A manuscript critique is not a rewrite — it's an honest assessment of what's working, what isn't, and what readers will notice before your book ever reaches a reviewer. Upload your manuscript and get an instant price.
A useful critique tells you what isn't working — not just what is. We read like a critical reader, not a supportive friend. That means identifying slow passages, unclear motivations, and weak chapter endings.
Feedback like "the pacing could be tighter" helps no one. Our critique points to specific chapters, scenes, and passages — so you know exactly where to focus your revision energy.
Most authors send manuscripts to beta readers too early. A professional critique first means your beta readers can focus on deeper story questions rather than surface-level errors.
Your editorial report arrives as a document you can act on. Proofreading notes are delivered as a prioritized list, each fix pinned to its exact chapter, paragraph, and phrase — no guessing which page we're referring to.
A manuscript critique (also called a manuscript assessment or book critique) is a professional evaluation of a book's strengths and weaknesses before publication. Unlike proofreading, which focuses on surface errors, a critique analyzes story structure, pacing, character development, voice, and reader engagement.
A critique does not rewrite your book — it tells you what needs to change and why, so you can make those changes yourself before publishing.
Self-published authors who skip the critique stage publish books that underperform — not because the writing is poor, but because structural problems that could have been fixed before publication become negative reviews after. A critique is the last defense before your book reaches readers.
Fiction authors, memoir writers, and non-fiction authors preparing to publish independently who want honest professional feedback on their manuscript before it reaches readers. Particularly important before uploading to KDP, IngramSpark, or Draft2Digital.
An Editorial Feedback Report covering story structure, pacing, opening chapter effectiveness, character consistency, narrative clarity, and prioritized revision recommendations — plus a prioritized proofreading corrections list, each fix pinned to its exact chapter, paragraph, and phrase.
From $9.90 (up to 10,000 words), $29 (10,001–30,000 words), $49 (30,001–60,000 words), $79 (up to 100,000 words). Flat rate — no per-page pricing. Upload your manuscript above for an instant quote in seconds.
Proofreading corrects surface errors: grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting. A manuscript critique evaluates the work at a structural level — story arc, pacing, character motivation, and whether the book will engage readers. EditRoast includes both in every order: an Editorial Feedback Report (the critique) plus a prioritized proofreading corrections list.
Developmental editing is a collaborative, iterative process where an editor works with an author through multiple drafts, often over months, at a cost of $1,000–$5,000+. A manuscript critique is a single comprehensive assessment of your current draft — identifying what needs to change and why, without the editor rewriting anything. Critiques are faster and significantly more affordable for self-publishing authors.
EditRoast manuscript critiques start at $9.90 for manuscripts up to 10,000 words. $29 for 10,001–30,000 words. Standard manuscripts (30,001–60,000 words) are $49. Full manuscripts up to 100,000 words are $79. One-time flat fee — no per-page pricing, no hidden costs. Upload your manuscript to get your instant price.
It's strongly recommended. Beta readers often stumble over structural problems that a critique would have identified — slow openings, unclear motivations, pacing issues. Address these first, and your beta readers can engage with deeper story questions rather than getting stuck on fixable problems. A critique before beta reading makes both processes more effective.