Authored by Ryan Lorenz, UNG Press Intern | Banner Image “Report” by Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Pix4free.org
When it comes to the realm of book publishing, publishers get hundreds, if not thousands of queries a year from authors seeking publication within their catalog. Publishers may find it time-consuming to go through every single manuscript that runs through their doors, so how do publishers decide which manuscripts move forward? Reader’s reports, of course!
What exactly is a reader’s report?
A reader’s report is a detailed review and overview of a query, usually performed by assistants. These reports tend to vary in contents, but they typically all contain the same pieces of information such as the name of the author, the book’s genre, what was done well and what could use some work, a summary of the plot, and the reader’s own opinion on the manuscript (Pearlson).
Who writes reader’s reports?
Reader’s reports are most often written by editorial interns, editorial assistants, or freelance manuscript readers hired by an agency or press (Vaughn). Because reader’s reports require close reading and a clear written evaluation rather than years of strong industry experience, they’ve become one of the most common entry points into publishing, often explored as a foundational skill in both academic and professional settings.
What goes into a reader’s report?
The first pieces of information that should appear in the report would be that of the title, genre, the author’s name, and other essential pieces of information such as the manuscript’s format and the date the manuscript was received. This sets the standard knowledge of who wrote it, the expected tone/style, and that ever-so-important title.
Following these key details should be the plot summary (tagline), giving the reviewer a glimpse into what information or story the work conveys (Pearlson). These should be somewhat like the blurbs of information you’d find on the back of a novel, though a touch different. A blurb’s purpose is to market the text, whereas the tagline’s purpose is to give an overview to set the tone for the reviewer.
The bulk of the report is the evaluation itself: what the manuscript does well, what it doesn’t, and what it could do to improve. Importantly, the reader’s job isn’t to make sweeping creative suggestions; instead, the focus falls on the manuscript’s structure, narrative consistency, and marketability. As Pearlson of The Writer’s Workout advises, “Remember to try to be objective. Don’t only go by what you personally like to read.” This gives the head reviewer the opportunity to see the manuscript’s overall potential, and what they may need to do to grow it further or pass.
Differences in genres, differences in reports
While the bones of a reader’s report stay consistent, the focus shifts depending on what kind of manuscript is on the desk. For fiction, readers typically zero in on voice, pacing, character development, and whether the plot earns its ending. For nonfiction, especially at university presses, reports lean more heavily on the argument’s strength, the research’s credibility, the text’s intended audience, and how the project may compare to existing titles in the field. Whether it’s a reader evaluating a scholarly textbook, or a reader evaluating a debut fantasy novel, the format stays the same, regardless of the specific questions being asked.
To summarize
A reader’s report creates an easily digestible, shorthand version of the manuscript, so that acquisitions editors can quickly see whether the manuscript fits the press’s list and is worth pursuing further. This saves quite a bit of time for all involved and smooths the process entirely.
Sources
Pearlson, Carly. “How to Write a Reader’s Report.” The Writer’s Workout, 26 Feb. 2026, www.writersworkout.net/post/how-to-write-a-reader-s-report. Accessed 23 May 2026.
Vaughn, Evan. “What We Look For: A Sample Reader’s Report.” Blogspot.com, 2022, searchingforthestory.blogspot.com/2011/09/what-we-look-for-sample-readers-report.html. Accessed 23 May 2026.
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