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Professional Historical Writing & Manuscript Review

Focused feedback on argument, structure, and audience fit.

I help historians and public-facing writers submit stronger work by identifying structural, argumentative, and audience-fit issues early—before peer review or editorial rejection.

I offer focused, professional feedback on historical writing, including book proposals, article drafts, dissertation chapters, and public-facing essays. My work is designed to help writers revise efficiently by identifying structural, argumentative, and audience-fit issues before submission.

This service emphasizes judgment, clarity, and strategy, not copy-editing or ongoing coaching. Feedback is candid, bounded, and grounded in experience as a working historian and published author.


Services

Proposal & Manuscript Review

Best for: book proposals, article drafts, dissertation chapters, full chapters

What you get

  • Close read of one document (up to 10,000 words)
  • Written diagnostic memo (2–3 pages) addressing:
    • Argument & framing
    • Structure and flow
    • Evidence and historiography
    • Likely reviewer or editor concerns
  • Optional 30-minute follow-up call

Price:

  • $200 flat (no call)
  • $250 flat (with follow-up call)

Public-Facing Writing Review

Best for: op-eds, public history essays, policy briefs, Substack drafts

What you get

  • Close read of one piece (up to 3,000 words)
  • Inline comments + summary guidance on:
    • Clarity and structure
    • Voice and tone
    • Audience alignment
    • Persuasiveness and credibility

Price:

  • $125 flat per piece
  • $300 bundle for three pieces

Quick Diagnostic Review

Best for: abstracts, outlines, early drafts, stuck projects

What you get

  • Review of up to 1,500 words
  • Written feedback focused on:
    • What’s working
    • What’s unclear
    • What to fix first

Price:

  • $75 flat

Turnaround

  • Standard turnaround: 7–10 days
  • Rush option (if available): + $50

What This Is

Honest, professional judgment focused on argument, structure, and audience

What This Is Not

Not line-by-line copy-editing

Not ghostwriting

Not ongoing coaching

Who This Is For

  • Graduate students in late-stage drafting
  • Junior faculty preparing submissions
  • Public historians and museum professionals
  • Policy or public-facing writers working with historical material

Payment & Scheduling
Payment is due in advance to reserve a review slot.
All services are flat-fee and cover one round of feedback as described.
Additional revisions or follow-up work require a new booking.
Upon booking I will send you an invoice through Stripe

Inquiries

If you’re interested in working together, please use the inquiry form to describe your project, audience, and timeline. I respond personally to all serious inquiries. Please use the form below or email me at robert.f.williams@protonmail.com

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