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Trauma & Cult-Informed Manuscript Review and Coaching
 

This offering is for writers with a draft manuscript in progress or a completed manuscript who are seeking clarity, safety, and informed perspective before publication. It is particularly suited for work that engages themes of:

• Cultic or high-control group involvement

• Spiritual, religious, institutional, or cultic abuse

• Coercive family systems or psychological, relational, or developmental trauma

This review invites the author to step back from immersion in the writing process and receive feedback on the manuscript’s emotional, psychological, and narrative cohesion, grounded in a thorough understanding of the dynamics of coercive control. 

It is NOT an editorial review, nor does it include coaching for marketability and publication options, although these topics may be lightly addressed. 

 

Purpose of the Review

This manuscript review provides an external, trauma-informed lens that may invite deeper inquiry, discernment, and possible revision.

The goal is not to change or sanitize the story in any way, but to support the author in becoming increasingly comfortable, grounded, and discerning—especially in relation to the most challenging aspects of their narrative—while identifying areas they may ultimately choose to revise, expand, soften, or remove.

The review and accompanying coaching sessions are designed to elevate the author’s level of integration and readiness for whatever comes next: further editing, publication, legal review, or sharing their work with others.

 

What’s Included:

Trauma & Cult-Informed Manuscript Review and Coaching includes:

• One 75–90 minute Intake Session
   

• A complete manuscript review
   

• A comprehensive written report
   

• Two post-review sessions (60 minutes each):
   

  • Session 1: Review findings and identified patterns
     

  • Session 2: Author questions, clarification, and integration
     

 

How It Works

1. Inquiry & Acceptance
   Interested individuals complete the Manuscript Review Inquiry Form. Please note: Not all manuscripts are a fit; acceptance ensures the process is supportive and contained for both author and reviewer.
    

2. Intake Session (75–90 minutes)
   This process is for the author, not just the manuscript. Establishing rapport and mutual understanding is essential before the review begins. This is also an opportunity to acknowledge the wide arc of the author’s experience, identify sensitive areas, and establish the parameters of the review.
    

3. Manuscript Review
   A one-time manuscript review is completed based on word count (see pricing below), with attention to:
    

   • Dynamics of control (past and present)
      

   • Narrative gaps, over-identification, minimization, or internalized coercion
      

   • Areas that may destabilize the author post-publication
      

   • Gentle flags for material that may benefit from therapeutic support
      

   • General narrative feedback, as requested by the author
      

4. Written Report
   The report includes:
    

   • Section-by-section bullet points where further inquiry may be useful
      

   • A summary of identified patterns and potential risks
      

   • Reflective questions to support integration and revision
      

5. In addition, chapter-level or in-text comments may be inserted directly into the manuscript where helpful.
    

6. Post-Review Sessions
   Two sessions support understanding, integration, and decision-making — not pressure toward a particular publishing outcome.
    

 

Pricing Structure

This is a project based pricing structure. Additional options noted below. 

 

Short Manuscript Review - Up to 20,000 words
$500

Includes:

• Manuscript review
   

• Written report
   

• One 60-minute post-review session
   

Mid-Length Manuscript Review - 20,000–40,000 words
$900

Includes:

• Manuscript review
   

• Written report
   

• One 60-minute post-review session
   

Full Manuscript Review and Coaching 40,000–70,000 words
$1,750

Includes:

• 75–90 minute Intake Session
   

• Full manuscript review
   

• Comprehensive written report
   

• Two 60-minute post-review sessions
   

Extended Manuscript Review and Coaching 70,000–100,000 words
$2,250

Includes everything in Full Manuscript Review above, with additional time allocated for length and complexity.

 

Optional Add-Ons

• Additional coaching sessions: $120/hour
   

• Staged manuscript review (by chapter or section): priced proportionally by word count
   

• For word counts over 100,000: $300 for each 10,000 word

• Revision reviews: for up to 10,000 revised words: $300

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A Trauma and Cult-Informed Manuscript review focuses on narrative coherence, ethical risk, and dynamics of control.

It is:

• Not line editing or proofreading (which may occur before or after)
   

• Not therapy, though it may surface material authors will do best to explore with their therapist
   

The primary goal is to support the author in creating an integrated, comprehensive manuscript they feel good about sharing or publishing — one that minimizes the likelihood of regret after release.

By identifying coercive tactics and their impact as they appear across the story arc, authors are supported to:

• Expand scenes that would benefit from further exploration
   

• Discern whether certain scenes should be edited or excluded
   

• Recognize and celebrate sections that most clearly reflect their unique voice and authority