TESTIMONIALS
Just a note to say thanks for the Agency's recent appraisal of my novel "xx" I appreciate that the assessor seems to have approached the work sincerely and read it carefully. Surprisingly to me, some of the things he liked ("he"? I think so), I don't. However I was encouraged by his overall positive criticism. The negatives I'm taking on board; I know there are others. I think you have helped me.
best regards,
MR
I received your agency's appraisal of my manuscript this morning and am writing to say an enormous thank you - to you for your initial encouragement and advice about submitting my work, despite its unfinished state, and to the assessor of my manuscript.
The comments made are both heartening and extremely helpful. The criticisms are exactly what I was looking for to provide me with more structure and direction as I continue to develop the manuscript. The positive comments regarding my work were much much more than I could have hoped for, and I am enormously grateful for the space that this has created for me to continue to believe in doing something that I love so much.
I realise there is still a huge amount of work ahead of me, but I just appreciate so much the boost, direction and suggestions the appraisal has given me.
I will definitely be re-submitting my work in the future for further comment.
Many many thanks,
LL
... I feel I should relay my gratitude again to you regarding the service I received. It was the turning point. It changed my understanding and approach overnight. Deep breath, 'hurt' feelings put aside, and then some wonderful years really learning what the craft entailed. Still so far to go but what a journey, and all because I was told some vital truths about my effort, and had the commitment to accept that.
MS, April 2007
I received my manuscript 'xx' back on Monday and opened it with great trepidation. I read the appraisal and found it to be encouraging and insightful. It raised some of the issues that I have previously thought long and hard over whilst writing my book. I was well aware that my manuscript required polishing and now I feel encouraged to continue with this project.
Could you please pass on my gratitude to the person who appraised my manuscript. They were very sensitive in their approach and I felt they were helping rather than criticising.
Thankyou for your professionalism and guidance. I'll be sure to recommend your agency to others and use your services again.
Yours sincerely,
JD
I would like to pass on my thanks to the assessor responsible for reviewing my manuscript. I was very impressed at not only the detail of the report but the insightful comments - comments that, to be very frank, I never saw coming! Some of the issues raised have really allowed me to look at the manuscript in a new light - and I look forward to the challenge of tackling them! Thank you for the encouragement and the guidance. I've told people that receiving your report was like going to a writer's course which focused only on my story! Best money I've ever spent!
Many thanks
EC
Dear Brian, I just wanted to say thankyou to you and the appraiser for the most invaluable critique. It's always disappointing to hear that you haven't achieved what you set out to do, however the feedback was such a wholesome mix of advice and encouragement that it took me a day or two before my disappointment set in. I've now recovered from that as well and am reflecting on what is required to become a better writer (in between full time work, parenting and other miscellaneous duties).
All points made with regard to the storyline, narrative point of view, the lack of tension, unconvincing motivation for murder, chapter structure and overuse of language that does not serve the story are accepted, and I thank the reviewer for that. The motivation to improve however comes in no small part from the encouraging words with regard to aspects of the writing that do not require an overhaul. It.s very gratifying to know that the efforts put in so far have been able to induce some level of enjoyment, despite the short-comings of the work overall. I have taken great heart from the constructive advice and ask that you forward my thanks to the appraiser.
Kind regards,
DF
Hello Brian,
The postpac was waiting beside the front door very early in the morning and I read through the 13 pages - my heart thumping.
Keep reading the appraisal through.
It is a gift that money can't buy. Can't adequately express my thanks to you and my appraiser. She (think she must be!) has taken the time and the trouble to get to the heart - it's my heart of course - of fixing up the ms and offering me ways of moving on. It's as though she's read my mind and pointed 'it' to a place where I must go.
In a way it's turning my back more confidently on the silence that was engrained in me, being able to believe that what I think and haven't been able to fully express, is of some value. You can imagine how profound that is!
Please could you convey my gratitude?
JB
Just a quick note to thank you for the swiftness of your company's service. While the conclusion of the assessment was far from what I might have hoped for, the depth of the review and its professionalism was highly appreciated.
