Developmental editing
What’s a developmental edit?
A developmental edit provides feedback on the manuscript's strengths but also its weaknesses. The goal is to give workable feedback to ensure the next revision of your manuscript provides readers with an excellent reading experience.
A developmental edit provides feedback on the manuscript's strengths but also its weaknesses. The goal is to give workable feedback to ensure the next revision of your manuscript provides readers with an excellent reading experience.
What's the process?
First, I read the manuscript and write a customized letter that discusses the big-picture concerns affecting your novel or text. In the second step, as I re-read, I write in-text comments, 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:
Here's what you get:
First, I read the manuscript and write a customized letter that discusses the big-picture concerns affecting your novel or text. In the second step, as I re-read, I write in-text comments, 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