Photo by Nick Morrison on Unsplash “What does a development edit do?” It’s a fair question, and according to an internet search, one that has been asked by hundreds of aspiring authors every month along with: How do I know if I need a developmental edit? When do I seek a developmental editor? How much does a developmental edit cost? What they often mean is, Is a developmental edit really necessary for me? Let’s be honest, writing a book isn’t cheap. Making a career as an author takes time and money. Two things many writers don’t always have an excess of. So, the first step is knowledge. When you understand what developmental editing is and what it can do for you, you are better equipped to make the best decisions for you and your book. Whether you're a seasoned writer or just starting your publishing journey, grasping the concept of developmental editing can make a profound difference in your work. In this article, we'll delve into the intricacies of developmental editing, exploring its significance and impact on writing. From understanding the stages of developmental editing to deciphering the role of a developmental editor, I'll equip you with the knowledge to make informed decisions about your writing process. Get ready to unlock the full potential of your writing through the power of developmental editing. What is Developmental Editing? Developmental editing (also called substantive or structural editing) goes beyond surface-level corrections; it focuses on:
By working closely with a developmental editor, you can refine your ideas, strengthen your storytelling, and enhance the overall impact of your work. These changes don’t just improve your story though. They will help you build your knowledge of writing craft, audience preferences, and even publishers’ expectations. This knowledge will give you confidence as you build your pitches and queries and begin the next phase of your publishing journey. Working with a developmental editor can also breathe new life into stale manuscripts, helping you overcome challenges and fall in love with your manuscript again. If your manuscript has been sitting in a drawer because you don’t know how to overcome a specific plot element or character issue, a developmental edit may be just what you need to push through that obstacle. Developmental edits allow you to talk through ideas, ask questions, and gain insight into resources and best practices. They give you practical examples to guide you, and they may open your eyes to possibilities within your story that you didn’t even know existed. Developmental editors are educated and gifted in helping authors through the creative process, and they will partner with you to transform your book into a captivating and compelling piece no matter what stage it’s in. The Role of a Developmental Editor A developmental editor is a partner in the early stages of your writing journey. Their role is to evaluate the big picture of your manuscript. They are going to help you develop the piece and overcome challenges you may experience with character development, story arc, plot development, conflict resolution, character agency, and more. They will offer feedback and suggestions for strengthening your writing craft, balancing dialogue and narrative, using show vs tell to your benefit, and avoiding common pitfalls. A developmental editor is a collaborator. Their goal, first and foremost, is to do no harm. They aren’t there to strip your story of vision or voice. They ask questions. They talk through ideas. They encourage you to dig deeper and reach new levels of understanding within your story world and with your characters. When you partner with a developmental editor, you can uncover the potential in yourself and in your writing that you didn’t see before. The Benefits of Developmental Editing Developmental editing can take a weak manuscript and strengthen it into a book readers will love. It can take a strong manuscript and enhance it to new levels. Developmental editors can help authors avoid negative reader reviews that come when a story structure hasn’t been firmly established or when characters are flat and unrelatable. And they can help an author grow in their craft, creating stronger stories that build their author brand and keep readers coming back for more. Developmental editors challenge, encourage, and cheer you on. They will refine your ideas, help you improve your writing skills, save you time and money, and help you increase your marketability. Let’s explore each one of those a little deeper. Refining Your Ideas A developmental editor helps you polish your concepts, bringing your stories to life in the most effective way possible. They work to ensure the message you want to convey to readers is presented clearly and in the manner readers want to receive. They can identify areas where your manuscript can be improved (dropped storylines, confusing flow, etc.), helping you avoid common pitfalls. Ultimately, developmental editors work to make your ideas shine and your writing sing. Improving Your Writing Skills A large part of the developmental editing process is the editorial letter. This letter is several pages long detailing the strengths of your writing as well as the areas in which you can continue to grow. This feedback can provide you with insights into effective sentence structure, descriptions, dialogue, etc. It will also provide examples and additional resources to help you improve areas of your craft. The feedback from a developmental editor will encourage you and motivate you to stretch your skills beyond your current capabilities, benefitting you both now and in the future. Saving Time and Money Unfortunately, I have seen this scenario too many times. New authors seek copyeditors for their books without investing in a developmental editor first. They assume that when they are told they need an editor, this means they simply need someone to check for misspellings and incorrect grammar. That is a necessary step in the editing process, but it’s not the first step. Without a thorough developmental edit, you could be paying for a service that doesn’t adequately prepare your book for publication. This often results in bad reviews due to structural errors. Money is wasted on the copyedit. Time is wasted on publishing a book that wasn’t adequately prepared. And your credibility and reputation are tarnished. Fortunately, this is all avoidable. When you partner with a developmental editor as your first step in the editing process, you identify areas for improvement early on, preventing costly mistakes and unnecessary revisions later in the publishing process. Enhancing Marketability Self-publishing has made it easier than ever to put a book on the market. The competition is fierce. One of the best ways to compete against the bestsellers lining the shelves is to ensure you have created a book that meets professional standards. This means uprooting potential discrepancies, dropped storylines, flat characters, etc. This means providing a book that will deliver on genre conventions and reader expectations. A developmental editor will help you do that. A well-edited manuscript is also more likely to appeal to agents and publishers, helping you to establish the relationships necessary to move your publishing career forward. Conclusion: Why a Developmental Editor Is Right for You Developmental editing ensures you are building your story on a firm foundation. When we are close to our stories, it is easy to assume readers understand our characters as we do. We know them intimately. It’s easy to assume our readers can follow the organization of our thoughts. After all, it makes sense to us. However, readers don’t live inside your head. They haven’t spent thousands of hours walking through each step of your outline or visualizing your story world. This is where the eyes of an experienced developmental editor will open doors you didn’t know were closed. They will shine light in the dark places and breathe life into stale characterizations. Don’t sell yourself short. Your career and your story deserve the best. And your readers will thank you for it. Categories
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About MeNycole Sinks is the owner and editor for Positive Proofing. With a background in business and education, she has a passion for helping authors share their stories with the world. ArchivesCategories |