Author Services
Partial-Manuscript Evaluations for Mystery, Gothic, Horror & Speculative Fiction
Not every draft needs a full developmental edit.
Sometimes you need focused editorial feedback on your premise, outline, and opening pages before you invest months revising the wrong problems.
I provide fixed-scope partial-manuscript evaluations for fiction writers who need clarity about the structural strengths and pressure points visible in the materials they submit. Using my story-diagnostic framework, I evaluate elements such as hook, central story question, protagonist pressure, genre promise, escalation, pacing, and reader momentum.
You receive a focused written report with practical, prioritized next steps for revision, not line editing, proofreading, or a full-manuscript developmental edit.
A strong premise is not always a strong story engine.
You may have a compelling concept, vivid characters, or an opening scene you love and still feel unsure why the draft is not gaining momentum. My diagnostics are designed to help you identify the central question, character pressure, genre promise, and escalation pattern that will carry readers through the story.
These services are especially suited to writers working in mystery, gothic, supernatural, horror, suspense, thriller, and speculative fiction.
Find the Story
Choose a Partial-Manuscript Evaluation
Limited number of founding-client rates available through August 31, 2026
Limited number of founding-client slots available through August 31, 2026
Opening-Pages Manuscript Evaluation | Up to 5,000 words
A focused partial-manuscript evaluation of your premise and first 5,000 words. This service examines whether your opening establishes a compelling hook, clear story question, meaningful protagonist pressure, and convincing genre promise.
Best for: An early or stalled draft when you want expert feedback on the premise and opening chapter before revising further.
Materials Evaluated:
A one-page premise or synopsis
Up to 5,000 opening words
Optional outline or beat summary
Up to three questions you want answered
See an Example of What You Submit
You receive:
A 4–6 page editorial report
Hook and opening-momentum analysis
Story-question and mystery-engine feedback
Protagonist pressure and stakes notes
Genre-promise assessment
Three to five prioritized revision moves
View a Sample Audit (PDF)
Turnaround: 72 hours
Limited number of founding-client slots available through August 31, 2026 : $149 founding-client rate
Your turnaround begins once I receive your complete materials and confirm that your project fits the service scope.
If your project falls outside the stated scope, I will contact you within one business day to discuss options or issue a refund.
Limited number of founding-client slots available through August 31, 2026
Extended Partial-Manuscript Evaluation | 15,000–20,000 words
A deeper partial-manuscript evaluation of your synopsis or outline and the first 15,000–20,000 words. This service examines whether the opening movement establishes a sustainable story engine, effective escalation, meaningful protagonist pressure, appropriate pacing, and a strong genre promise.
Best for: A developed draft with structural questions that extend beyond the first chapter, especially when you need clarity before undertaking a major revision.
Materials Evaluated:
A synopsis or outline
The first 15,000–20,000 words of your manuscript
A character list
Your central mystery or story question
Three to five areas where you feel stuck
See an Example of What You Submit
You receive:
An 8–12 page editorial report
Premise and genre-positioning assessment
Mystery-engine and escalation analysis
Protagonist, stakes, and structural notes
Pacing and reader-momentum feedback
A prioritized revision map
View a Sample Story Diagnostic (PDF)
Turnaround: 7 business days
Limited number of founding-client slots available through August 31, 2026: founding-client rate $395
Your turnaround begins once I receive your complete materials and confirm that your project fits the service scope.
If your project falls outside the stated scope, I will contact you within one business day to discuss options or issue a refund.
How it Works
1. Choose the service that fits your project.
Review the service details, scope, turnaround time, and current availability. Select the option that best matches where you are in the drafting or revision process.
2. Complete checkout.
Purchase your selected service through the secure checkout page and complete the brief project questionnaire. Payment is collected at the time of booking to reserve your editorial slot.
3. Submit your materials.
After checkout, you will receive an order confirmation with instructions and a link to the appropriate secure submission form. There, you will upload your manuscript materials and share the specific questions or concerns you want the diagnostic to address.
If your submission falls outside the listed scope or word-count limit, I will contact you promptly to discuss options before beginning the work.
