Discovery draft evaluation

             What is a 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 go and flesh out your plot and characters.
  • 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.
​"Maria provided beta reading of my contemporary romance novel, and 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 seeking beta reading feedback."
Kate Underwood, contemporary romance writer

                              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 romance
  • romantic comedy
  •  paranormal romance
  •  romantic suspense 
  • fantasy romance
  • romantasy

Please read the heat/spice levels and the content warnings webpage to make sure we are a great fit to work together.   ​

                The discovery draft evaluation process

I provide constructive and honest feedback about the big-picture elements of a story. 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 (email or Google Meet)      
"Maria did a beta read for a romantic comedy I had written, and I couldn't be happier with the feedback she gave. She had an easy to follow format of questions already prepared as she read my manuscript. It allowed me to see her thought process and what she found important as a reader. Her suggestions were very valuable and I hope to use her again."
Pamela Dean, romance comedy writer

                              Why me?

  • ​ Avid romance reader and romance genre specialist
  •  Dedicated and passionate about my work
  •  Attention to detail
  • Strong analytical skills
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Safety: your book is protected and not shared with anyone else

                              Investment

Estimated cost
€325 for a 50,000-word manuscript
€475 for an 80,000-word manuscript
€575 for a 100,000-word manuscript

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.

                              How it works

​Every editing project is unique. Fill in this form to contact me 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 with a no-obligation quote based on the specific needs of your manuscript.