Developmental Editing

Developmental editing is a phase in the process where editors help authors take a basic idea and shape it into a completed manuscript that is ready for copy editing. It can involve something as simple as helping the author create an early outline to begin drafting, or as comprehensive as researching and writing extensive passages of the book in close collaboration with the author.

What developmental editing does not do

Because of its focus on wider story elements, developmental editing normally won't address sentence-level errors such as punctuation and grammar typos. It might involve an early assessment on sample chapters, or a more comprehensive assessment on a completed draft manuscript to determine what issues need resolving in future drafts.

Good developmental editing will bear your target audience in mind and assess your work in relation to industry standards and expectations. Only once your manuscript has been revised, reshaped, and developed will it be ready for copy editing.

The role of the developmental editor

Developmental editors look at everything — the forest and the trees, side-by-side. They make your whole book fit together better by examining everything from individual words to overall structure. Nothing is sacred; developmental editing leads to rewriting as often as it does revision, so expect your work to change substantially.

A developmental editor lets you know when major changes need to be made: cuts, additions, total restructuring, and other hard truths. Your editor should counsel you on your target audience and inform you about the industry standards for your genre.

Bring in a developmental editor when you're ready to move beyond drafting, or when you feel something is missing and you need someone to help you see what it is.

Back to home

Pricing

The form below provides estimates based on an average manuscript of between 75,000 and 90,000 words. Prices are subject to change based on additional details about your project. Think of this form as a starting point for a dialogue as we get introduced and develop clear expectations ahead of our first collaboration as author and editor. Each pricing plan provides a different combination of the following services:

1. PRE-ASSESSMENT: Assess a preliminary sample chapter or two and problem solve any challenges or questions you have, with a focus on establishing the premise, determining the core "cast of characters," the chronology of events, and the rules of the given genre. Completed assessment report would be between 5 and 10 pages.

2. BOOKMAP: Create outline to establish a fleshed-out concept so you can begin drafting a manuscript; in other words, creating a "working table of contents."

3. FULL ASSESSMENT: Assess a completed manuscript draft and problem solve any challenges or questions you have, such as suggested cuts, restructuring, and any "hard truths" that might be working against the narrative. Completed assessment report would be between 10 and 20 pages.

4. RESEARCH ASSISTANCE: Conduct research and provide sources for use as background in the form of a Bibliography.

5. STYLE SHEET: Create a specialized style guide unique to the book to be used in conjunction with the Chicago Manual of Style as the publishing industry standard.

6. GHOSTWRITING: This is a form of editor-author partnership where the editor does a substantial amount of the writing. Ghostwriting is done in close collaboration with the author, who ultimately gets the official author credit on the book. This common practice is often done in strict confidence without the editor being named as a co-author. Ultimately, the author "owns" the words. Sometimes the ghostwriter is given a "with" designation on the cover. This practice is not to be confused with writing under a pseudonym.

In addition to email support, terms include Zoom or tele-meeting support until 1 month following project completion:

A. Starter: Up to two 1-hour max Zoom or tele-meetings

B. Platinum: Up to four 1-hour max Zoom or tele-meetings

C. Diamond: Monthly 1-hour Zoom or tele-meetings, or as needed

D. Custom: Negotiable