Most authors think they need an editor when what they really need is clarity.

Clarity about:

  • What the book actually is
  • Whether it’s structurally sound
  • What kind of editing will actually help

That’s where an editorial assessment comes in.

An editorial assessment is not proofreading, copyediting, or line editing. It’s a strategic review of your manuscript as a whole—its structure, organization, argument, pacing, and readiness for the next stage.

At Emerald Books, we often recommend an assessment before any intensive editing, especially when:

  • The manuscript is incomplete
  • The author has extensive notes or references
  • The book has grown organically and feels unwieldy
  • The author is unsure what kind of editing they need

What an Editorial Assessment Does

An assessment looks at the manuscript from a high level. We evaluate:

  • Overall structure and flow
  • Chapter order and logic
  • Argument clarity (for nonfiction)
  • Narrative cohesion (for fiction)
  • What’s working—and what’s getting in the way

Most importantly, we help answer the question:

“What should I do next?”

Sometimes the answer is a developmental edit.

Sometimes it’s revision before editing.

Sometimes it’s pause, rethink, and return later.

Honest answers save time, money, and frustration.