A Manuscript Eval vs a Developmental Edit

There’s a LOT of confusion when it comes to manuscript evaluations and developmental edits. I get asked by clients all the time if these two services are the same thing, and I can’t stress enough that they are absolutely not!

If you think your manuscript is ready for an editor of any kind, I highly recommend you download my free guide to Everything You Need To Know About Hiring An Editor. This will help guide you toward figuring out what kind of editing you need, the differences between the types of editing, and how to avoid getting scammed!

A developmental edit is an in-depth analysis of your manuscript focusing on the elements of craft that give your novel a solid foundation. Your developmental editor is going to focus on areas like plot, pace, structure, characterization, tense, viewpoint, and narrative style.

When I do a developmental edit, I leave hundreds of comments, suggestions, and questions in the margin of the manuscript. I also write a report (called an editorial letter) that dives even deeper into these suggestions. These letters are usually 15+ pages long.

On the other hand, a manuscript evaluation is feedback regarding the structure, story, mechanics, and genre of your manuscript. You’re going to receive high-level notes on the strengths and weaknesses, but very little guidance on how to fix issues.

Manuscript evaluations are great tools for authors who feel confident in their self-editing but need to be pointed in the right direction. Developmental edits are perfect for authors who want to take a deep dive into the structure of their novel and want suggestions to help fix potential problems.

One tool is not better than the other, they’re simply designed for different purposes and different types of authors.