TLC now offers its industry-recommended Manuscript Assessment service for graphic novels and comic books. Working with award-winning graphic novelist Hannah Berry, we will help you to develop your comic script or graphic novel-in-progress with detailed feedback from published authors in this area.
Are you working on a graphic novel or a comic book? Need a professional opinion to move the work forwards?
You can now submit your manuscript, along with sample illustrations and artwork (if you have them) to our team of expert Editors for honest, market-aware appraisal.
Your manuscript assessment will help you understand where your work currently sits in relation to the commercial marketplace, and offer practical advice for next steps. For our graphic novel and comics service, your work will be read by Hannah Berry and her team of skilled specialist TLC Editors.
Submit now and select ‘Graphic Novel’ or ‘Comic Book’ in our online submission portal.
About Hannah Berry
Hannah Berry is a sometimes award-winning comics creator and campaigner, author of three graphic novels: off-beat noir BRITTEN & BRÜLIGHTLY, creeping horror ADAMTINE, and political satire LIVESTOCK, all published by Jonathan Cape. She has contributed comics to anthologies and publications from 2000AD to the New England Journal of Medicine, and was a cartoonist for New Statesman and Prospect Magazine. Berry is a founding committee member of the Society of Authors’ Comics Creators Network and founding co-director of the Comics Cultural Impact Collective (CCIC), a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and was UK Comics Laureate 2019-21.
Hannah says:
“This is an incredibly exciting time to be making comics in the UK: we’re seeing a huge uptick in the popularity of comics and graphic novels amongst readers and creators, with more publishers getting involved than ever before. The level of professional support and guidance for works in progress has yet to keep up with the demand, however, and so this new offering from TLC is a massive boon, arriving at just the right time!”
About CCIC
As part of this new service, friends of The Comics Cultural Impact Collective (CCIC) will be eligible for a 15% discount in 2026. Sign up to their newsletter and join here.
CCIC is a non-profit organisation founded by professionals from within the UK comics community, working together to support comics creators and to raise awareness of the wider cultural, educational, social, and economic value of the medium.
What do I get?
A TLC Manuscript Assessment will provide practical tips for self-editing, and give developmental and structural advice about basic narrative elements, showing you what you’re doing well, what’s working less well and why, and how to get your manuscript in the best possible shape. Your TLC Editor will also provide feedback on your illustrations and offer suggestions on areas where the artwork may need strengthening to better communicate the story. Writers who use our services can feel confident that their work will be matched to an appropriate reader from our list of editors with unsurpassed professional experience.
What is a graphic novel?
There is a lot of discussion around the term and when/where/whether it is appropriate, but a generally accepted understanding is that a graphic novel is a published, long-form comic.
What is a comic?
A comic is a fiction or non-fiction narrative (or essay), expressed sequentially with words and images working in tandem together to generate meaning (though sometimes they can be wordless).
How much does it cost?
Single-issue comic book (typically 3,000-5,000 words) = £330 (inc. VAT)
Graphic Novel (typically 20,000-50,000 words) = £550 (inc. VAT)
How do I book my manuscript assessment?
To book a Manuscript Assessment for a graphic novel or comic book, please have your manuscript, synopsis, and a one page covering letter ready to upload. Select ‘Graphic Novel’ or ‘Comic Book’ from the ‘Manuscript Read Type’ dropdown in the online form. Your fee will be automatically calculated for you, including the appropriate tax according to your country of residence. Submissions can be sent as either Word or PDF documents. You may submit text only, or text and artwork.
We also offer a ‘Quick Turnaround’ service, with feedback guaranteed within 10 working days, for an additional fee. Please contact the office directly if you are interested in a Quick Turnaround.
