The fast track to publishing
A comprehensive appraisal with Big Five editors.
The Ultimate Manuscript Assessment
The service with editors formerly of the major publishers and direct submission to literary agents.
With publishing professionals
Achieve your ambition to get published with a manuscript assessment from our team of professional editors from the major publishing houses: Penguin Random House, Hachette, Macmillan, and HarperCollins.
Our editorial team will evaluate every aspect of your story and writing: from the overall narrative arc to each character, from pace and momentum to prose and dialogue, and will provide a marked-up manuscript and a detailed, in-depth report. Enjoy an online meeting with your editor to discuss the next steps to achieve your ambition to get published.
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Get professional insights
Taken your novel as far as you can? Feeling word blind? Itâs time for fresh eyes and expert advice.
The best investment you will ever make
Editors from the major publishers
Our editorial team are professionals with experience at the most famous publishersâPenguin Random House, Macmillan, Hachette, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, and Titan Booksâwhere they have overseen many bestselling and award-winning novels published to acclaim.
You will get the undivided attention of an experienced publishing editor to help you get your manuscript over the finishing line.
The value of your manuscript
Our editorial team know what gets publishersâ (and literary agentsâ) hearts racing. They will offer expert insights to help you raise your game from pitch to page to ensure your manuscript excites the industry as a potential bestseller, whatever genre of fiction youâre writing. This could be the best investment you make.
Go to publishing ready
What does it take for a manuscript to scoop a literary agent and a publishing contract? What are the true hallmarks of outstanding merit and talent in fiction? Discover what to leave in and what to leave out to establish yourself as an author with an exciting career ahead of you.
The fast track
This year alone, over 60% of our submissions were successful. And typically, we receive replies within days. Our literary agent friends trust and enjoy working with The Novelry because theyâve come to expect brilliant manuscripts from our writers.
But we neither ask for nor accept commission; itâs all part of our service to you.
The Novelry is the writing school trusted by leading literary agencies.
âThe Novelryâfrom the twinkling of an idea through to a publishing-ready novel.â
âRecommended by leading literary agencies.â
âAll aboard a different kind of writing school.â
âThe Novelryâfrom the twinkling of an idea through to a publishing-ready novel.â
âRecommended by leading literary agencies.â
âAll aboard a different kind of writing school.â
âFor a debut writer, itâs so competitive out there. I needed to know that if I made changes to my manuscript, it would be not just different but better. The Novelry gave me that confidence. Not only did they pick up the niggly little errors that annoy readers, they looked at structure, believability and character development. I didnât have to undertake a massive rewrite but I was able to seriously sharpen an otherwise flabby draft. They were an absolute pleasure to work with, champions of my writing. And now I have an amazing agent!â
Anne Gilchrist
âExtremely generous, positive and beautifully put, just spot on. Clarity and bang-on recommendations for improvement from someone I quickly trusted to have the bookâs best interests at heart. The editorial teamâs notes were thoughtful, thought-provoking but also I felt they came from a place of honesty and a genuine desire to make it a better book. I go back to them before I start any editing. You might think this manuscript assessment service is more expensive than others but the depth and breadth of their professional feedback makes it worth its weight in gold. Plus, if they like your work, theyâll introduce you to agents.â
Chloe Fowler
âWorking with The Novelry was one of the most enjoyable editing experiences Iâve had in my 12 years of full-time novel writing. After reading the many positive reviews about The Novelryâs Ultimate Manuscript Assessment, I decided to submit my finished manuscript for feedback. Iâm thrilled I made that decision. Tash Barsby guided me through edits to a manuscript Iâd thought was ready to go, but soon realized needed the touch of an expert. From minor tweaks to thought-provoking suggestions, Tash covered everything: insightful observations about pacing, plot, and character development, the importance of tangible triggers, and paring down the query letter. My Publisherâs Marketplace announcement even contains her suggestions.â (Jennifer Saderaâs novel has been acquired by CamCat Books for publication in 2024.)
Jennifer Sadera
The Ultimate Manuscript Assessment
Includes Membership
One yearâs access to all the perks, and time for a fully-supported submission process.
Live the writing life
Immerse yourself in our writer-to-author community while you wait.
The best value
We never aim to be the cheapest, we aim to be the best.
Access to Big Five publishing editors
Add further paid feedback sessions when you need them, as a member.
40+ workshops a month
In addition to your manuscript assessment.
Genre expertise
Our editorial director will ensure you are matched with an editor with proper experience and expertise.
