Project Critique
A comprehensive editorial assessment for writers who want to revise their own work. · Pricing based on word count.
You've finished the draft. Now you need to know what's actually working.
Maybe the argument is solid but the structure feels uneven. Maybe the middle drags. Maybe you're not sure whether the opening is doing enough. Maybe you've revised it repeatedly but keep finding yourself making small changes without addressing the larger problems.
The Project Critique gives you an experienced outside reader who can step back from the manuscript and see the whole thing.
I'll read your complete manuscript and evaluate the project's structure, argument, organization, pacing, clarity, voice, and overall effectiveness. Then I'll give you a detailed editorial assessment focused on the changes that will make the biggest difference.
This isn't a line edit. I'm not going to mark up every sentence or rewrite the manuscript for you.
Instead, I'll help you understand what the manuscript needs—and why.
What you'll receive
A complete read of your manuscript
I'll read the entire project as a reader and editor, paying attention not only to individual sections but to how the pieces work together.
A detailed editorial letter
You'll receive a written assessment addressing the manuscript's strongest elements, structural problems, gaps, inconsistencies, and opportunities for improvement.
Prioritized revision guidance
Rather than leaving you with hundreds of disconnected comments, I'll identify the issues that matter most and explain what I'd recommend doing about them.
An experienced outside perspective
When you've lived with a manuscript for months or years, it's difficult to see it objectively. My job is to see what you may be too close to notice.
What I look at
Depending on the project, my critique may address:
Overall structure and organization
Central argument or throughline
Narrative arc and pacing
Openings, endings, and transitions
Balance and development of sections or chapters
Repetition, gaps, or material that isn't earning its place
Clarity and reader engagement
Voice and consistency
Places where the argument needs more evidence, explanation, or development
Whether the manuscript is delivering what it promises the reader
This is for independent revisers
The Project Critique is designed for writers who want to do the revision themselves but don't want to figure out what needs fixing entirely on their own.
You'll receive the editorial diagnosis and a clear sense of priorities. You take that guidance back to the manuscript and do the rewriting.
That's often exactly what a strong writer needs: not someone to take over the work, but someone experienced enough to tell you where to look.
Who it's for
The Project Critique is a good fit if you:
Have a complete or substantially complete manuscript
Want an honest assessment before you begin another round of revision
Suspect the structure isn't quite working but can't identify why
Want to know whether your argument or narrative is holding together
Prefer to do your own rewriting
Are preparing a manuscript for agents, publishers, journals, or readers
Want professional editorial guidance without committing to a full editing engagement
Project Critique vs. Conceptual Blueprint
The two services serve different moments in the writing process.
Choose the Conceptual Blueprint if you're still figuring out the project's direction—or if you have a draft but need help understanding its fundamental shape before undertaking a larger revision.
Choose the Project Critique if you have a substantial, complete draft and want a thorough assessment of what is and isn't working before you revise it yourself.
If the manuscript's underlying concept or structure needs more fundamental development, I may recommend starting with the Conceptual Blueprint instead.
What you won't get
The Project Critique is an assessment, not a hands-on edit.
It does not include:
Line editing
Copyediting
Rewriting
Detailed comments on every paragraph or sentence
Implementation of revisions
If you'd rather have an editor work through the manuscript with you, Developmental & Line Editing may be the better fit.
Why work with me?
I'm a nonfiction editor, writer, and former writing professor. Since 2020, I've worked with authors, scholars, and subject-matter experts on books, essays, articles, and other substantial projects.
My editorial work has included projects published by MIT Press, University of California Press, Duke University Press, and other university and independent presses. The books I've worked on have received recognition from the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Foreword INDIES, International Book Awards, and Canadian Studies Network.
Clients often tell me that I see things in their work they can't see themselves:
“She can see what I cannot when I'm deep into a manuscript.”
— Christine M. Tracy
“Her comments are focused, clear, and solution-oriented.”
— Victoria Kumala Sakti
“She asks smart questions that get to the core of what you are trying to say as an author.”
— Katharine Keenan
FAQs
How complete does my manuscript need to be?
The Project Critique is designed for substantial or complete drafts. If you’re still developing the basic shape or direction of the project, the Conceptual Blueprint may be a better fit.
What exactly do you look at?
I look at the manuscript as a whole—its structure, argument or throughline, organization, pacing, development, clarity, voice, and overall effectiveness. I’ll also identify gaps, repetition, sections that need more development, and places where the manuscript could do more for the reader.
Why pay for an editorial critique when AI can analyze my manuscript?
AI can identify patterns and generate feedback, but an editorial critique requires judgment about which problems actually matter. I read your manuscript as a whole and distinguish between symptoms and underlying structural issues, then give you a prioritized plan for revision rather than a generic list of things to fix.
What will I receive?
You’ll receive a detailed editorial letter outlining what’s working, what needs attention, and the priorities I recommend for revision. The goal is to give you a clear roadmap for your next draft.
Will you edit the manuscript itself?
No. Project Critique is an assessment, not a hands-on edit. I won’t line-edit or rewrite the manuscript. You’ll take the recommendations back into your own revision. If you want hands-on editorial support, Developmental & Line Editing may be a better fit.
How is this different from the Conceptual Blueprint?
The Blueprint is a focused assessment for projects that are still taking shape. Project Critique involves a complete read of a substantial manuscript and a more thorough evaluation of what the finished draft needs.
How much does it cost?
Project Critique pricing is based on manuscript length and scope. I’ll confirm the fee before we begin.
Know what to revise—and why.
A strong revision starts with knowing where the manuscript needs work. The Project Critique gives you an experienced outside perspective on the whole project, with clear priorities you can take back to the page.
Tell me about your project →