Discovery draft evaluation

​​Discovery drafts are the first drafts or partial drafts of a manuscript that the writer uses to explore the story they are writing. Discovery drafts include directions that the story could take but didn’t, characters that appear or disappear, and overly produced or non-existent settings. The writer knows that their story has issues.

​The discovery draft evaluation service helps writers figure out what their story is about. The editor determines the most promising elements of the story and identifies possible directions the manuscript could take.

                        Why choose this service?

  • You have a draft with a plethora of characters, a complex plot, multiple settings, and more viewpoint characters than your story probably needs. I can help you figure out the core of the story and remove the unnecessary plot points and characters.

  • You have more of a map or outline of a story (than an actual story) with basic characters and plot, and your manuscript needs expanding. I can help you see if you have an actual story and provide potential directions to expand your plot and characters.

  • You have a draft with a boring plot, predictable characters and a lack of central conflict. I can help you create relatable and realistic characters with a compelling plot.

  • You have an incomplete draft where you have skipped some writing scenes, but want to see if the story has any potential. I can help you see the potential directions your story can take and flesh out your plot and characters.
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  • You have a partial manuscript where you don’t know how to continue the story. I can help you figure out the missing components of your story and see what happens next.
"I first engaged Maria’s services for a partial discovery evaluation of my fantasy romance novel when I had written around three quarters of it, and later returned for a full evaluation once the manuscript was finished. Both experiences were excellent.
Maria was professional, insightful, and always on time with her feedback. Her comments were thoughtful and very helpful in strengthening the manuscript and clarifying key elements of the story.
She also scheduled both follow-up calls very quickly after delivering the evaluations, and we went through all of my questions while she helped me brainstorm ideas for the next steps.
I highly recommend Maria to any author looking for thorough, professional, and genuinely helpful editorial feedback."
First-time indie author (pre-publication)

                              Romance genres

I offer the discovery draft evaluation service for manuscripts in the romance genre. I specialise in the following romance subgenres:
  • contemporary romance
  • YA (Young Adult) romance
  • romantic comedy
  • fantasy romance
  • romantasy   
  • paranormal romance
  • romantic suspense​ ​

Am I the right editor for your story?

 Learn more about me and my editing services to make sure we are a good fit to work together.
​"...her feedback was invaluable, especially after I had completed numerous revisions and was struggling to pinpoint where my plot issues were. I appreciated the chance to have a new and unbiased set of eyes on my manuscript. She pointed out an issue with a subplot that I had not considered before, which helped me to focus my revision efforts effectively. Her feedback was timely and thoughtful, and I'd recommend her to any fellow authors..."
Kate Underwood, contemporary romance writer

                          The editing process

I provide thoughtful and helpful feedback about the big-picture elements of a story, such as theme, characters, plot, point of view, pacing, setting and romance genre conventions. I will read your romance story and provide an evaluation report about:
  • Things that are working well in the story
  • Compelling elements that can be used to make the story more powerful 
  • Things that aren’t working well in the story
  • Perspective concerns
  • Conventions of the romance genre

The service includes: 
  • an evaluation report with 3-5 pages of detailed, constructive and honest feedback 
  • ​​30 minutes of follow-up support over email or video meeting (Google Meet)
"... I couldn't be happier with the feedback she gave...her suggestions were very valuable and I hope to use her again."
Pamela Dean, romance comedy writer

                                Investment

Estimated cost
€450 for a 50,000-word manuscript
€600 for an 80,000-word manuscript
€700 for a 100,000-word manuscript

Additional follow-up support (email or Google Meet) can be purchased at €80 per hour.
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Estimated deadline:1-2 weeks
The cost and the deadline provided are estimates. Please contact me to get a customised quote for your manuscript.
 
Please note that a 20% non-refundable booking fee is required at the time of booking to secure a slot in my schedule. Read the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy for more information.
​​                                              Free discovery meeting
Book a free discovery meeting to discuss how I can help you edit and improve the big-picture elements of your story and to see if we are a great fit to work together.

                   Interested in working with me?

​ Fill in this form and send me your completed (or partial) manuscript along with any other related documents (synopsis, summary). I will respond to you as soon as possible to discuss how I can help you improve your manuscript and provide you with a no-obligation project quote.