What is an Opening Chapters’ Appraisal?
Have you got a little way into your book and are wondering if you are on the right track? Or even finished your book but just want a taster to see what kind of points an appraisal would bring up? Or, even more importantly, are you ready to submit your work to literary agents or self-publish and you want to see whether your opening chapters have a strong enough ‘hook’ to pull the reader or agent in? If that is the case, an Opening Chapters’ Appraisal is a good place to start.
What is Involved?
The appraisal includes a detailed report and annotated manuscript:
- Story premise
- Writing style
- The ‘Hook’
- Narrative (Big picture, POV & Narrative Style)
- Characterisation & dialogue
- Handling of exposition
- Tension, pace and forward momentum
One of our editors will go through your first few chapters – up to 30,000 words – and give you a detailed report along with line by line feedback covering the same topics that would be covered in the full manuscript appraisal, but focusing on those opening chapters.
If you have specific questions for the editor we will also include those in the report. You will need to provide us with the first 30,000 words and a detailed outline of your work if you have it. The detailed outline is for the editor’s reference and won’t be annotated.
Please note our fees for an opening chapters’ appraisal report are fixed at £380 for up to 30,000 words.
Please fill out the form on the left to hold a place in the schedule and provisionally book this service.
You are under no obligation to go ahead and one of our team will contact you with editor details, timescales and fees.