BARBARA
MURISON
ASSESSMENT
SERVICES
KAPITI
COAST NEW ZEALAND
Working
with Children, Young Adults, Books and Resources since 1950
Member
New Zealand Association of Manuscript Assessors
RECORDING (!)
IMAGE: WELLINGTON CITY COUNCIL
Manuscript Assessment Services
•Every year publishers in
this country and overseas are overloaded with unsolicited manuscripts from
writers. Sadly only a very few of them ever make it to the bookshops or library
shelves. Publishers just do not have the time or resources to go through a manuscript
suggesting how to bring it up to publishable standards. This is where a
professional assessor may be able to help. If you choose me to assess
your manuscript you will receive an informed and impartial professional opinion
of your work including a detailed written report pointing out the strengths and
any weaknesses with ideas on how to rework it, if necessary, with the idea of
submitting it for possible publication This will include comments on
characterisation, plot and style. After you receive the report I am always
available by email or phone if there are any points on which you want to follow
up. I work mainly with books for children and young people but from time
to time am really excited when I ‘get’ an adult ms. to work with – especially
memoirs.
Some Background Details
My qualifications include over sixty
years (could it really be that long?) working with and assessing books and resources for children and young
readers, knowledge of what publishers are currently looking for and a real hope
to keep a high standard of children’s literature alive in this country.
In 2002 Storylines: New
Zealand Children’s Literature Foundation, awarded me the Betty Gilderdale
Award for services to New Zealand children’s literature and in 2004, SLANZA
School Library Association of New Zealand Aotearoa presented me with a
Certificate of Recognition for ‘innovation and contribution over 50 years in
the development of quality resources and expertise in libraries for children
and young people’. In the 2007 New Year Honours, I was made a Member of the
New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to children’s
literature. Later last year SLANZA did me the honour of making me an Hon
Life Member of the Association and then was I asked to become the Patron of
the Friends of the Dorothy Neal White Collection. Of course absolutely
none of these things would have happened without the amazing network of
librarians and teachers it has been my privilege to work with or the real life
children and teenagers for whom we do it all…
For nineteen years I produced
a three-monthly book review bulletin for schools, colleges, public libraries.
In November 2012 I decided to stop this part of my business but I continue to
read the new children's (and young adults) books as they come out and review
them on my blog (see address below). In a way this is even more enjoyable
than producing the bulletin as it is always much more up to date and I can show
the wonderful jackets in full colour – and, most importantly, have instant
feedback on what I have written. .
However, just for the
record, I don’t spend all my time at the computer (it just feels like it
sometimes – I do get out in the bush and the fresh air and
also enjoy going out with family and friends to movies, dinner, events etc.)
How To Send Your Manuscript To Me
Your manuscript should be clearly typed, double-spaced with
numbered pages and wide margins. Please don’t use fancy fonts! Helvetica,
Arial, Times New Roman or Verdana are the easiest for me to read. Please don’t
send in the form you feel you would like it to be if published – large print/
triple spacing etc. All I need are the words. Please PLEASE don’t use
page breaks!
•You will also need to
include an accurate word-count.
•If you are sending a hard
copy a CD as well would be helpful. However – email is by far the easiest
way I feel for both the writer and me. Just send as an attachment.
•Handwritten manuscripts
cannot be assessed.
•If you are posting your
work, include an appropriately sized, stamped and addressed envelope for its
return.
•Assessments usually take
about ten days but I am always available by email to let you know how far I
have progressed with your manuscript.
. •If you are sending
a hard copy please tell me if you would rather I didn’t make any notes on the
ms..
Charges
The following is a guide
only based on word count. If you send your total word count I can get back to
you with a more accurate charge.
From 10 to 3000 words
$156.50 (this is a fixed charge and applies to
one or several manuscripts if they are sent together
(then:
up to 6000 words
$189.00
up to 10,000 words
$215.00
up to 20,000 words
$280.00
up to 30,000 words
$345.00
up to 45,000 words
$442.50
up to 60,000 words
$540.00
up to 80,000 words
$670.00
up to 90,000 words
$735.00
up to 100,000 words
$800.00
and so on…
I do not charge GST
Contact Me
Assessment Services
PO Box 113
Waikanae 5036
New Zealand
Phone :
64
04 293 1247
Mobile:
021
217 3217
email: barbaram22@xtra.co.nz
blog:
barbaramurison.blogspot.co.nz
(Note: I use my blog primarily to review current
books from New Zealand and around the world for children and young
adults.
Assessment Services is closed for two weeks over the summer
holidays from Christmas Eve. It is also sometimes necessary to limit the
numbers of assessments taken on board when the workload becomes too heavy but I
will always suggest the name and emails of other assessors with whom I am in
constant contact if this happens).
Last updated June 2016
