Manuscript Analysis
A manuscript analysis is a big-picture edit of your story, done through close reading and honest, thorough diagnosis rather than a line-by-line rewrite.
I read your manuscript at least twice; as a reader in the first read, then stepping back as an editor in the second to consider the manuscript as a whole. I then write you a detailed editorial letter covering everything that shapes your book.
This is a complete alternative to developmental editing. Strong, specific feedback plus a clear execution plan is all you need to get your book to its best draft yet.
What you receive
Minimum Two Reads
First for the reader experience, then for analysis. A third read is sometimes needed for longer or more complex manuscripts.
Marginal Notes
My real-time reactions, noted in the margin where they happened.
Editorial Letter
A detailed letter explaining what's working and why, what isn't and why, and how to revise.
Follow-up Call
An hour-long conversation to talk through the letter and your manuscript together, so nothing gets lost in translation.
Revision Support
45 days of email support as you work through revisions, so you're not on your own once you start.
No AI, ever
This service is carried out by a human, for humans. No AI has ever been, or ever will be, used in this process.
Investment
This price covers the complete Manuscript Analysis service, including revision support. There are no hidden fees.
| Manuscript Length | Price (USD) |
|---|---|
| Up to 70,000 words | $1000 |
| Every additional 5,000 words (partial blocks billed in full) | +$75 |
| For manuscripts over 120,000 words, please reach out for a personalized quote. | |
A 50% deposit secures your booking; balance due before I deliver your feedback.
Full terms are in my Policies.
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Know Your Editor
I'm Hope, the editor behind Studio Marginalia.
Before this, I was a ghostwriter for genre fiction. I started on Fiverr, and my 8th client pulled me off the platform. We ended up writing 43 books together over four and a half years.
That meant doing two jobs at once: writing the story, and being my own developmental editor. No one else was checking the structure, the pacing, the character logic. I was, every time, from the first book to the last.
Eventually I burned out on 3,000-word daily deadlines and the endless re-reading to smooth out kinks. So I stepped away from writing entirely to build a career in tech. I decided if and when I came back to writing, it would be for my own books. All that structural knowledge would finally get pointed at my own stories instead of someone else's.
But even after I left ghostwriting, my old client kept coming back for help with her manuscripts. We'd always worked well together, so I never minded. She also sent her friends my way; other writers who wanted a second eye on their books.
I found the work a welcome respite from staring at code the whole day and slowly realized that the diagnosis was never the part I wanted to give up. Finding what's wrong, understanding why, and knowing what to do about it is where I've always been sharpest.
This service is what that skill became.
How the Process Works
Start with the free sample.
Send the first 2,000 words and see how I approach your work.
Decide whether we're a fit.
Read the sample feedback and send over any questions. When you're ready, move on to booking.
Book your edit.
Your booking is secured with the required deposit, and we'll hop on a short call to align on what you want from the edit.
The edit begins.
Your story becomes my full-time preoccupation for 35 days.
Receive your feedback and revise.
You'll receive your manuscript back, marked up with Marginal Notes, and an Editorial Letter; followed by an hour-long follow-up call and 45 days of revision support.
Before You Go: What's Included
Curious what it's actually like to work together? Read what other authors have said →
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a manuscript analysis and a developmental edit? +
They cover the same ground: the big-picture elements of a story. The difference is in who I am and how I work. I'm not a credentialed developmental editor, and I don't market myself as one.
I'm a ghostwriter who spent years writing and diagnosing my client's books, so analyzing what makes a story work (and why it doesn't) is the skill I've sharpened most.
My process is built around reading closely, reacting honestly, and explaining clearly. You get a detailed editorial letter, a record of my reader experience in the margins, and support while you revise. For many authors, that's all they need.
If you'd rather work with an editor holding formal developmental credentials, that's a valid choice.
Is a manuscript analysis a replacement for a developmental edit? +
For many authors, yes. It's an alternative path, not a first step you must follow with something else.
Will working with you get me published? +
No editor can promise that, and you should be skeptical of anyone who does.
A manuscript analysis can strengthen your manuscript and give it a better chance at whatever comes next. The decisions you make and the outcomes they create depend on you.
Will you edit or rewrite my manuscript? +
No. I don't line edit, copyedit, or rewrite. I will find solutions to the problems I identify, and offer multiple suggestions on what and how to fix, as well as why but the writing stays entirely yours.
If a sentence-level issue is affecting clarity or the reading experience, I'll flag it, but rewriting and line/copy editing aren't part of the service.
Why do you read the manuscript at least twice? +
The first read captures the authentic reader experience, with no stopping to analyze. The second is analytical, and it's where I figure out why the first read went the way it did. Some manuscripts, such as those with dual timelines, big casts, or dense arguments, need a third read. If yours does, it's included at no extra cost.
How long is the editorial letter? +
It depends entirely on your manuscript. A book with fewer issues gets a shorter letter, and a book with more to untangle gets a longer one. A shorter letter isn't less care. It means your draft is closer to where it needs to be.
How long does the edit take? +
Within 35 business days.
If you have a specific deadline, let me know. I'll confirm whether I can accommodate it before you book.
Do you use AI? +
No. Your manuscript is read, analyzed, and responded to by me, a real person, start to finish. I don't use AI to read, summarize, or generate any part of the feedback.
Can I try your editing before I book? +
Yes. Send me the first 2,000 words of your manuscript for a free Sample Edit.
You'll get a chance to see how I read your work and the kind of feedback I provide before deciding whether we're a fit.
Do I need to know what's wrong with my manuscript first? +
No. You might have a specific concern, or you might simply know the manuscript isn't quite working and can't see why.
You don't need to diagnose your own manuscript before coming to me. That's what the manuscript analysis is for.
Is my manuscript kept confidential? +
Yes. Your work is never shared, and deleted from my personal devices after the revision period is over. I always work on contract and I'm happy to sign your own contract or NDA agreement on request.
What format do I send my manuscript in? +
Word (.docx) files or Google Docs, since both let me leave marginal notes right in the manuscript.
What genres do you work with? +
You can see the genres I work with here.
Tell Me About Your Manuscript
I'll get back to you within 48 hours.