Manuscript Evaluation
G
et an Expert Evaluation of What Works and What Doesn’t.
You’ve finished a draft — or you’re deep into one — and something isn’t clicking. You can feel it. But you can’t see it clearly enough to fix it, because you’re too close to your own work.
That’s not a skill problem. That’s a perspective problem.
I help fiction writers find exactly what’s holding their manuscript back — and what to do about it — so they can revise with confidence instead of guessing.
Two Ways to Work With Me:
Manuscript Diagnostic Session — $47
Best if: You’re not sure what’s wrong, or you want a fast, honest read before investing in deeper feedback.
We’ll briefly talk on the phone and get the payment sorted but also talk a little about your needs. You send me your first 20–30 pages. I read them before we meet via Zoom. Then we spend 45 minutes on a Zoom call where I tell you exactly what’s working, what isn’t, and what to fix first. No vague encouragement. No soft-pedaling.
You leave the session with clarity and a specific next step.
→ Book a Manuscript Diagnostic Session via the Calendly app below — $47
Chapter Evaluation — $97
Best if: You have a specific chapter — especially your opening — that needs detailed, written feedback you can return to throughout your revision.
I will examine the chapter closely for structure, pacing, character voice, dialogue, scene purpose, and sentence-level craft. Then we will do a 90-minute Zoom call to discuss my findings and recommended action steps.
Turnaround time: approximately one week.
→ Request a Chapter Evaluation via the Calendly app below — $97
What Writers Say
“In our first session, Dan gently — and expertly — showed me that while I had good ideas, I didn’t yet have a story. Over the next ninety minutes, Dan helped shape my vision into something concrete… Using that framework, I wrote a novel that became an Amazon Hot New Release and has received dozens of 5-star reviews.” — Rusty Williams, author of nine non-fiction books
“From our very first Zoom meeting, Dan demonstrated exactly the kind of expertise and support I needed… Thanks to Dan’s guidance, I was able to not only continue working on my book but actually complete it.” — Cherie Hans
You Need This If
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You have a finished or nearly finished draft and you’re not sure it’s working -
You’re preparing to submit to agents or publishers and want objective eyes first
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You’re planning to self-publish, but want rise above other indie authors
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You keep revising the same sections and getting nowhere
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You want real feedback, not cheerleadin
Why Work With Me?
I’m a published fiction author and active member of the Horror Writers Association. My short fiction has appeared in anthologies edited by Robert McCammon, Jane Yolen and Ramsey Campbell — and my fiction earned personal praise from Ray Bradbury.
I’ve also been where you are. I returned to fiction writing after a 27-year break and rebuilt my writing career from scratch. I know what it takes to close the gap between the story you intended and the one on the page.
Ready?
Not sure which option is right? Start with the Diagnostic Call. Most writers find that 45 minutes gives them more clarity than months of second-guessing.
→ Book a Manuscript Diagnostic Session below — $47
→ Request a Chapter Evaluation below— $97