Have you finished a novel, short story, memoir, or work of non-fiction and you’re not sure what to do next? Perhaps you’re almost done, but stuck. Or maybe you feel fairly confident in your work, but you know you’re ready for some feedback. A manuscript critique is just what you need. Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of your manuscript will help jumpstart your revision process and bring your book a step closer to publication.
 
Our critiques, though sensitive, are not for the faint of heart. When you hire Chrysalis Editorial to evaluate your fiction or non-fiction manuscript you will receive an honest, in-depth, and constructive response.

For all manuscript (ms) critiques, both fiction and non-fiction, you will receive:

• A thorough evaluation and overview of what’s working and what isn’t (the length of our evaluation depends on the length of your ms)
• Notations, comments, and edits on the ms pages themselves to help focus your revision
• A brief follow-up phone conversation to address questions and concerns you may have

For a novel or short story, the comments include:

• An overarching summary of the story’s strengths and weaknesses
• What works well and what might be improved, referencing the various elements of fiction: structure, character, voice, plot, tension, setting, point-of-view, dialogue, etc.
• Suggestions and examples of how you might revise problem areas

For short and full-length memoir, the comments include:

• Many of the same comments you would receive for a work of fiction
• Because memoir is more closely aligned with writing a novel than writing non-fiction, we address the elements of fiction (see above) that are working and those that need to be enhanced.

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*Note: memoir is not the same as an autobiography. A memoir is a slice of one’s life, not a cradle-to-present-moment story. It is thematic, not a comprehensive account of your life.

For non-fiction, the comments discuss:

• The work’s structure
• Cohesiveness of the material
• Faithfulness to the stated focus/purpose of the book
• Accuracy of the subject matter
• Suggestions and examples to help you revise your manuscript

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Praise for Chrysalis Editorial

Working with Herta was like getting a whirlwind course in creative writing. In editing my work, she helped me clarify story, plot, and character. The end result was a tighter, more concise, and infinitely more readable manuscript. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 - Cynthia Tocci, Author, Stone Voice Rising
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Herta and Emily proved to do everything they promised they would do, and more: honing, revising, and refining my manuscript. Their not-so-subtle critiques were invaluable in my tedious rewrite stage and in transforming my work into better and publishable shape.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   - Dr. Asome Bide, MD, Author, As Waters Gone By