Get clear, big-picture feedback on what’s working, what’s not, and exactly how to revise. This service is also known as a manuscript evaluation, manuscript assessment, or reader report.
This review covers:
- Structure, pacing, and escalation
- Character development, motivation, and agency
- Stakes, tension, and reader engagement
- Opening effectiveness and overall narrative momentum
- Genre alignment and submission readiness
- The top revision priorities and a clear revision roadmap
Written Review: $49 | Review + Video Call: $89
Turnaround: 10 days
Services & Pricing
Manuscript Review (Written Editorial Diagnostic) — $49
A comprehensive written manuscript review providing big-picture editorial feedback. Feedback is delivered entirely in text form.
This service focuses on diagnosis rather than editing.
Includes:
- Overall manuscript assessment
- Narrative structure and pacing analysis
- Character agency and development notes
- Stakes and escalation evaluation
- Prose clarity at a macro level (not line edits)
- Genre and market alignment feedback
- The top three revision priorities
- A clear revision roadmap
Manuscript Review + Video Consultation — $89
This tier includes the full written manuscript review listed above plus a focused video consultation.
The consultation is designed to clarify the written feedback, answer targeted questions, and help the writer prioritize revisions efficiently.
Includes:
- Everything in the written manuscript review
- One 45–60 minute video consultation
- Discussion of revision strategy and next steps
This is a strategic conversation, not live editing or coaching.
Important Note on Scope
This is diagnostic feedback, not line editing, not copyediting, and not coaching. I do not provide in-text markup, sentence rewrites, or grammar corrections.
These manuscript consultation services are offered independently by Ammar Habib (editor-in-chief of Thriller Magazine). These services are not connected to Thriller Magazine or Thriller Magazine Press editorial decisions. Booking a consultation has no impact on current or future submissions, acceptance decisions, or publication outcomes.
Book Consultation Request Form
Submit the form below. If the project is accepted, a confirmation email is sent within 24–48 hours with next steps and availability.
How the Process Works
- The writer submits the application form
- Availability is reviewed and confirmed
- Payment is requested only after confirmation
- Written feedback is delivered within 10 days starting once payment is received and the manuscript is delivered and accessible.
- (Tier 2 only) The video consultation is scheduled after delivery
Availability is intentionally limited each month to ensure thoughtful, thorough feedback.
What Is a Manuscript Consultation (Evaluation, Assessment, Reader Report)?
A manuscript consultation (also called a manuscript evaluation, manuscript assessment, or reader report) is a professional, big-picture review of a manuscript focused on story effectiveness rather than sentence-level edits. It evaluates elements like structure, pacing, character development, stakes, and reader engagement to identify what’s working and what may be preventing the manuscript from landing with readers, agents, or editors.
Unlike copyediting or line editing, a manuscript consultation does not focus on grammar corrections, in-text markup, or rewrites. The goal is to provide a clear diagnostic overview and a practical revision roadmap.
Who This Service Is For
This service is best suited for writers who:
- Are preparing to submit a novel or novella
- Have received rejections and want clearer editorial direction
- Suspect the manuscript has strong potential but unresolved craft issues
- Want an experienced professional editorial perspective outside the submission process
Writers working in all genres are welcome.
Why a Manuscript Consultation Helps
A professional manuscript evaluation can help you:
- Build a clear plan for the next draft instead of revising blindly
- Focus revisions on the changes that matter most
- Identify pacing issues that reduce tension or momentum
- Strengthen character motivation, agency, and emotional clarity
- Improve escalation and stakes so the plot feels inevitable
- Clarify genre expectations and reader alignment
Editorial & Publishing Background
This service is offered by Ammar Habib (editor-in-chief of Thriller Magazine). His publishing and editorial credits include:
- Publication of 10 novels
- Publication of 1 nonfiction biography
- Publication of over 50 children’s picture books
- Publication of more than three dozen short stories
- Editorial leadership on over a dozen issues of Thriller Magazine
- Professional writing credits for 20th Century Studios, including the Predator franchise
Editorial Boundaries
To preserve editorial integrity:
- Consultation is not available for work currently under consideration by Thriller Magazine or Thriller Magazine Press
- Consulting has no influence on submissions or editorial decisions at Thriller Magazine or Thriller Magazine Press
- Not all projects are accepted for consultation
Frequently Asked Questions
What will the writer receive after the manuscript review?
A written editorial diagnostic that covers structure, pacing, character effectiveness, stakes and escalation, genre alignment, and reader engagement. It includes the top revision priorities and a practical roadmap for the next draft.
Does this include line editing or copyediting?
No. This service provides big-picture diagnostic feedback and does not include line edits, in-text markup, grammar correction, or rewrites.
When does the 10-day turnaround start?
The 10-day turnaround begins once payment is received and the manuscript is delivered or accessible via a working share link.
What file formats are accepted?
Manuscripts may be provided as a .docx file or via a Google Docs or Google Drive share link with view access enabled.
Can a writer request a consultation if the manuscript was submitted to Thriller Magazine or Thriller Magazine Press?
If the manuscript is currently under consideration, it is not eligible for consultation. If it is not under consideration, a request may be submitted.
What genres are a good fit?
All genres are accepted. The consultation focuses on core storytelling craft—structure, pacing, character, stakes, and reader engagement—regardless of genre.
Are all requests accepted?
No. Requests are reviewed for fit and availability. If a request is declined, the writer may submit again later if circumstances change.
Related Articles
What Is a Manuscript Evaluation? A Practical Guide for Writers
A manuscript evaluation is a big-picture assessment of an entire manuscript. It is designed to answer one question: How is the draft functioning as a reading experience right now, and what changes will improve it most?
Why a Manuscript Evaluation Is a Must Have for Authors (Even After Revisions)
Many writers revise far more than they need to, not because they lack discipline, but because revision becomes circular. A manuscript evaluation interrupts that loop. It gives a writer a clear outside reading experience and a prioritized revision path.
The Importance of a Manuscript Evaluation: Why Authors Need a Reader Report
Most manuscripts do not fail because the author did not work hard enough. They plateau because revision becomes repetitive. A writer senses something is not landing, so they revise the same chapters again, polish sentences, and refine dialogue. The prose improves, but the reading experience remains uneven.