Receiving Peer Reviews
How do I upload a manuscript for peer review?
It's easy. Go to the Book Country online editor. This is where it all happens; the online editor is essential to the peer review process. There are three main work areas within the online editor: Cover Designer, Editor, and eBook Details.
You will be prompted to upload your manuscript when you click Start... from your Dashboard. There is also an Upload button on the right-hand side of the Editor if you need to upload your manuscript again after working on it offline (See more information about uploading new versions of your manuscript here).
We've tried to make the interface as user-friendly and intuitive as possible; but just for good measure, watch our video on how to upload your manuscript.
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Is there a minimum number of words for peer reviews? Can I post short stories or serials?
As long as your written piece contains 250 words and can be uploaded as a single document, you are free to post it for peer review.
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Can I upload just one chapter?
Yes. You can upload as little or as much as you want as long as it contains a minimum of 250 words. But upload something! Just make sure it is one continuous document. For example, you cannot upload one document with your first chapter and a separate document for your second chapter.
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Can I upload chapters one at a time?
You can, but you need to upload them as a continuous document. You cannot upload one document with Chapter One then add Chapter Two a few days later in a separate document.
If you only have a single chapter ready for review, make sure it is one continuous document with a minimum of 250 words. When you’re ready to add more chapters, you have two options:
- Add chapters offline and then upload the new manuscript. This uploaded document will become the second version of your manuscript and overwrite your original document.
- Add chapter directly through the online editor.
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How do I designate chapters in my manuscript?
Use titles with Heading 1 style or designate with chapter tags in the online editor.
We strongly suggest you make sure your chapters have titles, even if you just name them Chapter One, Chapter Two, etc. Chapters help the person reading your manuscript. If you designate each chapter with the Heading 1 Style in Word, our online editor will automatically pull the titles and create a table of contents after you upload your manuscript. Otherwise, you will need to use the Tag Chapter button in our online editor to manually designate your chapters.
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What file formats do you support?
Save your manuscript as one of the following file types: .rtf, .doc, .docx, .epub or .txt.
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Can my book for peer review contain images?
No. Your images will be stripped from the manuscript once you load it into the online editor, so make sure you save them in files on your computer!
If you decide to later publish your eBook with Book Country, you will then be able to insert images into your eBook.
Learn more about eBook publishing here.
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Will my formatting be preserved?
We try. Our online editor is designed to be an efficient tool that preserves as much formatting as possible. Some advanced formatting features such as tables or custom fonts may not convert correctly in the editor, but we’ll do our best to get it as close to your original formatting as possible. You’ll have a chance to preview your work on-screen to check for formatting errors. If you see something that isn’t rendering properly, go into the online editor and remove any formatting that may be causing a problem. If you’re still having problems, please feel free to contact us at support@bookcountry.com.
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How do I edit a book that I have uploaded for review?
There are two ways:
- Directly edit your manuscript in our online editor.
- Make your edits offline in a document and upload the new manuscript.
Either way, you can directly edit your book elements (title, subtitle, about the book, genre, keywords, chapter names and order, author’s note, and feedback criteria) at any time on the Book Country site by clicking the Edit button from your Dashboard.
Note: Both options will save over the previous version of your manuscript.
Your versions will be named “Draft 1 – Date Created,” “Draft 2 – Date Created,” etc. This allows your peer reviewers to keep track of which version they’ve read. If you edit within our online editor, save a copy of your draft for your own records on your computer or flash drive before you begin making edits. Your new draft will save over the previous version.
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What feedback criteria are required to submit my manuscript for peer review?
Feedback Criteria are useful tools you can use to ask for help in specific areas of your work. The Overall Feedback is the only criteria required in order for you to post your manuscript for review, and we’ve selected it automatically for you.
You also have the option to select as many of the following feedback sections as you want:
- Point of View
- Voice
- Character Development
- Plot
- Dialogue
- Pacing
- Setting
- Continuity
Book Country is a community designed to help you create the best book possible, so we encourage you to select the appropriate feedback criteria that you need help with while workshopping your book.
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How do I suggest an additional feedback criteria category be added?
Send us an email at support@bookcountry.com to make suggestions.
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Can I save my manuscript for peer review without posting a review?
Yes. You can save your manuscript and make it available for review later if you so choose. Because Book Country is a community, you must complete at least one peer review before posting your manuscript for others to review.
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What other details do I have to include with my manuscript for peer review?
When you post a manuscript for peer review, include the following:
Book Details –
- Title / subtitle
- Author Name / Pen Name*
- Genre
- Audience Level
- Keywords
- About the Book (minimum 50 characters, max 2,000)
- About the Author (max 8,000 characters)
Optional sections:
Author Notes – Highlight any specific directions for your peer reviews, such as if you want authors to specifically look at chapter two.
Cover – We encourage you to post a cover since this piece is a large selling point for eBooks and may also help other members as they browse for books to review.
*Many writers ask whether they should use a pen name or their own name. While there are cases for a pen name, we encourage writers to use their own name.
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Can I create a cover with my manuscript for peer review?
Yes! Covers are encouraged because they draw people to your book, and they're fun to create.
You have several options for building your cover when you upload your manuscript for Peer Review. Using our online cover designer, upload your own original image or completely designed cover. Or, you can use artwork from our ever-growing library of royalty-free images. Once you select your image, place your book’s title, subtitle and author name on your cover. You can choose from a variety of font, color and style options to make your text appear however you want.
