Does your story have good bones?

Is your manuscript ready for the world, or does it need more time in the revision cave? Early assessments keep you on track when you're not quite ready for a full edit.

May 15, 2025

Ever wondered if your manuscript is ready for the world? Whether that pile of pages on your desk is solid enough to take into editing, or whether it needs more time in the revision cave first?

You're not alone in this uncertainty. Most writers finish their first draft and face the same question: "Is this actually working?" It's like whipping up a new recipe—you know you followed the steps, but you can't quite tell if everything came together until someone else takes a bite.

That's where getting feedback in smaller bites than a full edit comes in. Think of early assessment as a diagnostic check-up for your manuscript. It’s a way to see what's working brilliantly and what needs attention before you take your next steps.

The "is my story ready?" dilemma

Proximity blindness is real. When you've been living inside your story for months (or years), you lose perspective on whether readers will track your plot, connect with your characters, or stay engaged from page one to "The End."

I see this constantly in my work with writers. They'll send me a manuscript saying, "I think it's ready, but something feels off." And they're right—something usually does feel off. Maybe the opening chapter buries the conflict too deep. Maybe the protagonist's motivation remains mysteriously unclear. Maybe the pacing drags in the third act.

These aren't failures. They're normal parts of the writing process. But recognizing them? That's where an outside perspective becomes invaluable.

What early assessment actually reveals

A proper story assessment isn't about someone telling you whether your book is "good" or "bad." It's about identifying specific areas where your story shines and pinpointing exactly where it needs work.

When I evaluate a manuscript, I'm looking at:

Foundation elements: Are your characters compelling and well-motivated? Does your plot hold together? Is your conflict driving the story forward?
Technical craft: How's your scene construction? Your dialogue? Your point of view handling?
Reader experience: Where might readers get confused or lose interest? What questions aren't being answered?
Commercial potential: Does the story deliver on its genre promises? Will it resonate with your target audience?

The goal isn't to tear apart your work—it's to give you a clear-eyed view of what you've built and a roadmap for making it even stronger.

Different types of story evaluation

Not every manuscript needs the same level of assessment. Here's how to think about your options:

Quick reality checks work well when you have specific questions about your story's direction. Maybe you're stuck on a plot problem or uncertain about a character choice. A focused strategy session can help you troubleshoot these issues and get back to writing.

Early assessments are perfect when you've completed a full draft but aren't sure if it's ready for editing or querying. These deeper dives examine all aspects of your story—plot, character, pacing, commercial viability—and give you honest feedback about your next steps.

Developmental coaching makes sense when you’d like help getting your story conceptually and fundamentally solid. Rather than just identifying problems, coaching helps you develop the skills to solve them.

The investment question

Let's be practical: Editing costs money. But your manuscript represents years of work. An early assessment can save you from committing your energy and resources to an edit too soon, before your story is ready.

Early assessments begin at just a few hundred dollars—a fraction of what you’d spend on a full edit. Developmental coaching requires an investment similar to basic editing but delivers something editing can't: personalized coaching as you build stronger plot and structure, develop compelling character arcs, and master your story's narrative drivetrain.

Your early assessment options

Once you've decided to get an outside perspective on your manuscript, here are the specific options available:

Manuscript Strategy Session — A focused coaching call addressing up to three specific questions about your manuscript or creative direction. Before we meet, you'll share up to two pages of material (synopsis, scene excerpt, outline, or similar content) to help me understand your project. All feedback happens live during our conversation, giving you immediate answers and actionable guidance.

DIY Blueprint Consultation — A transformative solution for manuscript roadblocks. I'll scan your current draft to detect the top three issues holding back your manuscript's potential, then during our 30-minute session, we'll identify these problems and I'll provide hand-picked craft books and resources specifically chosen to help you work through these challenges independently and complete your draft on your own.

First Look Manuscript Assessment — Determines if your completed manuscript is ready for editing or querying. You'll complete an in-depth questionnaire examining your book's plot, characters, point of view, themes, genre, and commercial potential. I'll review your one-page synopsis and scan your manuscript for overall impressions, then we'll unpack these insights during a comprehensive 45-minute coaching call to explore your story's potential and outline concrete next steps.

Story Accelerator Coaching — This intensive developmental coaching process is my most popular coaching plan. In this eight-week program, I work with you every step of the way through multiple weekly emails and regular calls. We'll hone the building blocks of your story: character arcs, point of view, the conflict-motivation-goal drivetrain, story structure and plot, scene development, and genre and commercial potential. The Story Accelerator is suitable for initial outlines, first drafts, or completed manuscripts needing development.

Moving forward with confidence

The best things about early assessments are that they give you confidence in your next steps and prevent you from wasting money by editing too soon. You'll know you're making informed decisions about your manuscript.

Your story has potential—the question is whether it's reached its potential yet. Early assessments help answer that question and show you how to bridge any gaps that remain.

Ready to see what your story looks like from the outside? Let's find out together. Hit the button below to introduce yourself and your book, and we’ll find the perfect starting point for your book right now.

LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR BOOK

Onward,

Lisa

This is The Writes of Fiction, a slow-simmered assortment of old and new thinking about writing fiction, assembled at the desk, not by algorithm. To help keep it going, become a paid subscriber.

And this is your early assessment, courtesy of editorial assistant Tsuki. 👇