   
Manuscript Development
We are committed to helping create quality literature and counteracting the shift toward publishing monopolies. Supporting writers in their quests to write, publish, and sell inspiring and/or entertaining books is our primary focus. The process must start with a good manuscript. Our method of manuscript development is unique in that we do more than edit (micro and macro). We approach the project (manuscript) from a marketing perspective, helping the writer create a manuscript that will sell.
What does this “marketing perspective” mean exactly? Well, we look at much more than grammar, spelling and punctuation (micro), and more than plot construction and sentence structure (macro). We approach the project holistically: as writing coach/book doctor, editor, and marketing consultant. Our primary goal is to make sure your manuscript is not only the best it can be but that it is saleable. We’ve worked with too many projects that came to us as finished books, languishing in a warehouse or someone’s garage, that were extremely challenging to sell. We know how to market books, and what it takes to make a book marketable (to an agent, publisher, and reader), and we want to make sure the book is saleable, before more trees are wasted.
"Dawn Stuart has an innate sense of what readers want to read, and what publishers want to buy. For these reasons alone she is an invaluable writing coach. From the finest nuances of how to develop deep emotional connections through character development, to helping shape an opening scene--making it ultimately appealing to agents and publishers--Dawn uses simple, clear language to help the writer see what is needed, and how to make these shifts. Direct, honest, a fine critic, Ms. Stuart has a natural way with words and a natural way of supporting a writer without putting the exact words in your mouth, or on the page."
Richard Clement, Author of “Midnight Choir" and Advanced Fiction Writing instructor
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Consider your overall goal as a writer.
- Just had this one book in you and had to “get it out”
- Write for pleasure and perhaps a bit of profit
- Desire to become a full-time, professional author
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Decide what your goal is with your current manuscript.
- A writing exercise and to test the publishing waters
- Establish a reputation as a published author, paving the way for future projects
- Sell enough to attract an established agent and/or large publisher
- Achieve national distribution and reputation by selling at least 10,000 copies
- Attract a "connected" agent and sell to a large, national publisher
- Self or hybrid publish to sell on a limited or regional basis
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Create a manuscript that is sure to sell.
- Assess the manuscript and develop a status report
- Make editing and rewriting recommendations (the heart of the process)
- Conduct a target audience analysis using our reader/critics process
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Develop the method and plan for selling your manuscript.
- Refer you to the right literary agent
- Help you find the right publishing option
- Refer you to a small or hybrid publisher
- Recommend self-publishing
"Hey Dawn, I really, completely appreciate the attention you put into this analysis. And, I think you are right. You see behind and under... to the deeper nature of what has to be done if this book is to be made right. But really, the important thing is whether or not I think you are right and I think you are--mostly. And whether I think you can help me, and I do, which is great for me. It's not easy to find people who can help with my writing. Anyway, thank you thank you for your thoughts and insight...let's move along to more manuscript development."
Nicole Mones, Author of “Lost in Translation"
The Process:
1. Determine your goals as a writer and for the manuscript.
2. Read and assess the first 50 or so pages of your manuscript. Write a status report letting you know if, or how marketable it is in its current form, and with revisions. The report includes an outline of how the manuscript might be improved. A sample page or two will be provided to show you exactly how we will submit suggested revisions so you can decide if you like our perspective and technique.
3. If we decide--through our committee process--that your manuscript has the potential to become a quality, saleable book then we read and assess the entire manuscript.
4. After reading the entire manuscript, we submit a marketing report which defines the target audience, suggests marketing hooks to build in to the manuscript (without undermining the writing in any way), and outline a marketing proposal.
5. Next comes the heart of the project. We make detailed recommendations to rewrite and revise specific paragraphs and chapters with the book’s market in mind. We will consider and report on the following:
- Accuracy
- Redundancies
- Information
- Progression
- Mood
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- Plot
- Dialogue
- Themes (consistency)
- Marketing Hooks
- Emotional Impact
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- Story Telling
- Audience Targeting
- Character Development
- Sale of Rights
- Oh yes, grammar too
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