Developmental Editing

What is developmental editing?

During a developmental edit, your manuscript undergoes a transformative process to unlock its full potential. I specialize in assessing critical elements such as worldbuilding, character development, plot, scene structure, setting, pacing, and narrative coherence. Together, we will work to enhance the impact of your book, crafting a story that resonates with readers and leaves a lasting impression.

Developmental editing is intensive. Unlike a manuscript critique, we will not simply discuss your story’s elements from a bird’s-eye view; we will dive into the nitty-gritty details of story structure, exploring concrete action steps based on expert, proven storytelling strategies and principles.

Who is developmental editing for?

Developmental editing is for writers who have already drafted a full manuscript and are now ready for a deep-dive journey into their manuscript’s core building blocks.

Because this service addresses your story’s big-picture story elements, you may find that you need to rewrite scenes, omit sections, or insert entirely new chapters. For this reason, developmental editing should always take place before any line or copyediting.

During my intake process, I can help you determine whether a manuscript critique or developmental editing is currently the best fit for your manuscript.

Developmental editing is crucial for writers who plan to self-publish, and can also be helpful for those who plan to pursue traditional publishing but have not achieved the desired results during the querying process.

What to expect

Through a structured and comprehensive approach, I will carefully evaluate your story’s core elements and provide expert feedback. My feedback will help you identify areas for enhancement and develop strategies to elevate your book's impact. I will also provide actionable insights and suggestions, empowering you to make meaningful revisions that deepen your storytelling competence.

A developmental edit typically includes two full rounds of feedback, although writers can request one round instead of two. After the first round, you will have the opportunity to revise your manuscript based on my suggestions. Once you’re ready, you will re-submit the revised manuscript to me for further assessment.

I am available via email to answer any questions you might have during your revision process for up to 60 days upon completion of the service (up to 2 hours of assistance). After that period, clients can request additional support for an extra fee.

Deliverables

As part of my developmental editing service, you can expect to receive:

An in-depth editorial report: I will provide you with a thorough editorial report that outlines the strengths and areas for improvement in your manuscript. This comprehensive document covers essential elements, including worldbuilding, character development, plot, scene structure, pacing, and narrative coherence. It will offer detailed recommendations and practical strategies to help you refine and strengthen your book..
Manuscript markups: Alongside the editorial report, I will provide a marked-up manuscript with inline comments and suggested revisions.

Investment

Investing in the development of your manuscript is a vital step towards achieving your writing goals. You can expect your editorial report and feedback to include expert analysis, meticulously refined through extensive experience and professional training in the editing field. You are not paying for subjective opinions; you are paying for feedback that reflects proven strategies within the craft of storytelling, uniquely tailored to your own story’s needs.

You can plan to invest $0.03/word.

Note: to get a personalized and accurate quote for your project, please contact me