Novel Critique

A Novel Critique provides an overview of the major issues in your novel. It covers both developmental and style-related issues. It will be returned to you in the form of a letter, which lists categorically the areas that could use improvement.

The Novel Critique includes advice on:

  • Voice/Style
  • Plot
  • Pacing
  • Characterization
  • Character Arc
  • Marketability
  • Age-Appropriateness (for YA and MG)

Each of the areas listed above will be assessed to identify your strengths and weaknesses and how each could be improved to boost your odds of publishing success.

The Novel Critique also identifies:

  • Plot Holes
  • Inconsistencies
  • Point of View Issues
  • Too Much or Too Little Description
  • Confusing Concepts (especially in SciFi & Fantasy)
  • And Anything Else that Could Hurt Your Odds of Publishing Success

Unlike the developmental edit, the Novel Critique does not include a chapter-by-chapter breakdown. It also does not include the sentence-by-sentence editing of a line edit.

Are you ready for a critique?

If your budget is limited, I highly recommend exhausting all free resources (beta readers, critique groups, etc.) before investing in a full novel critique. While having a critique done on the first draft can help provide direction for revisions, most novels will need a substantial to full reworking/rewrite at this stage, especially if this is your first novel.

The novel assessment may be a better and more affordable option if you’re a beginner, haven’t had your writing reviewed by beta readers or critique partners, or if you are struggling with big-picture issues like structure, scene structure, point of view, characterization, etc. If you choose to purchase a novel assessment, then move forward with a full novel critique and do not feel the first 10k words need to be reviewed again, the cost of the novel assessment will be deducted from the total cost.

The critique is a great option if you’ve already gone through a few rounds of revisions (on your own or with beta readers) and feel you can’t make additional progress without professional assistance.

COST: $11 per 1,000 words (minimum of 35,000 words)

Need help picking the right editing option for you? Click here for a guide to choosing your edit.

Ready to book? Click here!