nonfiction Archives - Kristen Havens

What Is a Manuscript Critique?

You’ve written a book. You know it could benefit from feedback, but you’re not sure you need or want a full edit yet. Before you set aside the time and money for a thorough edit of every page, you’d like general feedback (ideally, for a smaller fee).

Enter the manuscript critique, also known as a manuscript analysis, edit letter, or editorial letter.

What Is a Manuscript Critique for a Nonfiction Book?

A manuscript critique is “big picture” feedback on your book, provided by an editor with expertise in storytelling, organization, and prose.

You won’t see a lot of Track Changes or red marks with this level of analysis; it’s not the nitty gritty page-by-page edit. Rather, your critique editor will read your book one or two times, then give you a thoughtful accounting of its major strengths and weaknesses. This report is called an edit letter.

Personally, I love creating edit letters for authors. I find critique to be a wonderful way for me and my authors to develop mutual rapport and trust before deciding if we want to work together in greater depth (and to what degree).

For example, in some cases a critique can lead to a more hands-on relationship than a developmental edit. Some authors may decide that they need a book doctor or ghostwriter to help them complete their books according to their visions. Time constraints and deadlines may also point to the need for more hands-on help.

The critique is a chance to explore possibilities. It allows the author and editor a low-risk opportunity to get to know each other and decide if this level of partnership benefits the project.

How Manuscript Critique Works

Here’s what my manuscript critique process looks like. I work mainly with nonfiction books: how-to, self-help, business books, and health books for general readers.

First, we agree to a flat fee based on the word count of the book. After receiving my deposit, the author emails, shares, or Drop Boxes the document to me and I begin work.

Second, I read the manuscript carefully, making a few select margin notes as I go (e.g., in Track Changes in Word, or comments in Google Docs).

Third, I write a 4 to 10 page edit letter that lists any major issues I find. For example, if I see major, consistent grammar issues, I will pick one or two examples to be representations of the issue, then I’ll show the author how to fix it. I divide the editor letter into 7 sections addressing different issues such as:

Structure: table of contents, organization of material, order of chapters, etc.
Voice: How is the quality of the prose? Is the way the author is talking to the reader appropriate and appealing?
Mechanics: Is the author using grammar and punctuation properly?

Often, I include additional insights on other aspects like marketing hooks and feedback on sidebars, takeaways, case studies, or back matter (appendices, footnotes, etc.).

Every edit letter ends with a summary and next steps.

Finally, with this manuscript critique in hand, the author implements suggestions with which he or she agrees. The author always retains the right to accept or reject my suggestions.

Why should you get a manuscript critique or analysis for your nonfiction book?

The critique process can be immensely valuable for writers: you’re paying a highly-skilled beta reader to tell you how you stack up to other, similar books in your field or niche. This reader has an understanding of what’s out there on the market, and she knows how your book should look and sound if it’s going to be taken seriously.

But here’s the most important part: your critique editor is not your relative, spouse, child, or friend. She’s not your co-worker or colleague. She can be honest and objective in a way that others may not be.

Therein lies the chief value of a manuscript critique: actionable, unbiased feedback on what you’ve written. Editors want you to succeed on your own terms: to say what you intend to say in a style that your readers will want to read. Your manuscript critique will give you a detailed road map telling you how to get closer to achieving that goal.

Would you like a manuscript critique?

Get in touch today to discuss your project.

Types of Book Editing

by Kristen Havens

Photo by Dmitry Ratushny on Unsplash

Authors and writers need editors for a variety of reasons. If you’ve found this blog post, you probably know you need an editor, and maybe you even know why–but do you know what level of editing your project needs? (Don’t fret if the answer is no. This post will help you find the answer.)

Freelance editors provide different kinds of editing for different phases of a project. These different types of editing are priced differently, and they provide different results.

Types of Book Editing (Nonfiction Books)

Manuscript critique

If you have finished writing a book but you genuinely aren’t sure what kind of book editing you need, a critique is a great place to start. Most independent editors offer this assessment service (for a fee).

The editor will read your manuscript 1-2 times, then write you a brief report outlining a list of issues or concerns. This report is broad, pointing out consistent weaknesses or big picture structural issues that need fixing. (For example: “You use almost exclusively passive voice” or “What you’re calling Chapter 1 right now is actually an Introduction, and your Introduction is really a Preface.”)

Manuscript critiques give you a blueprint for where to go next. You can then work independently to fix your manuscript’s biggest issues, based on this blueprint.

Developmental edit (content edit)

This edit helps to improve the meaning and structure of your content. In journalism or the business world, many people refer to this as substantive editing.

The goal of a content edit is to elevate the quality of your work on a fundamental level by asking the question, “Does it make sense?” (Or, “Are you making your point as clearly as possible?”) If not, what needs to be changed to improve the work? Is there anything missing that would make your project better? Are your chapters in the right order, and do you have enough of them? Are chapters and sections balanced for length? Have you backed up your claims with research or case studies?

Normally, you’d hire a developmental editor after you’ve written a draft (or at least a few ideas on a napkin) and before you hire a line editor.

Some content editors are willing to work with you one chapter at a time, while others prefer to wait for a finished draft before they give feedback on your work. (I offer both approaches.)

Line edit

A line edit is a more detailed pass through your document–usually through a completed draft.

