’s the best way to make this work?”
I’m committed to helping you honestly portray goodness, light, and beauty. I believe that the pursuit of goodness is the surest strategy in the fight against evil. (Romans 12:21) I’m here to help you address difficult topics through the lens of hope, create nuanced characters who powerfully exhibit virtue while wrestling with brokenness, and reflect an image of goodness that awakens your reader’s thirst for the world they were made for.
The Full Manuscript Critique is for you if:
✒️ You’ve completed your first draft, and you want to make sure your story’s foundation is strong enough to support a compelling novel.
✒️ You’ve already strengthened the bones of your story to the best of your ability, and you’re ready to go farther with professional feedback.
✒️ You’re serious about growing in your craft as a storyteller.
✒️ You’re ready to dig deep into the heart of your story and to make whatever changes are necessary to reach your readers with your vision.
✒️ You’re looking for guidance that will enable you to take ownership of your revision process and move forward with confidence.
The Full Manuscript Critique may not be the best fit for you if:
✒️ You’re still working on your first draft or are in the outline phase. (My outline critique might be perfect for the stage you’re currently in.)
✒️ This is your first time recieving a professional critique. I’ll likely recommend starting out with my Basic Evaluation service.
✒️ You’re looking for a surface-level polish. (I offer line edits for novels I’ve already critiqued.)
✒️ You’re overwhelmed by the thought of revising your manuscript on your own and are looking for hands-on guidance through the process of rewriting your novel. (If this is you, coaching may be a great fit.)
✒️ You’re looking for an editor who specializes in romance, horror, or suspense.
Still not sure which service is right for you? Book a free sample edit, and I’ll give you a personalized recommendation!
“Bethany was a pleasure to work with. Her extensive knowledge on what makes a well written book was indispensable for my writing journey. Her constructive criticism was clear and concise, and delivered with gentleness and humility. But the thing I loved most was that her feedback didn’t try to change my voice but kept it true to the heart of the story.”
—Emily Trudeau, Christian author
Topics I address in a Full Manuscript Critique:
A Compelling Plot
- Make sure your story is centered around a meaningful goal with emotionally powerful stakes that have real implications not only for your characters, but for your readers.
- Pace the rhythm of your story’s events for emotional impact and tension that will compel readers to keep turning pages.
- Strengthen the logic of the cause-and-effect patterns that drive your story so your readers can fully enter into a believable experience where every decision matters.
- Master the art of scene structure so that even the smallest moments of your story hold meaning and propel the reader forward with a strong sense of direction.
Deep, Lifelike Characters
- Give them relatable longings and motivations that will resonate with the souls of your readers.
- Create a distinct, consistent voice for your character so that their words, thoughts, gestures, and even appearance come together as a presence your reader will recognize even without the dialogue tags.
- Develop emotionally powerful, dynamic character relationships that readers can’t help but invest in.
- Design characters to fulfill meaningful roles in your story, tuning their strengths, weaknesses, motivations, and personalities to impact other characters and alter the course of events.
Resonant Themes
- Seamlessly convey meaning that readers can taste and feel, without resorting to heavy-handed preaching.
- Show where characters’ beliefs ultimately lead by making sure their choices are rewarded with appropriate consequences.
- Help your characters learn from their failure and successes so their growth arcs feel earned and authentic.
- Prove the value of goodness by making it costly, and prove the resilience of the truth by giving the opposition a fair chance to challenge it with their most convincing arguments.
Immersive Settings
- Build a vibrant story world that shapes and challenges your characters and interacts meaningfully with your plot by making things happen.
- Invite your reader into a landscape of vivid sensory details that strengthen the emotional tone of your scenes and draw out memorable symbols that reflect your story’s themes.
- Accurately represent real-world settings and bring them to life with fresh, surprising details.
- Create fresh fictional societies that borrow creatively from reality as they deeply explore the meaningful “what ifs” of technology, society, and magic.