Regards,
NT
First, again thanks for your insights. I'm sure you find it often takes a while for criticism to trickle through to parts of the brain it should have gone straight to in the first place (it's hard not to take advice personally to some extent).
Anyway, this was partly the case for me. As mentioned before, I took a certain pared back narratively ambiguous direction with the stories that I now see would be very difficult to sustain as a longer narrative. Considering that I asked you to see the stories leading towards something longer, it's only fair you had misgivings, or at least concerns. But still the advice was constructive and beneficial. So thanks.
M, NSW.
Please pass on my appreciation to whoever appraised my manuscript. Naturally, I was hoping for a more satisfying result ... but, now that the initial disappointment has subsided, I'm pleased with the candid criticism and the broad range of recommendations for improvement. I'm sure I underestimated the complexity of the task I undertook and only hope I can find the strength and time (and can also develop the talent!) to complete the vast array of changes required to elevate the story to the necessary standard.
Thank you also for your professionalism. My only concern in my dealings with you was the slight delay in receiving the appraisal but having now seen the length and detail of it I can understand why it took longer than expected!
Best wishes for the future success of your business.
DW
Yesterday I received my manuscript and appraisal. I'd like to
thank you for
your comments, they were very helpful. This is precisely the sort of
assistance I needed and now I can look forward to fixing the problems I
couldn't identify because I was "too close" to the work.
Once again, thanks for your advice!
P
I was amazed and delighted to read your report. (it did take me over 24 hours and two glasses of wine to get the courage to open the envelope!). Your comments are specific, actionable and TRUE! Somehow, conversely I feel I have a more global view of the MS now. Your input went far beyond my expectations, and I really want to thank you for all your caring, hard work.
Once again, thank you for your input into my manuscript. I will enjoy making the changes you suggest as I don't feel I'm writing blind any more.
K
I thought I'd let you know that I think your service is worth every cent. While the reviewer obviously thought my work was crap, s/he gave me just the sort of feedback I was after. Many of the sneaking suspicions I had about my work were in fact confirmed, but now they have been crystallized into something I can work on!
Thanks again.
M
... I would like to thank you for your appraisal.
Based on your recommendations, I have started re-writing the MS and it
is beginning to take on an extra dimension that I couldn't otherwise
imagine. I will be taking your advice on the editing and the word
structure. Thank you.
I will be sending the revised draft back to you once complete.
P
I'd like to thank your reader for the longer than expected report on my book. I found the critique rigorous, sympathetic and constructive. It clarified for me several 'design flaws' I had been struggling with as well as raising new issues. I will be taking the advice about plotting and genre.
Also it is encouraging to receive well-supported positive feedback on such central issues as style and structure -actually a major factor in my decision to rework the current book instead of binning it!
I will definitely use your appraisal service in the future.
D
....the appraisal was good and has given me food for thought. I'm not sure I agree with all the recommendations but that's understandable and I'm still digesting it.
M
Please pass my genuine thanks on to your appraiser. This is my first effort at any manuscript and the appraiser was the first other human to read it. The comments are very meaningful to me and the criticism well pointed and more generous than I expected. I am encouraged to review the content of the manuscript and strengthen the characters as suggested. I am also now enthused to get into it again, balancing the appraisal and my sense of the manuscript.
G
I have finally managed to get my manuscript accepted by a publisher.
After making the changes, I was able to get my 8th draft accepted by the Australian Fishing Network (AFN) in Melbourne. It was also submitted to more mainstream publishers, but was unable to attract much interest from them. A common theme was that it was interesting, but not their cup of tea to publish...
Thankyou for your assistance in getting this project over the
JF
I have really enjoyed the process that has arisen from using the services of the MAA. Some of the comments I have made to other aspiring writers are:
“Using Brian Cook has given me maturity and a reality check. I would’ve never thought growth like this was achievable in such a short time. It’s a steroid for writers”
“As an unpublished writer, you can lose touch with reality and your work. The appraisal from Brian Cook (and MAA) has given me a direction I would never thought of. It has allowed me to look at my work critically. And when you pay that money, somehow you really see you’re work for what it was before the appraisal: not quite there.”
AS-C