It’s focused less on big picture or chapter-level structural thinking, and more on your paragraphs and sentences: are they in the best possible sequence? How’s your prose? Are you choosing the right words? Using the right punctuation?

Typically, a line edit will have more “red marks,” or Track Changes comments, than a developmental edit.

Copy edit

A copy edit happens near the end of the process, close to publication. At this point, you’ve probably done a developmental edit, or at least had your work read by beta readers, your writing group, or an agent.

A good copy editor is a fiercely dedicated perfectionist who goes through your manuscript with a red pen and a maniacal devotion to (and expert-level knowledge of) whatever style guide best applies to your book or document. Are your paragraph breaks appropriate? How’s the formatting on your end notes? Are you formatting according to the Chicago Manual of Style? The APA style guide? The MLA? The AP?

Are you not sure what any of that means? Then you need a copy editor to tell you.

Proofread

Finally, just prior to publication, a proofreader looks at your copy edited manuscript to check for mistakes other rounds of editing may have missed.

No matter how great your copy editor is, she’ll miss at least one thing somewhere in the document–she’s only human, after all. A proofreader will also check for formatting and layout issues.

Gray Areas in Editing

Keep in mind, sometimes a book’s needs fall into a gray area, requiring an editor to blend styles.

For example, often I will take on a client for content editing and find that light line editing is also needed to help the author understand a few basic grammar, punctuation, or style rules. I make a few sample edits, in that case, so the author can then address these issues on his own when he spots them.

Similarly, some line editors read very closely and provide something more like a true copy edit; they go over every line of your book to make sure you’re adhering to punctuation and grammar rules.

But what if you haven’t written a book at all?

What if the material you need edited is something else entirely, like a speech, a keynote presentation, an op-ed for a newspaper, or a fellowship application essay?

Can other types of writing still benefit from an independent editor?

Of course! Any written project can benefit from each of these phases of editing. I’ve offered content edits, manuscript critiques, and line edits to numerous small businesses and corporate clients. I’ve worked on blog posts, LinkedIn summaries, website About pages, executive bios, and even grad school application essays and artists’ statements.

However, in my experience and in today’s market, most business writing moves too rapidly to take full advantage of each phase the way traditional publishing does. Freelance writers and editors who work for corporate clients are often doing double or triple duty: drafting, editing, and even proofreading their own work. It’s not ideal, but it’s a reality when time and budgets are constrained.

This is where book authors have a leg up on everyone else: your book probably isn’t on a severe deadline (as in “I need it in three days!”). You have the luxury of more time to do it right.

Does your project need a critique or edit?

Contact me to discuss your goals. If I can’t help you, I may be able to refer you to copy editors, proofreaders, or other professionals who can.

Editorial Updates: Spring Cleaning, 2017

by Kristen

I hate to see professional websites with stale, un-updated blogs. . . and yet I seem to have one. No longer! Spring cleaning means I need to address this shameful situation.

Here are some projects I’ve been up to in the past year:

Contract content writing. I write SEO-optimized medical blog posts for an agency with multiple clients (1-6 posts per week). I also ghost write weekly corporate blog posts for a second client in a B2B industry. I can do this for more clients–contact me if you need content.

Nonfiction book editing. Note, you may see “non-fiction” and “nonfiction” spelled interchangeably throughout this site. I let the inconsistency stand so I can grab both search terms, though I prefer the non-hyphenated version.

Over the course of the last year, I’ve been editing a business book one chapter at a time–providing a mix of content editing and light line editing. That book will be published by a major business and technology book publisher sometime later this year or in early 2018. If you’re interested in working with a developmental editor, contact me–tell me about your project (book or otherwise), how far along you are with your work, your timeline, and what you think you may need.

Nonfiction manuscript critique. Last month I completed a manuscript critique of a self-published business book on leadership and management. How critique works: I read a finished draft of a book, then provide a 2-5 page, single-spaced editorial letter outlining any major issues I see (e.g., persistent grammar or usage problems; voice or style inconsistency; confusing train of thought; sequencing or structural problems; and areas where the author needs to expand upon an idea in order to make the book more “book-like” or marketable). Critique is a service I will soon list prominently in my offerings–it’s great fun to work with authors at this level, and it’s an easy, productive way for both parties to get to know each other without entering into a long-term contract. If you’re interested in critique, contact me–tell me about your project, your timeline, and where you feel your writing needs the most attention.

Upcoming Projects:

Over the next few weeks, I’m starting two new, small projects: editing and revising marketing copy for two publishing-related clients.

How I Can Help You:

If you have a nonfiction manuscript in need of a critique or content edit, I have room in my schedule beginning June 1. I’m also taking ghostwriting and book doctoring work (nonfiction only).

Critique = two read-throughs, an editorial letter, and occasional margin notes.
Content edit = a thorough markup of your digital manuscript with margin notes regarding structure, tone, voice, argument/research (how well did you build your case?), and sequencing of ideas. This level of editing includes light line editing (to show examples of how to fix persistent grammar or usage issues).
Book doctoring = revising or helping to complete (i.e., add material to) a nearly finished nonfiction book.
Ghostwriting = heavy re-writing or writing from scratch: nonfiction books, presentation materials, blog posts, business letters, query letters, etc.

Spring is an ideal time to get an editor or collaborative writer on your side–especially if you want to work faster so you can enjoy your well-earned summer vacation. Let’s chat!