Evocative Prose
- Craft believable dialogue that rings true to your characters, cuts through the fluff to get to the essence, and delights readers with unexpected turns of phrase.
- Immerse your reader in the most meaningful moments of your story (and save them from the boring parts) by knowing when showing or telling is the best choice.
- Help your reader feel deeply by conveying emotion through the power of subtext.
- Choose the right point of view to connect (or distance) your reader from your characters, and stay consistent with which characters’ thoughts the reader has access to.
What you’ll get:
🔥An editorial letter: 20+ pages of feedback, advice, and suggestions for making your novel the best it can be so it can impact your readers. My commentary will address structural storytelling elements in the categories of plot, characters, theme, and setting. My goal is to help you identify opportunities for improvement and guide you to find solutions for strengthening your story. My goal is also to encourage you in what you’re doing well and advise you in further developing your strengths as an author. Because I want to empower you to confidently take charge of your revisions, I explain the reasoning behind every recommendation I make, offer examples from your manuscript to demonstrate techniques, and provide you with prompts to help lead you to your own solutions.
🔥An overview of your prose that highlights your writing strengths and covers frequently observed errors so you can identify and resolve them on your own.
🔥An annotated scene-by-scene outline of your entire manuscript. This will give you a bird’s-eye view of your novel at a glance so you can see how your scenes fit into the plot, how they affect the pacing, and how successfully they’re structured.
🔥A 90 minute follow-up call. This is your opportunity to ask your questions about the critique, test-drive ideas for revisions, and collaborate on brainstorming. (If you prefer written communication to a live call, I’m happy to follow up with you over email instead.)
🔥A personalized Revisions Roadmap: this document will support you in processing my feedback and walk you through you a step-by-step plan to help you prioritize the most important revisions and take the stress out of deciding which order to tackle them in.
🔥A personalized list of recommended resources to help you continue to develop your skills and take your story farther: writing craft books, novels, blog articles, films, podcasts, etc.
🔥Worksheets to help you further develop your characters and worldbuilding and bring together your plot and theme. I’ll offer feedback on your completed worksheets if you submit them within three months.
Investment:
Up to 50,000 words: $800
+ $50 for every additional 10,000 words up to 100,000
+ $25 for every additional 10,000 words over 100,000
If you’ve previously worked with me on a Basic Evaluation or Outline Intensive for your current manuscript, the cost for these earlier services will be deducted from the critique investment.
For shorter manuscripts (under 40,000) please contact me for a quote.
All prices listed in CAD. (If you’re American, consider this an automatic 30% discount.)
Payment plans available.
How it Works
- Contact me for a sample edit of your first 500 words. You’ll get a well-rounded snapshot of where your book is at and what it’s like to work with me. We’ll confirm whether I’m a good fit for your project and which service will best meet your needs, and I’ll send you an estimate based on your word count.
- If you decide to work with me, we’ll set up a complimentary live call so I can get to know you and your story. I’ll ask questions, but mostly I’ll listen to your vision for your story, your author goals, your concerns about the critique process, and the ways you hope to make a meaningful impact on your reader’s lives. (If you prefer to communicate through written feedback, I’ve got a handy survey for you.)
- We’ll sign the contract and lock in your spot on my calendar with a 30% deposit.
- You’ll send me the manuscript and I’ll begin reading on the start date!
- I’ll update you on my progress at least once a week so you know all is well.
- I’ll deliver the finished editorial letter and other helpful documents by our agreed end date.
- We’ll set up a follow-up call to make sure your questions are answered and you’re set to tackle your revisions with confidence.
“Bethany helped me identify the weak areas in my story’s outline and then provided suggestions to give me a place to start improving them. I would be happy to work with her again!”
—Linus S.
FAQs
What if I can’t afford your rates?
I understand that the cost of editorial services is daunting, but I also believe that a quality manuscript critique is worth saving up for. Professional feedback can save you years of learning on your own. It’s the most reliable way to evaluate your readiness to pursue publication, and the support of a skilled editor is an invaluable advantage in reaching that point. It can give you the tools to turn a good book into a great book.
