Developmental Editing
What is a developmental edit?
A editorial assessment or developmental edit is a chance to get professional, specific, and actionable feedback on your manuscript's Big Story Elements. These are also called Macro elements, and they include character, stakes, and plot. Developmental edits also look at pacing, structure, showing and telling, point of view, and tension.
The point of a developmental edit is to get the bones of your story in proper shape.
I perform two editorial passes on your manuscript. The first pass is like an ordinary read, and it helps me helps me identify the main areas of improvement to focus my feedback on.
During my second pass, I will read through your manuscript on Word, and provide mentoring and coaching either through in-line, color-coded comments, or through the comments feature. I also create a Developmental Editorial Report, which is a one-stop guide for all my feedback regarding the manuscript's areas for improvement.
Depending on the manuscript's needs, I may also provide additional resources such as a timeline, scene-by-scene outline, a book wiki, and further reading recommendations on specific craft elements. These resources are meant to help you hone your craft and focus your revision after the edit.
After you receive your edit, you will have the opportunity to discuss my feedback either through email or an online chat check-in.
This is not a line edit or copyedit. Although I may offer feedback on writing crutches that I notice as I read through your manuscript, the point of developmental editing is to ensure that the Big Story Elements of your manuscript are in proper shape. It is always recommended to get at least a professional copyedit performed on your manuscript after you complete your revision process.
The point of a developmental edit is to get the bones of your story in proper shape.
I perform two editorial passes on your manuscript. The first pass is like an ordinary read, and it helps me helps me identify the main areas of improvement to focus my feedback on.
During my second pass, I will read through your manuscript on Word, and provide mentoring and coaching either through in-line, color-coded comments, or through the comments feature. I also create a Developmental Editorial Report, which is a one-stop guide for all my feedback regarding the manuscript's areas for improvement.
Depending on the manuscript's needs, I may also provide additional resources such as a timeline, scene-by-scene outline, a book wiki, and further reading recommendations on specific craft elements. These resources are meant to help you hone your craft and focus your revision after the edit.
After you receive your edit, you will have the opportunity to discuss my feedback either through email or an online chat check-in.
This is not a line edit or copyedit. Although I may offer feedback on writing crutches that I notice as I read through your manuscript, the point of developmental editing is to ensure that the Big Story Elements of your manuscript are in proper shape. It is always recommended to get at least a professional copyedit performed on your manuscript after you complete your revision process.
Some things you should know
- My inbox remains open to you throughout your revision process. Please update me on your progress or reach out if you have further questions after our chat!
- I offer a free 1,500-word sample edit to demonstrate my critique style and see if we'd be a good fit for this collaborative process.
- I will review 10,000-words of your revised manuscript and provide high-level feedback as part of this service.
- ex. Yes! This shows the reader the character is new to town, but be careful of "As you know, Bobs," ask yourself: Do the characters already know this? Is this for the benefit of the reader or the characters? If it's for the benefit of the reader, put it in free indirect discourse or narration.
- The 10,000 words does not have to be in consecutive order. I encourage you to send me excerpts from different spots in the manuscript--particularly parts you're still struggling with!
- After the first 10,000 words, I will review additional revisions at a cost of $15/10,000 words (about 40-pages double-spaced).
- Estimated total investments are provided based on word count. The average investment is $0.02USD/word (minimum investment is $55USD).
- My general agreement policies are available to review here. They include a Non-disclosure agreement: I will not release or disclose any part of your manuscript without prior written consent.
- All invoices are sent securely through PayPal.
- Sadly, I cannot guarantee my editing will lead to an agent, traditional publication, fame, or fortune. The book publishing world is incredibly subjective, and no one can promise you that. We wish we could!
Let's chat to see if we're a good fit: Click here.
My Qualifications |
Preferred genres |
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Because developmental editing requires a knowledge of the conventions specific to the manuscript's genre, I may not be the best fit for your manuscript. Here are the genre's I've heavily researched and have experience with:
Content I do not editI'm not the best fit if your manuscript includes the following:
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