Is a Manuscript Assessment Worth the Investment?
In this post, I explore what a manuscript assessment is, what its advantages and disadvantages are and how it differs from a developmental edit. Share this post in your favourite …
Photo by Noémi Macavei-Katócz on Unsplash
Writing for wellbeing is a simple and powerful way to help us connect to our inner selves.
It can take many forms including journalling, poetry and fiction.
Perhaps the most important point about writing in this way is that there are no rules, no right or wrong approach. You can write whatever comes to you in whatever way.
There is no need for a writing degree or any previous writing experience. The only requirements are a pen and paper and a quiet place to sit.
The benefits of writing for our wellbeing are many but they include:
My love of the written word drives everything I do. It inspired me to study for my BA in Humanities with Literature, and my MA in Creative Nonfiction where I explored the self through memoir and personal essays.
I’ve kept a journal for many years and it has helped me through some difficult times in my life. To me, a journal is the best confidante a person can have. It will never tell your secrets, it won’t judge and it allows you the space and time to work things through.
Since 2019, I have been running a writer’s group near to my home in North Dorset and am a very active committee member of my local literary festival where I have organised and also taught writing workshops.
As well as facilitating writing for wellbeing workshops, I also work as a freelance writing coach and editor and am writing my first novel, a Gothic tale set in 19th century Cornwall.
I can’t thank Tracey enough. I am on a journey as a Travel Writer and Journalist. I asked Tracey for some support with my work, to cast a professional eye over it. She provided me with superb coaching helping me to understand my strengths and weaknesses, she gave constructive feedback on my work which has allowed me to develop my style and encouraged my personality to shine through in my words. The work that we have done has enabled me to start pitching with much more confidence. I will be returning to Tracey for more editorial work in the future.
Tracey is polite and friendly and easy to work with. I really appreciated her attention to detail. She read my novel carefully and began by commenting on her overall impression of my work. She then provided detailed comments on characterisation and motivation, plot and conflict, worldbuilding, and the structure and pacing of the novel. Tracey also provided useful feedback about my opening and on the novel’s resolution. Whenever I had a question, Tracey responded quickly. Overall, she made great suggestions and I highly recommend her as an editor.
I used Tracey as an Alpha reader on my first draft. Though I had never used one before, she was exactly what I needed. She was the wake-up call that my manuscript needed as my own eyes had glazed over my words so many times, I could not see the story in them.
I am grateful to Tracey for her clear, prompt feedback. She was enthusiastic and supportive, with lots of editorial insight, as well as able to direct me towards some excellent resources. Tracey was invaluable in helping me understand what I could do to improve my written work.
We needed proofreading help for a project that involved checking multiple documents in various languages, with a quick turnaround and a later-than-planned start. Tracey was not only flexible to the change of timings, but she was also incredibly attentive and detailed – everything we like from a proofreader!
Tracey has been a lovely, skilled and efficient addition to our team, and I’d recommend her to anyone needing a reliable proofreader.
In this post, I explore what a manuscript assessment is, what its advantages and disadvantages are and how it differs from a developmental edit. Share this post in your favourite …
This post is the first in a series looking at writing gothic fiction. In it, I explore what it takes to create a setting filled with menace, one that evokes …
This is the second in my series focusing on historical fiction writing. If you’d like to read the previous post, Creating a Believable World, please click here. In this post, …