FOR FICTION & NON-FICTION

Manuscript Makeover

Congratulations, you’ve written a book! Well, sort of…

You’ve worked really hard and have plenty of pages to show for it, but something still doesn’t feel right.

You know it needs work — but you don’t know why or where, let alone how to begin.

You can’t see the forest for the trees.

If only an experienced professional could read it over and tell you EXACTLY where you went wrong and how to fix it? Someone who knows how to tackle even the gnarliest of snarls?

Soup to nuts. A global view, but with zip-code-specific details.

Introducing Manuscript Makeover

Think of a Manuscript Makeover as editorial guidance on steroids.

When agents or publishers say you need to “work with an editor,” THIS is the kind of meticulous feedback they have in mind — a highly specialized type of developmental editing that is worlds away from everyday copyediting or a visit from the grammar police.

This is a page-by-page, granular review of EVERY aspect of your entire manuscript that still needs attention:

  • structure and style

  • word choice and tone

  • story sense

  • overall structure and organization of ideas

  • plot, pacing, and personality

  • character and dialogue

  • what to cut, what to keep

  • and everything in between

A Manuscript Makeover saves you endless rewrites while you hope something sticks.

It saves you money by cutting YEARS off the writing process, and gives you the best shot at getting the attention of agents and publishers. It answers ALL your questions about what works, what doesn’t, and what options you have in the toolkit for fixing it.

With Manuscript Makeover you get a meticulous, page-by-page analysis so you know exactly how to achieve…

  • Authentic dialogue

  • Nuanced characters

  • Story structure and flow

  • Precise word choice

And you might experience results like these…

Featured

A well-known actress from a popular 1960s TV series used a MANUSCRIPT MAKEOVER to write a book unlike the gossipy, superficial kind you typically see; her literary memoir will come out in 2022.

He was a scrawny kid on a history-making college football team during a defining era; he used a MANUSCRIPT MAKEOVER to weave his overflowing stories into one, and his book was published December 2020.

An award-winning author needed help developing comfort in a new genre; with a MANUSCRIPT MAKEOVER she was able to revise in this new “language” and went on to work with Jami to revive a manuscript she had given up for dead.

A dentist who felt he was living the wrong life was able use directions and feedback from a MANUSCRIPT MAKEOVER to revise his book, and from there made a leap of faith to becoming a full-time writer.

Think a Manuscript Makeover might be right for you?

What does Jami Bernard bring to the party?

From my 20 years as a film critic for major New York City newspapers, I have a strong story sense and understanding of story structure. From having written 10 books of my own, I know what works, what doesn’t. My own published writing includes memoir, biography, fiction, non-fiction, travel, essay, satire, op-ed, and health. 

From helping my clients one-on-one to get their books ready for publication, I have experience shepherding many different kinds of writing and writers through this process.

I also have an almost idiot-savant way of remembering everything, down to word choice, in a manuscript — without the “idiot” part, of course!

What do you get with a Manuscript Makeover?

STORY PATHFINDER ($997 value): Fiction and memoir writers get this self-paced story navigational system for FREE to help get both of us on the same page about your story elements before the Manuscript Makeover begins.

REVISED STRUCTURE: Outlines often look good on paper, but don’t work well in practice. You will receive a revised, detailed outline to improve pacing and make story and characters pop.

MASTER BLUEPRINT: Extensive (and I do mean EXTENSIVE) notes, examples and comments “in real time” on each page gives you a blueprint to follow as you revise your manuscript to bring your book to its full potential — including being publisher-friendly and commercial without sacrificing your voice, material or intentions. This is a fine-tooth-comb approach that includes examples and alternatives for troubleshooting.

“TRAFFIC LIGHT” FEEDBACK: You also receive color-coded “traffic light” highlights right on your pages: Green for excellent (you’ll get a delicious hit of dopamine every time you see it!), Yellow for where you need to exercise caution, and Red for when you’ve really got to stop doing whatever it is you’re doing. This lets you know when you’re on the right track, when you’re wandering off into the weeds, and when your TMI does not serve your purpose or where you are in danger of inviting litigation.

1:1 SESSION WITH JAMI: After you’ve had time to digest the results of your Manuscript Makeover, we meet for an hour online, where I will clarify and amplify as needed and walk you through your next steps.

BONUS FOLLOW-UP: As you embark upon your rewrite, I encourage you to send me your first revised chapter to ensure you’re headed in the right direction.

Is MANUSCRIPT MAKEOVER right for me?

This service is not for everyone! A worthy book is the product of intensive rewriting — and this is true for every writer at every level. Manuscript Makeover offers the blueprint to get you through it — but if you are not ready or don’t have time at the moment to make use of it, this probably is not for you.

Or, if you prefer to follow this service with personal coaching through the next phase of your writing journey, ask about THE BOOK SHERPA, a custom 12-week program designed to ensure you reach your writing goal.

Don’t let all your hard work go to waste!

Many people dream of having a book. Only a few actually get to the finish line — and you’ve already come so far!

Now it’s time to take your book to the next step.

If you’re ready to have someone look under the hood and give your manuscript a tune-up that makes it purr, I invite you to schedule a complimentary Book Strategy Session with me.