It takes time to perform a quality critique. I usually need 6-8 hours to read a manuscript, and it requires far more time to write the editorial letter and prepare additional resources. When you invest in a full critique, you’re getting 40+ hours of expertise.
All that said, I understand that every author’s situation is different, and I want my support to be accessible to you. I offer a couple of options to help you find a solution that fits your needs:
- I offer payment plans of up to 12 months.
- This service can be scaled down to meet your needs. You have the option to set a limit on the number of pages of feedback or the hours spent on the critique. If you choose to do this, I’ll prioritize the most important issues and do everything I can to give you the best possible value for your investment.
How do I know if I’m ready for a full critique?
The best way to find out which service is the best fit for the stage you’re at is to book a sample edit. I’ll read the first 3,000 words of your story and offer commentary and markup on the first 500 words. This will give you a well-rounded snapshot of the areas where your writing and storytelling skills need to grow, and it will help us determine whether your manuscript would benefit from a full critique. It will also give you the opportunity to test out what it’s like to work with me and evaluate whether I’m a good fit for your story.
Once I’ve completed the sample edit, I’ll recommend what I think will be the best next step for you.
If you’re a new writer, I’ll likely suggest you start with my Basic Evaluation service. This service is a mini-critique of your complete manuscript that will give you a roadmap for working through your novel’s 3-5 most significant opportunities for improvement. From there, I’ll recommend that you continue to develop your skills and story through one of two pathways: coaching, or a full manuscript critique. (The cost of the Basic Evaluation will be deducted from the cost of a full critique.)
How much will this hurt?
Receiving constructive criticism is never easy, but it’s much less painful when you know your editor is on your side. I’m not standing over you with a ruler, waiting to tear your book apart; I’m here to help you nurture its strengths and build up its weak areas. I’m your novel’s advocate, not its adversary. 🙂
My purpose is to help you realize your vision and goals for your story, not to hand down a literary judgement. When I point out something that isn’t working, I’ll point you forward to possible solutions; I won’t leave you to pick up the pieces on your own. And I won’t only point out issues—I want to encourage you in what you’re doing well and highlight your successes.
You can count on me to be honest about what needs to change, but I will never be condescending or brutal. I strive to follow the principles in James 3:13-18, and I pray that God will enable me to communicate with wisdom, gentleness, and humility.
Will you rewrite my words?
I’ll give suggestions for improvement, offer prompts to help you explore your story more deeply, and ask questions to guide you to your own solutions, but I won’t rewrite your words. At most, I may write an occasional example passage to illustrate a possible revision. In a critique or developmental edit, I’ll offer my best advice, but my goal is to equip you to discover your own solutions. The revisions are in your hands.
What if I don’t agree with a suggestion you make?
I do my best to make recommendations that line up with your vision for your story, but you can count on it that you’re not going to agree with 100% of any editor’s suggestions. As the author, you have the last word, and you get to decide what solutions are best for your novel. I’m intentional about explaining the reasoning behind my recommendations so that you can make well-informed decisions about which ones you choose to take action on.
Will you respect my voice and vision?
As a writer, there are few things worse than getting your manuscript back from an editor and seeing a story you don’t recognize. As an editor, I’m committed to listening to you and learning as much as I can about why you’re passionate about this story and what your voice sounds like. Before we start working together, I’ll invest time in getting to know you and your project in an online call (or through written communication, if you prefer.)
My goal is to help you create the best possible version of your story and grow in your unique strengths as an author. I’m here to bring out the best in you and your story, and I’ll do my utmost to remain invisible to your readers.
What stage of the writing process is best for this service?
Manuscript critiques and developmental edits should ideally be conducted when your novel is fully drafted, but before any work has been done on sentence-level edits (line editing, copy editing, and proofreading.) The words you use to tell your story will change as you make changes to the underlying structure, so surface-level polishing is best left until later.
