Types of Editing: Part Two—Developmental Editing
Sunday, 08 January 2023
This is part two of a series detailing the different types of editing. If you haven’t yet read part one, you can find it here.
And, action!
What is developmental editing?
Developmental editing is the first stage of the editing process and focuses primarily on the overall story. It is sometimes referred to by other terms, such as structural editing, substantive editing, or content editing.
The overall editing process is similar to that of building a house. To build a house, you need a sturdy foundation before you can begin thinking about flooring, cabinetry, doors, paint colors, etc. Developmental editing is the foundation; you must first focus on the big picture of your overall story before getting into the nitty-gritty of specific word usage, punctuation, grammar, and spelling.
A developmental edit will often address the following aspects of a manuscript:
- Genre
- Theme
- Point-of-view
- Tensing
- Structure
- Overall content
- Authorial voice
- Pacing
- Character arcs
- Setting
- Reader expectations
Due to its complex nature, developmental editing is not a linear process. It is multilayered and will take several weeks to several months of collaboration between author and editor. A manuscript may require multiple rounds of developmental editing to get it ready for the next step, and each round may require a separate focus.
If you are seeking a developmental editor, make sure they are experts in your genre and that they can guide you on all the various aspects of writing a good story. You will want to ensure their process involves collaboration, as it is impossible to perform this kind of editing without clear lines of communication between author and editor.
It may take time to find the right person for the job because you will want to look not only for a specific set of qualifications, but you will also want to seek someone with whom you work well. That applies not only to the person you hire for developmental editing; it applies to any editor you hire to work on your manuscript. While skillset and knowledge are vital, the relationship between author and editor is of equal importance. This relationship, like all other important relationships, must be built on trust, understanding, and respect. Beyond that, you should genuinely like the person you hire to edit your work. Writing is personal; intimate, even. Every writer puts a piece of themselves into their work, and the best results come from a partnership between two people who like, value, and respect each other. You will also spend a fair amount of time communicating with this person, and life is too short to surround ourselves with people we don’t like. The perfect editor for one author may be totally wrong for you—and that’s okay. I recognize that I am not the right editor for every writer. Not everyone appreciates my informal communication style, but my clients love it, and that’s why they chose me. There are thousands of editors qualified to do the work, but probably only a handful are perfect for you and your manuscript. Ensure you get the most out of your editing experience by taking the time to find your person.
Budgeting is a consideration for most writers, so it’s important to consider cost. Professional developmental editors may charge anywhere from $.03/word to $.10/word ($3-$10 per 1,000 words), and that can vary based upon level of expertise and training, and the amount of time needed to complete the project. While most editors charge per word, others may charge per page or per hour. The cost to edit your manuscript will heavily depend on how much work there is to be done, which is one reason self-edits are so important. For a resource on self-editing, please see the link at the bottom of this blog post.
Okay, so now you know what to look for in an editor and how to vet them, but how do you get a list of editors to vet in the first place?
First, where not to look—Fiverr, Reedsy, and other similar platforms. Fiverr has seen steady growth in popularity over the last few years, mostly because it is a one-stop-shop for inexpensive freelance services. While a handful of fantastic professionals list their services there, most of the people selling their services on Fiverr do not have the training, education, or expertise to call themselves professionals—and you know what they say about finding a needle in a haystack. Extraordinarily low rates for any professional service should always serve as a red flag. Rates are generally low for a reason. Reedsy has much stricter vetting policies, but their practices have been called out many times for being inconsistent. Both platforms, as well as their competitors, take a hefty cut of the money earned by the professional providing the work. With so many other ways to locate an editor, it just doesn’t make sense to use these platforms as a middleman.
I always suggest starting with your peers, friends, cohorts, and acquaintances. If you know editors or other writers, ask them who they recommend. If you don’t have contacts you can ask, or their recommendations don’t pan out for whatever reason, there are dozens of editing organizations around the world, as well as organizations geared toward a variety of special topics, many of which offer professional directories.
Click HERE to access a comprehensive list—created by Louise Harnby, fiction editor & proofreader—of editorial societies.
Manuscript Evaluations
Manuscript evaluations can be an excellent precursor to development editing, or, in some cases, a manuscript evaluation can replace the need for a developmental edit. A manuscript evaluation is a service offered by many freelance editors, and for the sake of simplicity, you can think of it as the CliffsNotes version of a developmental edit. You will likely receive feedback on many of the same things you would with a developmental edit, but the report you receive won’t go into as much detail or provide solutions to every identified problem. A manuscript evaluation is a more cost-effective option, and a great deal of developmental editors offer the option to roll the cost of the evaluation into editing, should you wish to proceed in that direction. The only drawback to a manuscript evaluation is that you may be left with a list of problems and no knowledge or understanding of how to solve them. If you are an experienced writer and know how to solve issues often present in your writing but struggle to identify them, this will be the best option for you. If you’re a new writer and want to fix as many issues on your own as possible before moving forward, this would also be an excellent option, and it may save you the cost of going through round after round of developmental editing.
Beta Readers
What are beta readers?
Beta readers are individuals who will read your manuscript—often for free, although some charge a fee—and give feedback. If you spend time in writing groups or read enough writing articles online, you will likely come across the opinion that beta readers can replace the need to hire an editor, but I urge you to ignore such advice. While beta readers offer immeasurable value, they are not a replacement for editing. They may, however, be able to offer the feedback necessary to shore plot holes, tweak character development, and make general overall changes to better your manuscript.
When I opted to mention beta readers in this series, I failed to realize how much I had to say on the subject (that’s becoming a running theme for me, isn’t it?). They truly offer immense value, and every writer should utilize them during the editing process. That said, knowing how best to utilize them can be tricky, and I have written a blog dedicated solely to beta readers, which you can find HERE.
In conclusion . . .
Developmental editing is necessary to produce quality writing, but you may be able to complete this step without the services of a developmental editor. Self-editing combined with either a manuscript evaluation or beta readers—or both—may be sufficient to ready your manuscript for the next step. If you should find yourself seeking the services of a developmental editor, the advice offered above will help you know what to look for and how to look for it.
To be clear, I am not a developmental editor. However, there is almost always some level of developmental editing involved with line editing and copy editing, which I will explain in future installments of this series.