Developmental Editors Are Story-Level Detectives!

A developmental edit is a forensic investigation into the heart of your manuscript. As your partner in this case, I’ll help you uncover the clues and evidence already present in your manuscript to ensure it’s a strong and solid narrative.

We’ll work together to examine your story’s big-picture elements, like plot, pacing, characterization, and point of view.

This is a collaborative case. Your vision becomes my mission.

Developmental Editing Package:

Often called structural or story-level editing, a developmental edit is a comprehensive investigation into the foundational elements of your novel. This is where we focus on improving the core craft elements that bring your story to life.

My traditional editing package includes:

  • A complete review of your manuscript, analyzing every page to identify its strengths and areas for improvement.

  • A detailed editorial letter, serving as your roadmap for revision by outlining key areas of focus and providing actionable suggestions.

  • In-manuscript comments and queries, offering specific, contextual feedback in the margins of your story.

  • Chapter-by-chapter analysis, providing a deeper look at pacing, structure, and character development.

  • A genre evaluation, ensuring your manuscript follows accepted conventions and meets reader expectations.

  • A post-edit virtual meeting, a dedicated session to discuss suggestions and answer any questions that may arise.

  • Additional resources and documents to help you in your revision process and in your future writing.

  • Collaborative responses to your comments on the edit (*Terms Apply).

Pricing:

Every project and author is unique, which is why I take an individualized approach to pricing. My goal is to ensure you get the most value from your editing budget, and I find that a custom quote is the best way to achieve that.

While my rates align with the EFA Rate Chart and begin approximately at $0.02 per word, the best way to determine a fair price is through a free consultation call. During our discussion, we can:

  • Talk through your project's specific needs and concerns.

  • Discuss your budget and any project deadlines.

  • Customize a package that is the best fit for your manuscript.

Schedule your call today!

  • What is Developmental Editing?

    Developmental editing is also known as story-level editing or structural editing. Think of it as big picture editing. Before getting into the nitty gritty of placing commas and formatting spacing, we need to ensure the story's structure is sound.

    Story-level editing is generally the first step in the editing process, sometimes happening even before a manuscript is officially labeled as “done.”

    The goal of story-level editing is to strengthen the overall novel. In this phase, we’ll be looking at the plot, pacing, structure, tense, voice, and characterization, and other craft elements to ensure the foundation of your story is strong and working well!

  • Why do I need a story-level editor?

    Story-level editors help create a strong foundation for authors to build their stories on. We ensure that the craft elements of the story are all sound before the author puts on the decorative touches.

    Story-level editors can help solve plot problems, flesh out storylines, and improve the flow of a story's structure.

    We can help when authors are stuck or trying something new and unsure if it's working.

    We offer a second set of eyes to ensure your story is as strong as it possibly can be. No one wants to build a whole house only to find out in the final hours that the foundation is rotten!

  • How is developmental editing different than line editing?

    At the developmental editing phase, were not working on the book line-by-line, but looking at it as a bigger picture. We’re asking whether the whole story works, as opposed to whether individual lines work.

    Line editing is generally one of the next stages of editing to follow developmental editing. There is often some overlap, but generally developmental editing is looking at the story on a bigger scale than the individual sentences.

 Ready to open a case?