Is your novel ready to submit to a publisher?
A professional reader reads your entire novel and tells you what works, what to improve and how to present it, also outside your own language. We give you the judgement that brings you closer to publication. If you write in English, we can also help you publish in Spain.
"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, 18 to 25 pages: what works, what doesn't, which titles it competes with and whether it is ready to submit. Includes a follow-up round of questions.
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
Markets by language, comparables in each and candidate foreign imprints, with the route into every market. Work in four languages.
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.
Plot summary
The whole story, ending included: proof of a complete reading.
The subplots
Each secondary thread: what it does, where it enters and whether it closes.
Overall appraisal
The verdict in short: what works and what the main problem is, without hedging.
Core and potential readership
Who will read this book, and for what concrete reason.
What sets it apart
What this book has that others do not, argued as an editor would argue it.
Literary appraisal
Voice, style, dialogue, characters and architecture, with examples from the text.
Commercial appraisal
Fit with the real market, and what will lift or limit sales.
Coherence and plausibility
Whether the novel holds together: plot, characters, world and research.
Literary and commercial scores
Ten sub-criteria scored on each axis, with the mark after the argument.
Key pages
The scenes an editor should read first, located and justified.
Translation difficulty
What obstacles an international sale would face.
Editing: strengths and areas to work on
What to protect and what to rework, chapter by chapter.
About the author and comparables
What the text reveals about the writer, and which published titles it speaks to.
Imprint and list
Recommended imprint and list, with alternatives and the reasoning for each.
Title, cover and promotion
Title alternatives, cover directions and launch strategy.
In short
The book in a few words, what it has and what it needs.
Final score and editorial recommendation
The mark with its formula, the projected mark after revision, and whether it is ready to submit today.
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.
Internal coherence, scene by scene
Loose ends, chronology and contradictions, located in the text.
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.
Who reads your manuscript.
I am a professional reader, trained in Penguin Random House's Itinerario de Edición Profesional and in editorial project management at the Fundación Germán Sánchez Ruipérez, within PARIX. I trained first as an engineer, and spent thirty years abroad, between Africa, Latin America and projects in Asia. I now work freelance in four languages, in two capacities: with authors, reading manuscripts, and with publishers, as a scout, spotting and assessing new work. I run a book club.
Your questions, answered before you start.
What does a manuscript assessment include?
How long does it take?
Is it confidential?
Do you guarantee publication?
Can I discuss the report with you afterwards?
Which languages do you work in?
How is it different from proofreading?
How do I start?
Want to know what works in your manuscript?
Tell us about your manuscript: genre, length and where you're at. We'll tell you which report suits you, with a timeline and a price, before you begin.
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.