Manuscript notes for writers
'FIRST THREE CHAPTERS' - PROPOSAL PACKAGE ASSESSMENT FOR AUTHORS Book now to receive my notes in a maximum of four weeks' time after I receive your work (subject to the limited availability of slots). "Can't thank you enough for doing this service for my manuscript. Really amazing job, far exceeded my expectations, and even had timely turn around" - writer Giacomo Kyle This service is for authors who would like the first three chapters of their novel assessed by a professional writer, for whatever reason, plus optional other material such as a synopsis and/or cover letter. Maybe you feel you're ready to submit a proposal package to an agent or publisher, who traditionally want to read only the first three chapters, and you'd like a fresh pair of eyes to help you explore ways in which the package can be polished and improved until it's super-shiny and bulletproof? Maybe you've written the first three chapters of a novel and want to find out what somebody thinks of them, plus how they can be strengthened and improved. Or maybe you're planning to self-publish and would like the opening chunk of the novel assessed. Whatever your situation, let me be your final line of defence before agents, publishers or the public get to read your work! It really might be worth having me point out any flaws, plus areas in which you can make these crucial three chapters even better, before gatekeepers and writers of Amazon reviews get a chance to do so... I will read the first three chapters of your novel (of course, if your chapters are very short, we can discuss that and I will of course read more, up to 15,000 words maximum), your 1-2 page synopsis and your cover letter, then get back to you within 3-4 weeks with the following: -- My overall thoughts on how ready the package currently feels to go to an agent/publisher. -- My thoughts on the great and good stuff! That's always good to hear, but of course we writers mainly want to know how to make our work better, right? :) -- My thoughts, with as much detail as humanly possible, on areas with room for improvement in terms of the chapters, whether this be characterisation, prose, point of view, plot, dialogue... I will often phrase my notes in the form of questions, for two reasons. Number one, questions can feel way less bruising. Number Two, I don't want to be overly prescriptive and try to tell you exactly how to improve your own work. Having said that, there may be times when I make the odd suggestion, which you are course absolutely free to ignore! -- Thoughts on ways to strengthen the synopsis and cover letter, to make them as bulletproof as possible. -- I'll even draw your attention to those inevitable typos. -- If, after reading my thoughts, you feel you need any clarification at all, or simply have further questions, we can email to and fro a few times, or cover everything in a half-hour Skype call. "When I read Jason Arnopp’s excellent supernatural novel Ghoster and noticed he offered a manuscript feedback service, I jumped at the chance. I knew he excelled in combining believable characters with compelling and unique dramatic situations. And, sure enough, he homed in with forensic skill and constructive insights on my own novel-in-progress. The feedback was comprehensive and thoughtful on both structure and detail, as well as very specific and user-friendly. I’d use Jason’s services again without hesitation and strongly advise any writer who feels at all stuck to do the same." - Paul F. Butler, author of Mina’s Child HOW MUCH DOES THIS COST? The above service is priced at £389 (inc VAT), to be paid in advance. So, why am I qualified to give you notes on your manuscript? I am the author of the novels Ghoster (2019), The Last Days Of Jack Sparks (2016) and Friday The 13th: Hate-Kill-Repeat (2006). I've written for the worlds of Doctor Who and The Sarah Jane Adventures, worked alongside Ron Howard, co-written a TV pilot with Tony Jordan and co-written the book Inside Black Mirror with Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones. I've scripted the Edinburgh Film Festival selection Stormhouse and script-edited the Peter Mullan movie The Man Inside. My shorter-form fiction includes Beast In The Basement, Auto Rewind and A Sincere Warning About The Entity In Your Home. All told, I have over three decades of experience in writing. Drop me a line to express interest here, with the subject line 'First Three Chapters'. Also feel free to write and ask any questions you may have, or to enquire about any other kinds of notes you would like me to provide, in which case we'll see what we can work out. The act of hiring me to read your work signifies, beyond all doubt, that you understand and accept that I may already be working on a project that is similar in some way, large or small. It also signifies that you understand I'm not in the habit of appropriating other writers' ideas. :) Please do not use this service if you believe your work to be perfect and merely want confirmation that it's perfect! No-one's perfect and that's why it's always great to have a fresh pair of eyes on your work. We all need an overview from someone who knows what they're talking about. Please bear in mind that there may be a delay before (a) I can reply and (b) I can confirm the booking. Both of these things depend on my schedule at the time. I look forward to reading your work! |