A developmental edit is the first step for many authors. Before you obsess about the perfect turn of phrase or the placement of your commas, you need to make sure your story works. This edit looks at the most crucial issues to pulling your readers in—or pushing them away. Do the characters make choices true to who you’ve portrayed them to be? Can the story’s conflict sustain the length of the novel? Is the conclusion satisfying?
A developmental edit looks at all of the following:
- plot and structure
- world-building
- characterization and character development
- conflicts and resolutions
- pacing
- POV
- thematic development
- showing and telling elements
- dialogue and inner monologue
- backstory, flashbacks, and info-dumps
- chronology
- genre and reader expectations
Because the issues at stake are so vital to an engaging story and the potential payoff for your readers so big, investing in this edit will take a more in-depth revision than fixing typos. I may suggest that you add, alter, or cut entire scenes, chapters, or storylines. But rest assured that this is a collaborative process. I give detailed feedback for why I think a particular element needs revision. I suggest possible ways you could make your narrative stronger. And then, ultimately, you choose how you want to move forward. You know your world and your characters best!
how it works:
- I perform sample edits for free for prospective clients, up to 1,000 words. Samples for a developmental edit must come from the beginning of your manuscript if you would like one.
- I will request to review your manuscript as a whole to quote an exact project rate. All submissions of your work are strictly confidential.
In a developmental edit, I provide you with feedback in two ways:
- I will use Track Changes to make comments within the body of the text calling out exactly where I see moments of opportunity or pointing out where I think you’re doing an excellent job.
- I will write you an extensive letter that puts all of the individual comments into context. The letter will describe what global issues should be addressed and why. I will also examine the structure of your novel for you, with a chapter-by-chapter breakdown.
Have questions once you’ve reviewed your manuscript? No problem. I am available for questions for up to a month after your manuscript has been returned to you. I’m more than happy to hear from you!
Rate: $0.025-0.03 per word
Beta readers and critique partners are invaluable assets to an author—in fact, I highly recommend you get feedback from trusted readers as you work through drafts. But a professional developmental edit comes with so much more than a list of likes and dislikes. Once you’ve pushed your novel as far as you can on your own, I’m here to help. I can show you exactly why something isn’t working. I show you exactly how you can strengthen your narrative. My goal is that you can begin revising with all the tools you need, energized and confident and excited to get your novel into the hands of your future readers.
Contact me to get started.
Is this the right service for me?
- Are you positive you’ve got all the big-picture stuff sorted, and you’re more concerned about making the prose shine? You want a line edit instead.
- Know you’ve got to check the strengths and weaknesses of the story elements…but your budget doesn’t allow for a full developmental edit? Check out the manuscript critique.