A “reader’s report” or manuscript review from a professional reviewer can help you decide whether your book project is worthy of general publication and to which market. A review can also suggest if the work would be of interest to a traditional publisher or whether your topic, background, and objectives make it more suitable for self-publication. Never rely solely on the opinion of friends and family for an assessment. As well meaning as they may be, they are inevitably biased.
A well-prepared review can become the basis for promotional material that follows. You should supply an outline of the manuscript to the reviewer as well as a one-line, one-paragraph, and one-page synopsis of the project. The manuscript review is not an editorial review (which suggests how editorial problems should be fixed), though it will contain overall editorial comments.
A solid review should be 3 to 4 pages and contain:
- synopsis, facts (pages, sections, visuals, maps, etc.)
- summary of strengths and weaknesses
- timeliness of the manuscript
- analysis of the audience and the market; what is the competition?
- recommendation for or against publication and in what form
The reviewer will look at the theme or purpose of the manuscript and determine whether the information supports the theme.
Is the manuscript organized and clearly and logically structured?
Is the scope too broad or too narrow?
Have any pertinent topics been left out? What will the reader want to know? What is the author not saying?
Is there anything that should not be there?
Is there anything that is potentially libelous? (Do you require a lawyer’s opinion?) Is there racism or sexism?
What is the writing style: wordy, terse, abstract, appealing, dry?
Would some text be better suited to another form, such as a chart or graph?
Are any elements missing? Introduction, glossary, index?
You may not agree with everything the reviewer says but be determined to learn what you can from the review.
©Kingsley Publishing Services 2008
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