If you’re looking for help with a partially complete draft or an outline, I have other services that will meet you where you are: a Basic Evaluation or an Outline Intensive may be a great fit for you.
How is a manuscript critique/developmental edit different than other types of editing?
Manuscript critiques and developmental edits help you improve your story’s foundational structure. These services make sure that the events of the story accomplish their purpose, the characters come to life, and the theme resonates with readers. The changes you make during this stage will affect your novel from a bird’s eye view. The outline of your story will change as you add, rearrange, and cut scenes. Your cast of characters will develop and their roles in the story may evolve. The developmental stage of the editing process helps you make sure your story is emotionally powerful, believable, and truthful.
The next level of the editing process addresses the wordsmithing techniques that deliver your story to the reader. Most often called line editing, this service takes a line-by-line look at your prose and helps you communicate clearly so you can craft a smooth, artful, and evocative reading experience for your audience.
Punctuation, grammar, spelling, and other technical details are addressed in the final stage of the editing process, proofreading.
Copyediting is another type of service that often combines elements of line editing and proofreading.
What kinds of stories are you a good fit for?
I love character-driven stories with compelling relationships and a rich internal life. I’m here for stories that reveal the value of the ordinary and remind me of the incredible worth of the moments I’ve been given. I want to read stories that deeply explore hard questions and lead to hopeful answers. I love true stories.
I prefer not to work with romance, horror, and suspense. I don’t often read within these categories, and if your book fits into one of them, you’ll be better served by an editor who specializes in that genre.
I specialize in historical fiction, and I also edit contemporary drama, fantasy, and science fiction. I love to work with genre crossovers—historical fantasy has a special place in my heart. (The speculative stories I appreciate are less about the trappings of swords and spaceships and more about a nuanced exploration of a particular what-if.)
I work with fiction manuscripts of all lengths. For short stories (under 10,000 words) and flash fiction, I charge by the hour.
Because my editing services are specifically geared toward storytelling, I rarely accept nonfiction manuscripts.
What are your content guidelines?
I want to make sure I can fully support your vision if we work together. Here are a few guidelines to help you decide if I’m the right editor for your novel:
- The stories I agree to work with do not have to be explicitly Christian, but I do expect them to be in harmony with a traditional Christian worldview based on biblical teaching.
- Dark subject matter should be handled with sensitivity and purpose, from a perspective ultimately grounded in hope.
- I will not accept manuscripts that contain explicit sexual content, gratuitously graphic violence, or extensive profanity.
If you’re questioning whether the content of your novel is something I’d be comfortable working with, please email me an excerpt or a detailed description of your content.
How long will it take you to critique my work?
While it depends on the length of your novel and the level of attention your manuscript needs, I typically reserve four to six weeks from start to finish.
Will the price of my investment unexpectedly change?
Before we begin working together, I will assess a sample of your manuscript and give you a quote based on the total word count and level of work needed. Even if the critique ends up taking more time than estimated, I will never charge you more than the final price we’ve agreed to in our contract.
Will a critique make my book ready for publication?
I can’t guarantee publication or sales, but I can help you create the best marketing tool you can have: a well-crafted novel that pulls readers in from the first sentence, moves them deeply, and leaves them thinking long after the last page has turned.
Once the critique is complete, most books will benefit from a line edit to make sure the author’s prose communicates the story clearly and artfully. The work of a skilled copyeditor or proofreader will also be invaluable in making sure your manuscript is a smooth reading experience free of distracting technical mistakes.
Whether you’re pursuing traditional or independent publication, building a platform and developing your marketing skills are going to be crucial to getting in touch with the audience who needs to read your story. If you’re going for traditional publication, you’ll also need to invest time in learning how to query agents and publishers.
Can I sample your services before I commit?
Absolutely! I offer all new clients a free sample edit of their manuscript’s first 500 words. You’ll get a taste of what it’s like to work with me and the opportunity to evaluate whether I’m a good fit for your manuscript. You can register here.
Your story has the potential to change someone’s life.
I’d love to help you touch your readers’ hearts.