4. Receive your editorial report.
Your turnaround begins once I receive your complete materials and confirm that the project fits the stated service scope. You will receive a clear, written editorial report with focused observations and practical revision priorities.
Want to Diagnose Your Story Engine First?
Not ready for a paid story diagnostic? Start with a focused self-audit.
Is Your Mystery Engine Working? is a free 12-point checklist for fiction writers who want to identify whether their draft has a clear central question, enough protagonist pressure, meaningful escalation, and a strong genre promise.
It is designed for writers of mystery, gothic, horror, supernatural, suspense, thriller, and speculative fiction.
My Editorial Approach
My work is grounded in close reading, genre knowledge, and practical story analysis.
I focus on the elements that create momentum and meaning on the page: the central story question, the pressure on the protagonist, the promises made to the reader, and the escalation of stakes, revelations, and consequences. I read for both what is already working in a draft and what the story seems to be reaching toward but has not yet fully claimed.
My reports are direct, specific, and designed to support revision. Rather than overwhelming you with every possible observation, I identify the patterns most likely to affect clarity, tension, reader investment, and forward momentum. I then translate those observations into practical next steps.
AI Use & Client Materials
I read every submitted project myself and remain responsible for every editorial conclusion, recommendation, and written report.
I may use third-party generative AI tools as a limited supporting part of my editorial process. This may include uploading portions of a submitted manuscript or project materials so I can compare observations, summarize structural elements, test possible interpretations, or identify patterns that merit closer human review.
AI does not replace my reading or judgment. I do not use it to write, rewrite, imitate, or generate fiction in a client’s voice. I do not deliver unreviewed AI output as editorial feedback.
Client materials are submitted to AI tools only for the purpose of providing the purchased editorial service. I use only the amount of material reasonably necessary for the project, and I take reasonable steps to use tools and settings designed to limit model-training use of submitted content.
By purchasing a service and submitting materials, clients acknowledge and consent to this limited AI-assisted editorial use. Clients who do not wish to have any portion of their work submitted to an AI tool should contact me before purchase; I will confirm whether a human-only option is available for the requested service.
Your manuscript remains your work. I do not claim ownership of client materials, share them publicly, use them in marketing, or include them in examples without explicit written permission.
About Stacey Anderson Laatsch
I am a supernatural mystery author and story editor with an M.A. in English. I spent two years as editor of my university literary journal and later taught college-level English composition.
My editorial work combines close reading, clear written analysis, and a deep interest in the machinery of fiction: character pressure, genre promise, secrets, revelations, pacing, and the questions that keep readers turning pages.
I currently specialize in defined story diagnostics. Full developmental editing and additional author-support services may be added selectively in the future.
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No. Both services are fixed-scope partial-manuscript evaluations. I assess only the premise, outline, opening pages, and other materials included in the selected package. My conclusions are limited to those materials.
These services do not include a complete manuscript read, line editing, proofreading, or a chapter-by-chapter developmental edit.
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Yes, particularly with suspense, thriller, gothic, supernatural, and speculative fiction. Projects outside those areas may be considered selectively.
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No. My services focus on story structure, hook, momentum, character pressure, genre promise, and revision priorities.
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AI is a supporting tool, not the editor. I may use it selectively to organize observations, check for patterns, or pressure-test structural questions. I do not use AI to generate or rewrite your fiction, imitate your voice, or replace close human reading. Every editorial conclusion and recommendation in your report is my own.
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Possibly. I may use a third-party generative AI tool to review portions of submitted project materials as a supporting part of my editorial process—for example, to compare observations, summarize structural elements, or explore possible story-pattern questions.
I read every project myself and make every editorial judgment. AI is never used to write, rewrite, or imitate your fiction, and I do not send clients unreviewed AI output.
I use only the material reasonably needed for the service and take reasonable steps to use privacy-conscious settings. By submitting materials, you consent to this limited AI-assisted use. Contact me before purchase if you need a human-only option.
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Not currently. Future author-support offerings may include additional options as the service studio develops.