Manuscript Assessments Offered

Manuscript Assessments Offered

Three kinds of assessments are offered by author Dianne (Di) Bates, as follows (below). Your story will be read and thoroughly edited online, and you will also receive a written report outlining the strengths of your manuscript and suggestions for ways in which you can improve it.

If Di believes your story is publishable, she will suggest Australian publishers to whom you can submit the manuscript. She will also give you a list of Australian children’s book publishers.

When you have made payment (and informed Di), you can submit your story as a Word document and editing will be undertaken online.

It usually takes fewer than five days for Di to read, edit and assess your manuscript from the date of submission. You are also welcome to ask any questions before, during and after the assessment. If you rework your manuscript, Di will revisit the next draft for no extra fee.

Di’s email address is dibates@outlook.com; she responds to all emails promptly.

Picture Book Assessment

For books under 500 words, the assessment will cost you $100. Over 500 words will cost an extra $20 per 100 words (or part thereof). 

Note: Di does not assess illustrations; instead, she directs you to Australian illustrators at http://thestylefile.com. You do not have to send illustrations to a publisher; he/she is initially only interested in the written text.

Junior Novel

Your novel, for children aged 8 to 12 years, should be about 25,000 words and no longer than 45,000. The cost is $10 per 1,000 words.

About your assessor

Dianne (Di) Bates has published 150 books for young readers in her 35-year writing career. Some of these books have been published overseas and won national and state book awards, including two children’s choice book awards. Di has also worked as a newspaper and children’s magazine editor. She also worked on the editorial team of the NSW Department of Education School Magazine. In 2006, she founded Buzz Words, an online magazine for people in the Australian children’s book industry. www.buzzwordsmagazine.com.