It’s one thing to read up on how to prepare and submit a book to literary agents and publishers. There’s plenty of advice around, for those prepared to look. And most publishing companies and literary agencies spell out their precise preferences on line and in print. It is, however, another matter entirely when it comes to writing your book, tidying up your effort, then composing and submitting the writing package to them. The doubts arise; the extracts acquire a strange fuzziness from one day to the next; aspects of the book synopsis and proposal letter strike the wrong tone; the book title provokes concerns as to its suitability – everything requires a cool head and a steely resolve. Independent assessments can help you tune your submissions to the needs of the contemporary publishing market and prepare your writing package so that it meets the aspirations and requirements of a potential publisher.

Using a panel of writers, editors and publishers that have been through these hoops many times will give you a head start in the art of impressing publishers. These book editing professionals have no axes to grind, no hidden agendas to seduce you to part with further fees in return for rich publishing deals. Quite the reverse. Their job is to point out exactly how your proposal package for publishers and agents reads – at first glance. And a cursory glance is all most aspiring authors can expect when submitting work to third parties. Play the game by the existing protocols and you can expect your extracts to be considered. Pay insufficient attention to your initial approach and the chances are high your work will be discarded . . . without even being read. After all the work you’ve put in, that’s a dreadful shame.

Writers contacting book editors with a professional approach should be expecting to try out their submission proposal on them first. And here’s the rub: they should be able to spot quickly whether your book manuscript is suitably presented, professional edited and likely to attract further attention, and a possible book deal. They should offer an opinion and suggest changes that will enhance your chances of success.

Book assessments and book appraisals can run to a page or two, or hundreds of pages. Beware the lengthy report. These will empty your wallet, and confuse. If you need that much help you should be taking a writing course – much cheaper, and they do a better, more professional job as you learn your trade. Book editors are not in the teaching game. They help writers get published . . . and if they feel they can’t help they should say so.

For independent book appraisals and book assessments, contact a professional editor, making sure it is without obligation, and give your writing a chance. It will save a you a fortune, and help you to publish a book to be proud of.