What’s a developmental edit? A developmental edit provides feedback on the story's strengths but also its weaknesses, giving feedback to ensure your novel provides readers with an excellent reading experience.
What's the process? First, I read the story and write a customized report that discusses the big-picture concerns affecting your novel. In the second step, as I re-read, I write in-text comments at points throughout the novel, showing specific examples of the topics covered in the report. At these places, I offer suggestions and ideas how the issues can be revised.
What’s covered? Issues such as:
plot and structure
head-hopping
point of view
narration
character development (arcs, motivation, and descriptions)
ineffective dialogue
info-dumping
showing and telling
setting and description
Here's what you get:
Two full read-throughs of your novel
In-text comments and edits with in the manuscript to illustrate potential changes
A 10–15 page customized report of your book which includes a chapter-by-chapter or scene-by-scene breakdown, suggestions to address major big-picture issues, and feedback on what is working well
A work plan with steps to help you revise your current draft
An hour of follow-up questions answered via email or a call