Don't fret too much about your cover. Like your manuscript, it's a work-in-progress and can be changed. You can ask for feedback about your book cover along with your manuscript. Specify your request for a book cover review in the Author Notes section when you post the book review.
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How can others provide feedback on my cover?
Ask for it in the Author Notes section. While we don't have a specific review section for your cover at this time, as you're loading your manuscript, make a note of your desire for others to critique your cover in the Author Notes section. You can also share your cover via social media in order to get feedback from a wider audience.
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Do I have to create a cover for peer review?
No. A cover is not required for peer review. If you do not create a cover, we will insert a placeholder cover image for you.
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I have completed all the required fields for peer review, but I am unable to post my manuscript. Why?
You must submit at least one review for another book in peer review in order for your own manuscript to become eligible for review. Learn how to post a review here.
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How many peer reviews must I complete before I can post my manuscript?
At least one.You must complete at least one peer review before you can post your own manuscript for review. You may post as many versions as needed of the same manuscript without completing additional peer reviews, but for each new title posted, you will need to complete a peer review (one review per one title posted).
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Why do I have to complete a peer review to post my manuscript?
Book Country is a writing and publishing community. We believe the best way to connect with other writers is to help them succeed. That's why we ask for a one-for-one contribution to post your book for review. Once your book is posted, it can have an unlimited amount of reviews.
Many writers tell us how much they learn about their own writing as they critique the work of their peers. We encourage you to read and review as many book as possible in your literary category.
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How can I access my manuscripts posted for peer review?
Your Dashboard. After you login, navigate to your Dashboard. There you will see two sections: Peer Review with your titles listed that are available for peer review and Publish with your published books listed.
You may also search for your own book through keywords of your book details.
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How can I take my manuscript down from peer review?
Delete it. After you login navigate to your Dashboard. You will see your manuscripts available for Peer Review. If you no longer wish for your manuscript to be available for review, click on the Delete button located to the title you wish to remove.
Note: Deleting your book will also delete all reviews and feedback. We cannot retrieve this for you.
Please use the delete button with caution, as you will not be able to recover the work, reviews or comments. If you delete a manuscript from peer review, you won't be able to publish that work on Book Country unless you upload it again later.
One of the benefits of peer review is that you're also building the first audience for your book. We encourage you to keep at least a few chapters of the book on Book Country to help new fans discover your work.
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How do I submit a new version of my manuscript for peer review?
It's easy. You can edit your manuscript directly on the Book Country site through our online editor. Once you’re satisfied with the changes, you can post the updated manuscript in order to make it available for review. Please note, make sure that if you edit within our online editor, save a copy of your draft for your own records before you begin making edits. Your new draft will save over the previous version.
You can also make your edits offline and simply re-upload your continuous document by clicking on Edit from your dashboard. This will also save over your older versions, so make sure to keep a copy of your versions on your own computer. Your reviews associated with the previous version will still be shown and attributed to that version on your book details page.
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What information can I change on a new version?
Everything except the title and subtitle. You can directly edit your book elements as well as your book details (about the book, genre, about the author, chapter names and order, audience level, keywords, author’s note and feedback criteria) at any time on the Book Country site by clicking the Edit link from your dashboard. You cannot edit your title or subtitle.
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How do I change my cover image during peer review?
From your Dashboard. Login to your account and navigate to your Dashboard. Select the manuscript containing the cover you wish to change and click Edit. From here, click on the cover tab and you can start a new design. See our FAQ for more information on how to create a cover.
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How do I publish my manuscript in peer review?
It's easy. Login to your account and navigate to your dashboard. Click on Edit, and you’ll see a Publish Now button. Once you click that, your manuscript will be removed from Peer Review. Please be careful; once you confirm your intent to move to publishing, there is no way to revert back to peer review.
Once you move your manuscript from peer review to the publishing online editor, the editor will find and highlight any formatting errors that need to be fixed. Refer to FAQs and follow our Best Practices Guide in order to quickly navigate through creating your best eBook.
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How are reviews posted on my book?
Book Country members are the only people who can read and review your book. View our FAQ about how to post a peer review.
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How can I see reviews on past versions of my manuscript?
Navigate to the dropdown selection on the Peer Review page in order to see past reviews on different versions of your manuscript.
Please note: you will not be able to see past versions of your manuscripts.
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How are overall ratings calculated?
Your ratings are based mostly on your overall ratings; however, the more categories reviewers enter feedback and rate each section – character, grammar, etc. – the less each section weighs.
Book Country uses nib ratings to help writers understand how much work is needed on their book and how ready the manuscript is for publication.
When you write a review, you will be asked to give nib ratings for overall feedback, as well as for each of the feedback criteria a writer has chosen. Each of those ratings is then averaged using a unique weighting system to calculate the average rating of your review. Each feedback criteria category is weighted at 10% with the remainder counted as overall feedback. For example, if you enter feedback on plot, pacing and character development, each of those categories would be worth 10% (totaling 30%) and the overall feedback would be rated at 70%.
Bear in mind that a low rating doesn’t mean a book is “bad,” it means a book needs work. Think of the nib ratings on a scale of rough draft to final draft. Everything on Book Country is a “Work In Progress” and every book, even ones by bestselling authors, has room for improvement. That’s why we’re sharing in the first place!
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