Manuscript assessment
Know exactly what’s working in your novel, and what’s holding it back.
A complete, chapter-by-chapter editorial assessment, built on the methods professional fiction editors rely on. Starting at $129.
The problem
Without real editorial feedback, you’re writing in the dark.
Before you query an agent or self-publish, you need structured, honest feedback on your book. The trouble is, that kind of feedback is hard to come by.
Friends and family can’t be objective
They cheer you on because they love you, not because they’ve studied your craft. Their notes lack distance and method, and you walk away still not knowing what actually works on the page.
The pros are hard to reach
Most writers don’t have the industry connections to get a working editor to read their book. Finding the right person takes time, referrals, and a fair amount of luck.
The cost is out of reach
A professional editorial assessment runs from several hundred to several thousand dollars. For a debut novel or a passion project, that’s often simply too much.
The solution
Your entire manuscript, read chapter by chapter.
We built an AI analysis system trained on the methods professional fiction editors rely on.
It reads your manuscript from first page to last and produces a complete editorial assessment: narrative structure, character consistency, pacing, style, what’s working, and where to focus your revision.
Then a human editor reviews every conclusion, digs deeper on the points that matter most, and writes your editorial letter. The feedback is candid: it tells you what’s working, but above all what needs to change, step by step.
All of it for a fraction of the cost of traditional editorial coaching, and delivered in 48 hours.
We trained our system on two recognized editorial methods:
What you get
Your manuscript, analyzed in depth.
Each deliverable answers a specific question. Together, they give you a clear picture of your book and a concrete roadmap for the rewrite.
The editorial letter
A big-picture diagnosis of your manuscript: genre, narrative structure, characters, the promises you make to the reader, style, and tone. You’ll know precisely what’s working and what needs to evolve.
The annotated manuscript
Your manuscript comes back marked up with editorial comments in the margins, chapter by chapter: what lands, what stalls, and the questions to ask yourself, anchored to the exact passage.
The audits (promises & consistency)
We check that every promise you make to the reader pays off, and flag the ones left hanging. We also catch timeline breaks and character inconsistencies across the whole book.
Excerpts from your editorial assessment
Who it’s for
This is for you if…
You want to land an agent or publisher
Your manuscript is finished, and you want the best possible shot at a yes. An editorial assessment helps you find and fix the weak spots before you submit.
You’re getting ready to self-publish
Your manuscript is ready, and you want it to hit a professional bar before you put it out yourself. The assessment makes sure nothing slips through.
You’re stuck mid-draft
Your manuscript is in progress, or stalled. You need a clear diagnosis to understand what’s not working and get moving in the right direction again.
Pricing
A complete editorial assessment of your novel, in 48 hours.
Every assessment includes
- ✓ The editorial letter, the annotated manuscript, and the audits
- ✓ An assessment reviewed, refined, and signed off by a human editor
- ✓ Delivered within 48 hours
- ✓ Two weeks of email Q&A to talk through your diagnosis
- ✓ Your manuscript stays protected: never shared with third parties, never used to train an AI, and you keep every right to your work.
Satisfaction guaranteed. If you’re not happy with the result, I’ll refund the full amount, no questions asked, at contact@nicolasleroux.fr
More thorough, faster, and half the price.
Plenty of services promise to get your book published. We’d rather tell you the truth about your manuscript, even when it stings: honest feedback to take it to its best possible level.
Not sure it’s the right fit for your project? Request a free assessment of your first chapter, or email us: we’re always happy to answer your questions.
| Our editorial assessment | Other providers | |
|---|---|---|
| Feedback on the entire manuscript and its editorial potential | ✓ | ✓ |
| Reviewed and signed off by a professional editor | ✓ | ✓ |
| In-depth editorial letter | 15 to 20 pages | Often 2 to 10 pages |
| Manuscript marked up with editorial margin notes | ✓ | Costs extra |
| Narrative promise tracking Kept, broken, orphaned | ✓ | ✗ |
| Consistency audit Timeline, characters, details | ✓ | ✗ |
| Q&A with your editor after delivery | ✓ (2 weeks) | Varies |
| Turnaround | Within 48 hours | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Price ~75,000-word novel | $249(3 times cheaper) | $800* |
* Average price of a professional editorial assessment for a novel this length.
About
Nicolas Le Roux
An entrepreneur and writer, Nicolas founded lalanguefrancaise.com, a leading reference on the French language (12+ million visitors a year), and Français Avec Marcel, a writing app used by thousands.
He studies the craft of writing, storytelling, and professional editing, and shares his research in his Substack newsletter.
His work brings together the methods of the great Anglo-American editors, notably Shawn Coyne (The Story Grid) and John Truby (The Anatomy of Story), with the practices of professional publishing.
This assessment service is the result of that research and more than ten years writing fiction.
Your manuscript deserves a professional read.
Get a complete editorial assessment and take your book to its best possible level.