Developmental Editing

A developmental edit looks at the overall structure of the book and big-picture elements, focusing most heavily on characters, plot, pacing, and world-building (for fantasy): 

Characters: Do your main characters have clear and compelling character arcs? What are their stakes? What are the obstacles they need to overcome? Do they have agency (meaning are they making decisions and doing things on their own, or are outside forces controlling their moves)? Are all of the characters fully fleshed out? Will a reader feel invested enough in the main character to want to read an entire book about them?

Plot: Is there a central plot to the story? What are the subplots and are they clearly developed? Are there any glaring plot holes? Do the plots resolve themselves at the end of the story in a satisfying way?

Pacing: Is the book starting in the right spot? Are you sharing the right amount of backstory (but not too much!) to show character development? Are there any slow parts where a reader might lose interest? Is there enough tension and conflict throughout the story?

World-building: Is the world you’ve created fully imagined, unique, and clear? Does it strike the right balance of providing enough detail without being overwhelming or confusing to the reader?

Deliverables:

You will receive a detailed editorial letter with what is working in the manuscript, what could use attention, and specific ideas for revising your book. You will also receive the marked-up manuscript with some more detailed edit suggestions at the chapter level and margin comments annotated throughout.

Timeline:

One to two weeks