SERVICES
Get on the list for Eugene Havens’ friendly critique manuscript review service.
Get a constructive review of your work-in-progress manuscript from an unbiased source. Without the negative approach you may be used to.
It’s not an up-or-down verdict but an exploration of how and why your writing resonates.
I take a supportive approach to pinpoint your book’s strengths and opportunities.
A friendly Review
Why are book critiques so often “cruel to be kind?”
Instead of suffering a red pen, a work-in-progress manuscript needs support and understanding.
I review a fledgling manuscript as an ally, not an adversary, and will clearly highlight a book’s strengths and hidden potential.
Focus
The laziest critique is a list of negatives. I avoid this rude approach. Instead, I convey strengths and articulate latent ideas. My goal is to help a writer build on what is working.
Relevance
I evaluate a manuscript’s narrative flow above all else. Typos and unpolished prose can be fixed. What matters is pulling a reader through a compelling story. It’s all I care about.
Insight
To a new MS, I bring decades of experience as a novelist, essayist, media writer, and MFA graduate. I examine how a book can be relevant in today’s world of competing attentions.
Respect
I never “take over” a book to improve it. My review serves as a mirror for the themes and story, offering context, what-ifs, and, for the higher-tier service, hands-on suggestions.
Book Review Services
I offer flexible options that adapt to the specific needs of each project.
Book Excerpt
$249
A detailed review of a chapter up to 25 pages. Perfect for a general sense of direction. Includes “what-if” suggestions.
Full novel review.
Includes detailed, on-page ideas that may involve restructuring.
Novel Review
$499
A comprehensive review of a book up to 250 pages. (Add $199 for an additional 100 pages.) A friendly “stranger’s” take on your new book.
Full novel review.
Includes detailed, on-page ideas that may involve restructuring.
Review + Hands-on
$799
An in-depth critique of a book up to 300 pages, with the benefit of on-page ideas. When you want to go beyond a review.
Full novel review.
Includes detailed, on-page ideas that may involve restructuring.
“Eugene Havens has a natural instinct for improving a story’s narrative flow to engage readers. His constructive review will add value to your manuscript and your writing journey.”
Beverly Ehrman
Editor, Beediting Services
Eugene Havens
Well-traveled and still inspired
I’ve refused to succumb to the cynicism of the trade.
New York educated
I studied in New York City workshops under literary writers Peter Carey, Francine Prose, and Amy Hempel.
Master’s of Fine Arts degree
I was admitted to the inaugural class of the New School MFA Writing Program and graduated with a degree in fiction.
Literary focused
In a world of fan fiction, I adhere to classical standards of narrative and character development.
Indie author
I released Marble on a Table: A Novel (2020), and am currently writing on Recently Rural: A Memoir (2028)
Arts & Culture essayist
I’ve written over 50 long-form essays on this website, several of which have reached high Google rankings.
Media Background
As a former advertising writer, I’m aware of what resonates in a competitive culture, from titles to cover design.
FAQs
What are the differences among the review tiers?
The Book Excerpt caters to a writer who is evaluating a sample chapter in terms of whether it can be expanded into a novel. The Novel Review offers a global assessment of a manuscript’s qualities and opportunities. The Review + Hands-on service adds creative suggestions that may involve exploratory structural changes, suggestions of material to cut or expand, and unsolicited creative ideas that a writer can use however seems best.
Does a review involve line editing?
None of the review tiers offer line edits. Instead, I focus on narrative ideas, pacing, and character development—elements that are essential to a successful story. My involvement would come before a line edit review.
Why should a writer hire you to read a manuscript?
I review a manuscript from a classical perspective based on New York training. Simultaneously, I look for an honest connection with the reader. For any writer who seeks an opinion outside of one’s friend circle, I can offer a knowledgeable, yet supportive opinion. My writing style can be found on this website and in my novel.
What types of manuscripts do you review?
I focus on literary fiction and memoir in my own writing. With that said, a literary attitude can elevate a book of any genre, and I’ll work with whatever project you have going. The only exception would be manuscripts with high levels of violent or sexual content. I don’t believe I am a good resource for those types of stories.
What if I’m not satisfied with the review?
Given the up-front work needed to deliver a review, a refund will not be possible. If you are uncertain about using the service, check out the writing on this site to see if it aligns with your style, and maybe try the Book Excerpt option first.