Manuscript Review Service

Let us guide you on your path to publication and get your book and stories publication-ready and reader-ready.

The Manuscript Review Service is designed to guide you on the next steps for your manuscript and provide advice. The goal of the manuscript reviewer is to read your manuscript, identify strengths and weaknesses, and suggest what you need next.

What Is a Manuscript Review?

A manuscript review is an overview of your manuscript that identifies areas for improvement on craft-based elements.

Your reviewer will focus on elements such as character, structure, pacing, theme, conflict, voice, and narrative style. The feedback you receive may include suggestions on developing craft or storytelling techniques, or advice on what type of editing you may be ready for next.

Is This Right for You?

This service is best suited for writers who:

• have moved beyond an early draft
• feel stuck or unsure what the manuscript needs next
• are looking for direction before investing in editing

If you’re still in the early drafting stage, you may benefit more from workshops or craft development first.

What to Expect​

A manuscript review is not an edit. On rare occasions, reviewers may provide line edits to illustrate a point, but they are not contracted to edit your manuscript. 
​
A manuscript review is an overview of your manuscript identifying areas for improvement on craft-based elements. The reviewer will focus on character, structure, pace, theme, conflict, voice, narrative style, showing vs. telling. 

​A manuscript review is always subjective. We aim to match you with a reviewer who understands your genre, but in the end, it is always your story. The goal is to give you clear direction so you can move forward with confidence.

Depending on the length of your manuscript and availability of reviewers, this process can take up to 4-6 weeks for completion for long texts like novels and up to 2 weeks for short bursts like short stories. 

​You should receive a detailed overview of your manuscript, typically ranging from 1 to 10 pages depending on length and complexity. This overview will include strengths, areas for improvement, and suggested next steps.

Note: Sometimes reviews can sting a little. As writers we work so hard on our manuscripts and it's hard to hear criticism. We recommend that you read the criticism and then sit on it for a few weeks, think about it. Sometimes things that seemed completely off base the first time around, makes way more sense later. 

Help Us Help You

When you submit a manuscript for review, you will be asked if you have specific concerns or questions. ​Tell us as much as possible about your writing background and your goals for your manuscript. Not every writer is working toward publication, and your review will reflect that as much as possible.

How It Works

Step 1: Review Length and Pricing
​Determine the fee for your review based on your manuscript’s word count. If your manuscript is outside the listed ranges, please contact us.

Short Bursts (short story, personal essay)	Long Texts  (​novella, novel, memoir)	Poetry
$50	$50	$50
non-refundable setup fee	non-refundable setup fee	non-refundable setup fee
BOOK A REVIEW	BOOK A REVIEW	BOOK A REVIEW
up to 500 words $10	7501 - 20000 words $150	1-24 pages ​$100
501-1500 words ​$25	20001-50000 words ​$250	25-64 pages ​$150
1501-3000 words ​$50	50001-70000 words $350	65-100 pages $200
3001-5000 words ​$75	70001-80000 words $450	101-129 pages ​$250
5001-7500 words ​$100	80001-100000 words $550	130-150 pages ​$300

Step 2: Review the Manuscript Reviewers 
Decide if there is someone you would prefer to review your manuscript. If you have no preference, that’s fine. We are happy to place you with an appropriate reviewer. If your manuscript does not fit with a current reviewer or that reviewer is unavailable, we will make every effort to find someone else for you.

2026/27 Manuscript Reviewers

We're currently building the list of amazing reviewers, check back soon!

Step 3: Pay the Fee
Fill in the required information on the registration form to the best of your ability and submit payment.

book a review

Step 4: Send Your Manuscript
Once your booking is complete, send us your manuscript and we will forward it to your reviewer.

NOTE: The Alexandra Writers Centre Society (AWCS) is an organization that proudly supports creative writers.  We are not currently accepting manuscripts that are generated by AI. If we believe that a manuscript is AI generated we will return all fees with the exception of the non-refundable set up fee.

Step 5: Receive Your Review
Most reviews take 4–6 weeks for longer works, with shorter timelines for short pieces. You will be given a rough turnaround time.

Sometimes reviews can sting a little. We recommend reading the feedback, then sitting with it for a bit. What doesn’t resonate right away may make more sense later.