Manuscript Assessment, one full read
You've finished your novel. Find out honestly how good it is.
A published novelist reads your whole manuscript and tells you clearly what's working, what isn't, and what to change first.
With Eleanor Wasserberg, author of Foxlowe and The Light at the End of the Day, published by Fourth Estate and Penguin. MA Creative Writing, UEA.Online wherever you live, or in person in Stroud.
Reviewed and featured in
Praised by novelists Kate Hamer, Rachel Hore, Megan Bradbury, Nick Bradley and Rachel Edwards
A richly atmospheric gothic debut
The Irish Times on Foxlowe
“I know what agents and publishers are looking for. I can’t promise you a book deal, nobody honestly can, but I’m very well connected in the publishing world, and I’ll make sure your novel is ready before it goes out.”
Eleanor Wasserberg, published by Fourth Estate and Penguin
Something writers often tell me
Finishing a draft brings a new kind of doubt.
- Everyone who's read it says it's lovely. That isn't what I need to hear.
- I've read it so many times I can't see it any more.
- People keep asking when it's coming out.
- I'm scared of spending another year changing the wrong things.
- I honestly don't know if it's nearly ready, or nowhere near.
- I need someone to be honest with me, and kind about it.
A finished draft deserves a proper reader.
Someone who reads every page, tells you clearly what's working and what isn't, and shows you where your next draft should begin. It's the difference between guessing for another year and knowing, and it gives you a straight answer for everyone who has been asking.
See what the assessment coversHow Assessment helps
What changes after we work together.
- Polite feedback that doesn't helpAn honest, detailed read from someone who has been through it
- Not knowing what to changeThe book's main strengths and weaknesses, and what to fix first
- Wasting time on the wrong rewriteA clear direction for your next draft
- Not knowing whether to keep goingA clear next step, whether that's revising, mentoring or getting ready for agents
What you get
Manuscript Assessment
- I read your full manuscript
- A detailed written editorial assessment
- Structure, character, voice, pace, point of view and how it all hangs together
- Your manuscript's main strengths and weaknesses
- Practical advice on what to revise and what to do next
The road to publication
She has walked the road you want to walk.
Getting a novel published is a world with its own rules: what editors look for, how a manuscript changes once a publisher takes it on, what has to happen before a book reaches the shelves. Eleanor has been through it twice, with one of the most respected fiction publishers in the country.
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Oxford
English and Classics
A degree in how the great stories are built.
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University of East Anglia
MA in Creative Writing
The UK's best known writing course, where many of the country's novelists started.
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2016
Foxlowe, published by Fourth Estate
The literary fiction imprint of HarperCollins took on her debut, in hardback, paperback, ebook and audiobook.
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United States
Published by Penguin
Foxlowe crossed the Atlantic, and was reviewed in the UK, Ireland, the US and Australia.
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Second novel
The Light at the End of the Day
Published by Fourth Estate again: a publisher coming back for a writer's next book.
What that means for your novel
- She knows what an editor looks for on the first page, and why most submissions are put down.
- She has been edited by a major publisher, so she knows the changes a book goes through before it is ready.
- She knows how the industry works, from the submission letter to the launch, and can show you the way in.
About your mentor
Eleanor Wasserberg is the author of two novels, Foxlowe and The Light at the End of the Day. Both were published by Fourth Estate, part of HarperCollins, and Foxlowe by Penguin in the United States. They were reviewed in The Guardian, The Irish Times and Vox.
She read English and Classics at Oxford, holds an MA in Creative Writing from UEA, and has appeared in conversation with the writers Kim Sherwood and Dan Richards.
Will lure you in, then cut to the kill
The GuardianA natural storyteller with hypnotic descriptive powers
Megan BradburyMesmerising
Kate Hamer
Diary
Book a call about your manuscript
Pick a time to talk about your novel, its length and what you're hoping for. There's nothing to pay at this stage. You'll get a calendar invite with the video link straight away.
Questions writers ask
About the Manuscript Assessment
Is this editing or proofreading?
No. It's developmental feedback on the whole book: structure, character, voice and pace. It isn't line editing or proofreading.
How much will it cost?
From £750. The fee depends on the length and complexity of your manuscript, so I'll confirm a price before we start.
What if I then want more help?
You can revise on your own, come into monthly mentoring for big changes, or move on to Manuscript to Submission.
Google reviews
5.0
★★★★★
A perfect score from every writer who has reviewed her classes and mentoring
I can't recommend highly enough the experience of working with Eleanor. She has a wonderful ability to help you develop your ideas while ensuring that your writing remains distinctly your own.
James WatsonGoogle review
I learnt a great deal, and was able to apply this to the novel I was working on, which helped to improve it greatly. Eleanor's classes are also very enjoyable.
J PGoogle review
Her guidance helped me unlock my ideas and start getting my novel onto paper. She's a great teacher, skilled at working with a group at different stages of their writing journey.
John EastGoogle review
Highly informative, helpful and fun. I loved learning in a relaxed setting surrounded by other creatives. The sessions really helped me plan my novel.
Erin PoppyWrite Your Novel course, Google review
An excellent blend of learning the craft, writing exercises and peer feedback. We progressed in our writing, learned from others and we had fun. The weekly biccies and tea were also most welcome!
Emily YoungGoogle review
Eleanor brings so much fun energy to the classes, they flew by. Her writing experiences, knowledge and advice and tips are generously shared.
Ceri GascoyneGoogle review
Her style is always supportive, positive, and upbeat. I found the classes were extremely useful, inspiring, and a lot of fun! Highly recommended!
John NichollsGoogle review
What comes next
Nearly ready for agents?
Manuscript to Submission gets your novel and your submission into the strongest possible shape.