What’s Developmental Editing?

Developmental editing, sometimes referred to as content or structural editing, involves in-depth, intense, bone-deep critiquing of your manuscript. It is the most time-intensive, intricate service that we offer, and we put everything we have into it in order to bring out the absolute best in your work.

Chapter by chapter, scene by scene, a developmental edit will help you slim down a bloated manuscript, provide clarity, structure, and organization where needed — and help bring the overall purpose of your story on point. The focus is solely on the story (fiction) or content (nonfiction).

Developmental Editing for Fiction

Your developmental editor will look at the “big picture” and ask the tough questions that need to be asked to help you create the best story possible. Because this process is so complicated, please be as specific as possible about what you’d like us to do. Using Track Changes, we will make specific suggestions for further development, recommendations to rework some areas or provide possibilities to tighten up loose ends in your manuscript. We’ll focus on the following areas:

Your Specific Areas of Concern
Broad recommendations (Suggestions to clarify the Big Picture)
Plot/Premise (What questions are being asked in the narrative? Do these questions drive the story, propelling the plot forward? Will the questions engage the reader and lead the reader to a satisfying resolution?)
Dialogue (Does it sound natural, true to character? Is the flow of speech in tune with the pacing of the story?)
Worldbuilding (Consistency, authenticity, and believability)
Story Structure
Character (Are the characters multidimensional? Are their personalities and voices consistent? What are their internal and external conflicts, and are their motivations clear throughout the story? Is there enough movement and character depth to make them believable in the world created?)
Conflict (How clear and comprehensive are the primary and secondary conflicts? Does the central conflict develop in an engaging way that captivates the reader?
Pacing
Genre Placement (Where does your novel fit in the publishing industry?)

In addition to the notes made within your document using Track Changes, a detailed editorial letter will be provided. The letter, circa 5-10 pages in length, will describe the main areas suggested for improving and polishing your manuscript. In short, we’ll summarize how your story works as a book. We’ll also brainstorm the next steps that we believe you should take in order to help guide you through your revision.

Please note the developmental editing service does not include revisions or rewrites done by us. However, we may include examples of rewritten segments in our editorial letter in order to clarify suggestions. Once developmental editing is complete, and after you have completed your revisions, it is recommended that a manuscript be line-edited. As a general rule, manuscripts should be copyedited and proofread before publication.

Preferred Genres: Upmarket Fiction, Romance (all subgenres), Teen / YA (all subgenres), Cozy Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy. Contact us to submit a sample of your manuscript.

*Downpayment is due upon acceptance of your work in our editing queue.

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Developmental Editing for Nonfiction

A meticulous pair of eyes will assess your manuscript for the overall cohesiveness of your work of nonfiction.

Developmental editing in nonfiction is an essential element that has the potential to professionally elevate and streamline the concepts and main ideas expressed in your work. Using Track Changes, we will spend quality time with your work, paying special attention to the following and more:

Structure
Clarity
Authenticity in voice and approach
Pacing
Organization of thoughts, concepts, and ideas.

Please note the developmental editing service does not include revisions or rewrites done by us. However, we may include examples of rewritten segments in order to clarify suggestions.

In addition to the thorough notes made within your document using Track Changes, a detailed editorial letter will be provided. The letter, circa 5-10 pages in length, will describe the main areas suggested for improving and polishing your manuscript. In short, we’ll summarize how your manuscript works as a book. We’ll also brainstorm the next steps that we believe you should take in order to help guide you through your revision.

Once developmental editing is complete, and after you have completed your revisions, it is recommended that a manuscript be line-edited. As a general rule, manuscripts should be copyedited and proofread before publication.

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Preferred Nonfiction Genres: We specialize in the genres Education, Self Improvement, Inspirational, New Age, and Personal Development. Contact us to submit a sample of your manuscript.

*Downpayment is due upon acceptance in the editing queue.