Video masterclasses
From the likes of Kristin Hannah, Tayari Jones and Yann Martel, and advice from publishing professionals and literary agents.
A supportive writing community
Find your tribe of writers on the same career path.
More 5-star reviews
From independent writers.
A clear path to publishing
We will guide you every step of the way.
Created by a Booker Prize-listed author
We donât just talk the talk.
Your editor is your first serious reader. A good editor will love your story as much as you do. A phenomenal editor can take your novel to the next level.
The fast track to a career
Join the pathway to becoming a published author at The Novelry.
Have you completed at least two drafts of your manuscript?
Have you taken our courses or classes with coaching?
Have you taken The Big Edit?
If not, apply for our free pre-qualification service
Sure you can do no more? Submit for The Ultimate Manuscript Assessment
âSuch insightful and powerful professional feedback that gave me a clear sense of the road ahead. It was plain that my editor was not only an expert in her field, but heartfelt and authentic. She truly understood my manuscript. The written report was accessible, in-depth and instructive. It clarified the intangible, to help me make the story more robust moving forward. The entire experience was energizing. I emerged hopeful and laser-focused!â
Your professional publishing editors
Find the perfect fit for you and your book, whatever the genre.
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The Ultimate Manuscript Assessment
The last step to publishing.
Congratulations on coming so far.
Invest in the best service to achieve your ambitions.
The Pitch
Structural Development
A Marked-Up Manuscript
Meeting with the Editor
Next Steps Toward Publishing
âThe submissions we receive from The Novelry are of such a high quality, we always want to drop everything and get reading as soon as they arrive.â
Toward publishing
The Ultimate Manuscript Assessment
- A Full Editorial Report
- The Pitch
- Structural Development
- Marked-Up Manuscript
- Meeting with an Editor
- Membership (1 year)
* For those who have not taken our courses with coaching, we offer a free pre-qualification service for our manuscript assessment. To apply, please send your title, genre and one-line pitch to hello@thenovelry.com with a 500-word synopsis (including spoilers) and the first 500 words of your first chapter. Please let us know the word count of your current manuscript too.
Or, take the Novel Development Course to qualifyFAQs
For those who have not taken our courses or coaching, we offer a free pre-qualification service for our manuscript assessment. To apply, please send a one-page synopsis of your novel/memoir and the first 500 words of your first chapter to hello@thenovelry.com in advance of purchase. (See our guide on how to write a synopsis here at our blog.)
We aim to provide an assessment within 6â8 weeks but we cannot guarantee this as our service is very much in demand. You may be asked to join a waitlist and we will keep you informed of timings. Thank you for your understanding and please be assured our service is worth waiting for as the next step in your writing career.
Our Editorial Director will review the work and assign the best editor appropriate to the genre youâre writing. If you have a preference, please let us know in your cover note.
Youâll get to meet and discuss your work with one of our professional publishing editors.
We cannot promise submission. We have an outstanding reputation with literary agencies thanks to the high standards of our submissions. If we think you are ready to submit, the chances of securing representation with an agent are typically over 60 per cent.
If the manuscript needs more work, donât worry, we will offer our guidance and advice and, as a member for a year, you will have time to incorporate the feedback.
Because the service includes membership of The Novelry, you can book Paid Feedback Sessions with any one of our published authors or our team of editors.
We want you to be one of our success stories, and weâre rooting for you!
For novels or memoirs over 100,000 words, email us and weâll charge pro-rata fairly and proportionately.
We offer a very thorough and detailed developmental edit with some line-by-line feedback on your manuscript (for example, areas where the dialogue might benefit from some further thought or great sentences that showcase your talent!). We donât offer a formal line edit, but your report will provide plenty of guidance to help you improve your prose where necessary.
When you have had a chance to explore and apply the notes, your yearâs membership included with the service will allow you to book any further Paid Feedback Sessions with the editorial team, as well as having full access to our resources.
Our follow-up plan means you will get the support you need to further your career toward getting published.
No. If and when we submit your work on your behalf to literary agents, it will be with your prior agreement and approval. Most literary consultancies take a 10% commission on your publishing contract. Add that to the 15% a literary agent receives, and simply because of your purchase of a single paid service, you have given away 25% of your hard-won income as a writer in royalties! Yikes.
We would not dream of it. We are all published authors and professional editors at The Novelry. We know how far you have come, and we value the emotional and financial investment you have made. Please check the small print at other publishing coaching companies and literary consultancies. If they are not transparent about their pricing or commission, that should be a red flag. And please, never pay anyone to be published.