The Process

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What will Donna read and not read? 

​A story is a story, and ​Donna will read almost anything. However, to maintain a focus on story architecture, structural integrity, and character development, please note the following professional boundaries regarding the content Donna will evaluate:​

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• Content Exclusions: Donna does not accept manuscripts that feature graphic horror, excessive gratuitous violence, or explicit sexual content.

• Romantic Focus: Dpnna welcomes romantic relationships and entaglements in works of fiction, but she does not evaluate manuscripts featuring same-sex romance, alternative lifestyles, polyamorous relationships (such as threesomes), or content categorized as erotica (narratives dominated by frequent, explicit sexual scenes).

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Donna prioritizes working with stories where character choices and plot development are the primary engines of the narrative. This includes both adult and young adult fiction in the following categories (but certainly not limited to) historical fiction, contemporary, historical romance, cozy mysteries, gothic mysteries, Christian and inspirational fiction, dystopian, science fiction,  etc. 

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What if my manuscript is over 90,000 words? 

• If your manuscript is over 90,000 words, you need to first edit and revise like a monster to be sure you have tightened both your plot, your direction (non-fiction) and your prose as much as possible.

• If you still have over 90,000 words, then email Donna with the information outlined below. She will take a careful look at your work before proceeding, and if necessary, make some suggestions before bringing the work is brought back to her for evaluation.  

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Interested in having Donna help you with your manuscript?  

• Email Donna at donnahechlerporterbooks@gmail.com. ​

  • In 50 words or less, tell Donna what your book is about.

  • Do NOT attach the book or synposis at this time. 

  • If you are submitting a full length work (novella, novel, non-fiction) include the current word count. 

  • Include what you feel you need help with. 

  • Include a time frame, if any, that you are working under.

• Donna will email you within 24 hours to let you know she received your submission and what you can expect next. 

What happens after Donna receives your email?

• Donna will review your email. She may ask further questions. She will call you and speak with you personally about your project. 

• If for some reason after correspondence it seems a collaboration would not be a good fit, then nothing further will happen. 

• If Donna feels the collaboration would be a good fit, she will email you a contract via Google forms so that everything you expect and she expects is in writing. 

• After 50% of the payment is received, she will put your project in the queue. She will keep you posted when she has begun reading and when she is close to being finished.

• She will analzye, write the reports, and let you know when the final report is finished. 

• After you pay the remaining 50%, she will email you the report and arrange a phone call / video call to go over the report. She will also go over suggestions for moving foward into writing the rest of the book (Tier 1 & Tier 4) or into revisions and edits (Tier 2 and 3). 

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What is NOT included in the list of services above? 

• Developmental edits. A Manuscript Evaluation is a larger, bird's eye view of the project focusing on the big picture elements of your manuscript. A developmental edit is a deeper collaborative process, involving line-by-line edits of the manuscript. 

• Line edits, meaning she will not edit/revise/mark your manuscript in regards to things such as improper grammar, verb tense, spelling, comma usage, etc. She may offer general suggestions for overcoming repeated flaws and mistakes in the follow-up report.

• Rewriting and revision of sentences, although general suggestions in sentence structure may be offered in the follow-up report.  

• Editing and revising footnotes or bibliographies if such are included. It is the author's responsibilty to be sure proper formatting is done with regard to sources. 

• Formatting of books for independent authors. Donna does format her own books, and she would be glad to help a client do so for an additional cost. ​​

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Disclaimer: 

Donna's mission with these evaluations is to help clients strengthen their manuscript (s) and hone their craft as a storyteller. While dedicated to helping clients reach their goals, please understand Donna's services are designed to improve a client's writing and are not a guarantee of commercial success, sales, or a traditional publishing contract.

Let's Build Your Story Together

Need some direction moving forward on your current work-in-progress?  I work with a limited number of authors each month to ensure every manuscript gets the deep focus and attention it deserves.

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👉 Click Here to Read About How the Process Works!       

👉Click Here to Tell Donna About Your Project & Book Your Slot!