What is developmental editing?
Continuing on with my Medium articles about the demystification of working with an editor to shape up your manuscript, I clear up a very common confusion writers have: what is developmental editing? There is so much info on the internet about it and a lot of it is not at all clear, and doesn’t adequately a) lay out what you’re getting and b) differentiate it from editorial/manuscript assessments.
what it is
who should get it
who should consider an editorial/manuscript assessment instead
what it’s not
should I get a developmental edit and if I’m not sure, can I reach out anyways?
I would like a manuscript assessment instead; please tell me more about that
And who really needs it?
The term developmental editing is bandied around by professional editorial services and writers looking for editors, but what actually is it? I’ll tell you.
It really is for prickly manuscripts and those in need of major structural overhauls.
There are so many definitions for developmental editing on the internet, it’s understandable that it’s confusing. Originally, developmental editors worked on non-fiction books. Think academic texts that had multiple authors. The idea was to whip them into shape, keeping everyone on track and moulding the book into its final product.
Now the idea of a developmental editor has extended into all sorts of fiction and novels. With the rise of self-publishing (and self-publishing of good quality) or authors who really want to do their manuscripts justice when they query agents, authors are seeking out the services of professional editors.
There are two types: editorial/manuscript assessments, which I’ve written about before and developmental edits. Both look at what’s working and what’s not, and evaluate elements like plot, structure, character development, narrative, dialogue, etc. The writer will be provided with an extensive report outlining these details with specific examples and if their editor is good, actionable feedback for how to go forward with their manuscript.
But what is a developmental edit?
In addition to an editorial report, a developmental editor will provide you with track changes directly on your manuscript. This will usually be page-by-page, so be prepared to receive running annotation throughout your manuscript.
This can be extremely useful to point out both the big and small of it all. However, sometimes, for authors this can get repetitive and overwhelming, so this is something to consider — especially, if your manuscript is on the longer side.
A good editorial report (manuscript assessment) will pick up on these issues and deliver them in a digestible way. This is also where your editor is able to provide the writer with actionable feedback and suggestions, and elaborate when something is working or might not be working.
Who should get a developmental edit?
Who should get a developmental edit?
When potential clients come knocking at my door, they almost always come seeking a developmental edit because there is this idea that it’s the “gold standard” of editorial services. Possibly because it involves the most attention from the editor and often, many services push this as the best choice, whether that’s true for everyone.
There are a few things to consider:
Have you completed a manuscript? (The answer should always be yes for a developmental edit.)
Do you need intense help with structuring, shaping and planning?
Possible other things to consider:
Are you worried that your sentences are sloppy, your plot arc is all over the place, your characters fall away, you can’t pinpoint themes, don’t know the setting?
But really speak to your prospective editor first. Writers with a strong sense of their work, have good writing abilities and a manuscript with a good shape tend to not benefit as much from a developmental edit.
Who should get an editorial/manuscript assessment instead?
Pretty much any writer can get an editorial/manuscript assessment. Even those worried about structure and planning. The novel or collection can be complete or incomplete (for manuscripts that are incomplete, you could be unsure with the direction it’s going).
At any point in the process, you can always check in with an editor. Is it your first draft or third? Having another set of objective eyes will be beneficial. Unlike the developmental edit, the editorial assessment actually is the gold standard and provides most of what you need — however, you won’t get the annotations and extra attention to detail. But it does normally pick up on those issues in the editorial report.
But please tell me more about the developmental edit!
People love the idea of getting page-by-page annotations on their manuscript, which I completely understand. Writing is a solitary affair and often when only having friends and family reading over their work they get one of two types of feedback:
I love it! I really think you should send it directly to Ms. Random House herself!
I have no comments for you.
The second being the scariest and most frustrating.
Having direct feedback from an editor is wonderful and the first time many people see honest commentary on their work.
Can you write my novel for me?
What it’s not?
A developmental editor might point out sloppy writing and awkward moments in your syntax and dialogue, but they are not copy editors/proofreaders. THIS IS NOT A COPY EDIT.
They are not ghostwriters. You have to write your own book.
This is not endless praise.
This is not a sign off before sending it out to agents or to upload it for self-publishing. Prepare to go back and edit/redraft.
It’s definitely not cheap. A developmental edit is going to cost you much more than editorial assessment. An editor will quote you on a price based on the word count, genre, quality of your work and how long they estimate it will take.
Working with an editor
All editors are different, but expect to have some prep work before the dev edit starts. Your editor will want to ask you questions and want to know the direction and vision you have for the manuscript. This all depends on the completeness of the work at the start of the edit. But be prepared to work with the editor, not just dump a bunch of files on them.
Should I get a developmental edit or manuscript assessment for my novel?
Whether you’ve finished NaNoWriMo or have been writing for months, years, decades, I think having a professional evaluation is always a good idea. Having your friends and family give objective feedback can be tough and disingenuous. But I do understand that reaching out to an editor can be a little scary (ok, maybe way scary) and also a commitment.
I’m happy to hear about you and your project with the strictest respect, care and confidentiality, and talk about what I can offer for you.