These services are suitable for writers requiring detailed, honest feedback on their work, whether it’s a complete short story, a chapter or section of a novel, or a complete manuscript. For details, scroll down past the testimonials.
Prices 2024
Critique: short stories/single chapters
For a full written report (2-3 pages) with comments and suggestions for development – stories or extracts of up to 4000 words: £150.00, stories or extracts of up to 8000 words: £220.00. Longer pieces by arrangement. I will submit my report by an agreed deadline, usually a maximum of two weeks.
Online consultation
My written report is usually fully comprehensive, but if anything is unclear, I’m happy to clarify by email. However, if you’d like to discuss your work In more detail – maybe where you go from here etc, I offer a 40-minute Zoom consultation at a cost of £50. This applies to critiques on short stories and novel extracts up to 60,000 words. For complete or partial novel manuscripts of 60,000 words or more (see price list below), there is no extra charge for the online consultation.
CRITIQUE: FULL LENGTH/PARTIAL MANUSCRIPT (FICTION ONLY)
Appraisal includes a detailed written report. For a full-length manuscript, this is usually at least 6 pages, often longer. Initially, please send an email or brief letter, telling me a little about you and your writing, plus a detailed outline or synopsis, and a sample of your work (around 15-20 double line-spaced pages would be fine). This will enable me to decide whether I am able to take on the work. There is no charge for this initial reading. If I am able to work with the manuscript, I will then contact you and ask you send the full manuscript. Please see submission guidelines below.
Up to 20,000 words – £330
Up to 40,000 words – £540
Up to 60,000 words – £630
Full novel (up to 80,000 words) £720
For manuscripsts of more than 80,000 words, please add £10.00 for each further 1,000 words
Payment on submission
*15% discount on a re-read and report on your redrafted version
Initially, please get in touch via the contact page to arrange submission.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Please submit work By email. The ms should be laid out as follows: double line spaced, with 12pt font (Arial or Times New Roman). Please don’t forget to number pages! The turnaround time for a full-length manuscript is usually around four to six weeks. Please provide a brief commentary / statement of aims with your work. It may help to think about questions such as: What do you want your reader to take away from this story/chapter? What emotions do you want him or her to feel? How do you want your reader to respond to certain characters? Are you trying to create a particular atmosphere in the piece? Which areas do you feel need particular attention? The purpose of the commentary is so that I can see what you’re trying to achieve, and comment on how well you’re achieving it. It’s important for a writer to be analytical, to be aware of the process of writing – we all produce the odd masterpiece now and again, but if we don’t know how we did it, we won’t know how to do it again! If you’re submitting part of a novel, please include a brief outline or synopsis (I won’t comment on this, it’s just so that I can put the piece in context.) If the section is anything other than the opening, I’ll also need brief summaries of preceding chapters.
- For info and prices for MENTORING packages, click HERE
Testimonials:
‘Getting a critique from Susan has been one of the best investments I’ve made in my writing. As well as being a talented author and tutor, she’s an exceptional reader. I felt she really understood my story. At a point where it was impossible for me to have any critical distance from my manuscript, her feedback was clear and insightful, her comments were thoughtful and generous, and her advice astute. I’d thoroughly recommend Susan to anybody who wants to get their novel into the best possible shape prior to submission.’ Emily Coleman May2022
‘I just wanted to thank you so much for your feedback (both the notes and the zoom session). It was all so helpful, constructive and motivating. I feel that although I still have lots of work to do, I am heading the right direction and know what I need to do next. After being quite nervous before the session, I now feel very, very positive and encouraged – and I thank you so much for this.’ Stephanie Griffin April 2022
“Susan’s critique, as well as helping me keep my prose sharp and concise, also made me consider my character’s motivations and choices from new angles, and pushed my writing on to the next level. It has given me a real boost as I continue on my writing journey.”
Peter McSweeney July 2021
‘I’m back on track with my novel thanks to Susan’s critique service. Her report, along with her annotations on my manuscript, are incredibly helpful. I can see clearly now what I need to do to get my novel much closer to how I want it to be. Susan’s detailed and insightful comments have taken me from being stuck to steaming ahead with my editing.’ Jean Davison December 2020
“I contacted Susan upon a friend’s recommendation. I’d reached an impasse with a novel that had been lying in my desk drawer for far too long with no hope of ever being finished. Over coffee in a local café, Susan was able to point me in the right direction with sound, practical advice and much-needed encouragement. Firstly, she asked me to pinpoint what, essentially, the book was about. It may sound strange, but this proved harder than I would have imagined. However, talking things through with her gave me a clearer way forward, together with a possible resolution. It was, to coin a cliché, a eureka moment. Susan is very professional, yet she’s also very kind and I felt completely at ease talking to her. Her feedback is entirely constructive, and I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a thorough, honest critique of their work.” Lynne Colgrave.
I found Susan’s critique service to be professional, honest and insightful. I had been working on my short story for quite some time and as I neared the end I found that having been absorbed in it for so long I had lost the ability to step back and look at it with fresh eyes. Susan really picked up on what I had been trying to achieve with my story and the direction in which I wanted to take it. She was highly encouraging, even whilst pointing out any flaws that she had found and she shared her own ideas on how my story could be improved. I left our meeting with a renewed sense of optimism. I learned so much from Susan during our meeting and I appreciate the time and attention she gave to my work. I would highly recommend Susan to anyone looking for genuine, constructive and informative feedback. Emma Barrett
“My current novel has had quite a few “near misses” with literary agents but for the life of me I couldn’t pin down what was stopping them making the final commitment to me and the book.
There comes a point when most novels benefit from a fresh eye. We become too close to our stories and characters and all too often can’t see what might be perfectly clear to an objective reader. I turned to Susan Elliot Wright, who is a successful novelist and a respected tutor. She read my troublesome book and came up with wonderfully insightful and useful observations and suggestions. She is always honest, she is kind, she is clever. With her report sitting next to me, at last I feel able to turn this book into the one I wanted to write and the one literary agents and publishers want to read. Thank you Susan, for your time and expertise and also your tremendous support.” Annie McKie
“Susan is a truly inspirational critic for the creative writer. She is thorough and efficient with her response, so I wasn’t left chomping at the bit worrying what she thought of my material. We had an indepth meeting to discuss the critique, and without fail Susan was on the button where things didn’t quite work. She then explained in a positive manner how they might be improved. I left the meeting full of enthusiasm and determination to reach my goal.” Pamela Jackson
“Susan’s constructive and positive feedback was exactly what I needed. I can see where changes need to be made, and feel confident and motivated to continue with my novel.” Molly Clarke