A professional reading — with judgement and international reach.
Manuscript assessment, editing and international submission positioning for authors seeking publication. We tell you what works, what doesn't and how to present your book — including beyond its original language. We don't promise publication: we give you the judgement to get closer to it.
"Dawn was breaking when she reached the house. For three pages nothing happens that the reader doesn't already know, and the reunion, which ought to hurt, arrives only once we've stopped waiting for it."
Human judgement, a clear method and an international eye.
Expert reading
A professional reader who tells genre, intention and market fit apart. Every judgement in the report is grounded: you see what is decided and why.
International reach
We work in Spanish, English, French and Portuguese, and advise on how to position your book beyond its original language.
A traceable report
A structured report, not a verdict: strengths, problems, work priorities and market comparables.
Clear terms
A confidentiality agreement with every manuscript, terms in writing and one honest promise: we don't guarantee publication.
From diagnosis to positioning.
You choose the level of depth. All with human judgement and a traceable method.
Express diagnosis
First ~10,000 words and synopsis: strengths, warning signs and a recommendation.
from ~€120Manuscript assessment
A full professional appraisal: what works, what doesn't and how to improve it.
from ~€360Editing report
Developmental and structural editing analysis, on top of the standard report.
+ ~€300Extended dossier
An in-depth, module-by-module analysis for books that warrant it.
+ ~€450International submission positioning
Which markets and imprints fit your book, and how to present it beyond your language.
add-on ~€280Submission pack
Cover letter, synopsis and comparables in the target language.
add-on ~€200Clear rates, no surprises.
Rates by manuscript length, in euros. The final quote is confirmed once we see the full text.
Estimate your quote
Indicative · plus VAT where applicable · The firm quote is confirmed after we see the manuscript · We don't guarantee publication.
Three steps, no small print.
You send your manuscript
With a signed confidentiality agreement. You keep all rights to your work.
We read it and ground every judgement
A full professional reading: structure, voice, characters, pace, coherence and market fit.
You receive a report and guidance
A clear, actionable report, with next steps and — if you choose — international submission positioning.
Each type of report has its own structure.
Choose a service to see the sections it contains and what each one examines.
Overview and synopsis
The book's details and an objective synopsis that proves a close reading from start to finish.
Structure and plot
How the novel is built — opening, development, climax and ending — and what holds it up or weakens it.
Characters
Construction, motivation, consistency and arc of leads and secondary characters.
Voice and style
Narrative voice, register, dialogue and the tics worth watching.
Pace and tension
Where the reading moves and where it sags, and how information and suspense are metered out.
Theme and meaning
What the book is about beneath the plot, and how coherently it sustains it.
Market and comparables
Which reader it speaks to and which published titles it converses with.
Literary and commercial scoring
A reasoned appraisal on two axes: literary quality and market potential.
Work priorities
Actionable recommendations, ranked by impact: what to tackle first.
First impression
What the opening and synopsis convey to a professional reader.
Strengths and red flags
What already works and what raises a warning light.
Recommendation
Whether the book is worth developing and where to start.
Structural diagnosis
The architecture of the novel and the reordering it needs.
Scene and sequence
Which scenes are redundant, missing or need moving.
Point of view and narrator
Consistency and effectiveness of the voice telling the story.
Dialogue
Naturalness, function and subtext of the conversations.
Style and line
The prose sentence by sentence: clarity, rhythm and precision.
Continuity and coherence
Loose ends, chronology and internal plausibility.
Revision plan
A rewriting roadmap ordered by priority.
Includes the full manuscript assessment and, in addition, these in-depth analysis modules:
Narratological analysis
Time, voice, focalisation and the deep structure of the narrative.
Character map
Relationships, functions and evolution, seen as a whole.
Themes, symbols and motifs
The networks of meaning that run through the whole book.
Style study
The author's language, devices and signature.
Extended context and comparables
Where the book sits within its tradition and its market.
Annotated passages
Specific quotations from the text with detailed analysis.
Target markets
Which languages and countries the book has scope in.
Comparables by language
Kindred titles in each destination market.
Candidate imprints and lists
Publishers the book fits, and why.
Grants, fellowships and book fairs
Support programmes and professional events that matter.
How to present the book
What to prepare to reach beyond your original language.
Behind every report there's a real reader.
Septimus grows out of the work of a professional reader for publishers, with years of critical reading and editorial judgement. It isn't an automated verdict: it's a person who enters your book and answers for what they say.
Your questions, answered before you start.
What does a manuscript assessment include?
How long does it take?
Is it confidential?
Do you guarantee publication?
Which languages do you work in?
How is it different from proofreading?
How do I start?
Want to know what works in your manuscript?
Start with a diagnosis. No publication commitment, with judgement from the very first page.
Confidentiality with every manuscript · You keep all rights · We don't guarantee publication
Legal notice, privacy and terms.
Legal notice
Site owner: Septimus. Domain: septimus.es. Contact via the website.
Privacy (GDPR)
We process the contact details you provide and the content of your manuscript for the sole purpose of delivering the service you engage us for. Legal basis: performance of the contract and your consent. We do not share your data with third parties except where legally required. You may exercise your rights of access, rectification, erasure, objection, restriction and portability, and lodge a complaint with the relevant data protection authority. The manuscript is returned or deleted at your request.
Terms of service
The service is one of professional analysis and guidance. You keep all rights to your work; Septimus acquires no rights to it. Each engagement comes with a confidentiality agreement and written terms. We do not guarantee publication of the work by any publisher or agency.