Developmental Editing
Pinpoint precisely where you’re grabbing your readers and where you’re likely to lose them.
What is Developmental Editing?
Developmental Editing (sometimes called substantive or structural editing) is page-by-page troubleshooting for your story. It focuses on the big picture: narrative arc, character development, plot, pacing, tension, suspense, point of view, scene structure, and so on.
What kind of feedback goes into a Developmental Edit?
In a Developmental Edit, I’ll provide story-level feedback throughout your manuscript, highlighting thorny areas and suggesting solutions to help you better reach your readers. I’ll also point out what you’ve pulled off exceedingly well.
I’ll analyze the following and more:
Does the opening hook the reader’s attention?
Does each chapter pull its weight in moving the plot forward?
Are some crucial scenes underdeveloped? Do less important ones receive too much attention?
Are there plot holes, gaps in logic, or continuity problems?
Do the characters behave realistically? Are their emotions and reactions clear?
Are your scenes engaging and suspenseful?
Is more foreshadowing needed for events to seem plausible?
Is the setting and staging consistently vivid and easy to visualize?
Does the dialogue sizzle or is it limp in some areas?
What else could be done to keep readers turning the pages?
What is included in a Developmental Edit?
☑ The edited manuscript, liberally annotated with feedback in the margin (~3 comments per page on average)
☑ A custom report mapping out my recommendations for revision
☑ A 45-minute follow-up call to discuss the edit, ask questions, and crystallize a plan for revision
Is Developmental Editing right for you?
You’ve worked your butt off on your draft, and now you’re too close to the narrative to make out left from right. A middling, ho-hum story won’t do. You want this book to take wing and soar, and you’re willing to put in the work it takes to get there.
Choose this option if you’re keen to roll up your sleeves and work closely with an editor to take your manuscript to the next level. This is a comprehensive, in-depth edit that many writers have found transformative.
I often recommend Developmental Editing as an optional second round of editing after a Manuscript Evaluation.
FAQ
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We’ll make a great team if you write…
🚀 Middle grade fiction — Realistic & imaginary worlds
🌩️ YA fiction — Character-driven with all the big feels
🎇 Picture books — Fiction & nonfiction
🔮 Speculative fiction — Urban fantasy, high fantasy, magical realism, soft sci-fi
❤️🔥 Romance — Contemporary, paranormal, romantasy
🕰️ Memoir — Identity, coming of age, relationships, family, nature & environment, travel, health & wellbeing, visual art, dance, music… or hit me with your wackiest topic!
🎴 Graphic novels — Junior, Middle grade, YA
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Please contact me and share a brief description of your WIP, along with an excerpt of the first 5000 words or so (or the full manuscript of a picture book).
To familiarize me with your creative vision and publishing goals, you are welcome to fill out this questionnaire.
Or, if you prefer, we can schedule a free 15-minute tea & chat to get acquainted and discuss your editing needs.
I’ll email you a quote and a free sample edit to help you decide whether we’re a good creative fit.
Once we’ve decided to partner up (hurrah!), I’ll send you a brief agreement. Signature of the agreement plus a 15% deposit guarantees your slot in my calendar. Payments may be sent by e-Transfer (Canada) or PayPal (US & international).
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Developmental Editing is much more comprehensive.
In a Manuscript Evaluation, I identify recurring problems in your manuscript and give you an example or two of how they manifest; it’s up to you to locate the rest.
In a Developmental Edit, I flag the problem areas all the way across your manuscript and discuss how you might address them in each context.
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If you land a book publishing contract (and I hope you do!), you will likely be assigned an in-house editor who will perform a developmental edit of your manuscript.
That said, you need to land that contract first! The publishing industry is more competitive and cash-strapped than ever. Very few acquiring editors can afford to devote their time to shaping a promising yet rough draft—especially by a debut author. Submitting the very best of your work will help to stack the deck in your favour.
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A common myth circulating in self-publishing circles is that editing is limited to copy editing or proofreading.
In a traditional publishing house, developmental editing is performed after acquisition to shore up any weaker areas of the book. A developmental editor will work closely with the author to bring the manuscript to its fullest potential. Only then will it be passed along to a copy editor.
If you’re serious about your craft and you want your book to succeed on the market, a good developmental edit can make all the difference between a slap-dash DIY product and a book of professional quality that meets the high standards expected by your future readers.
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100% Human Editor
I do not employ LLMs such as ChatGPT to edit manuscripts. I won’t feed any part of your work to an LLM; nor will I use AI to inform my editorial judgment or draft my communications.
100% Human Author
I do not accept submissions of manuscripts that are partly or fully AI-generated. If you didn’t create the storyline and characters, or the prose isn’t entirely your own, we aren’t a good editorial match.
Using a spelling and grammar checker to correct typos is perfectly fine.
“I engaged Laura to complete a developmental edit of my manuscript. What a treat! From start to finish, Laura was invested in my vision. Her feedback was clear, detailed, constructive, and informed by my goals for the novel. Her enthusiasm for my story and assured handling of the project left me feeling comfortable, safe, and optimistic about the path forward.”
— Aurrey Drake, Speculative fiction author