What Is Developmental Editing And When Do You Need It?

Do you know what developmental editing is? In this post, we tell you what it is.

There are two important things to remember about editing. One is from the book itself. “Make me better. Go on, I dare you! Prove me wrong. Bet you can’t.”

The other is that the word can mean different things. There are different types of editing, and over time, different editors have given them different names. Why? Who knows, to make themselves feel special, maybe? We want to try and make some sense out of them all.

4 Different Types Of Editing

1. Manuscript Appraisal (a.k.a. Editorial Assessment, Manuscript Assessment, Manuscript Evaluation, Manuscript Critique, Structural Report.)
2. Developmental Editing (a.k.a. Content Editing, Substantive Editing)
   
3. Copy Editing (a.k.a. Manuscript Editing, Mechanical Editing, Line Editing)
   
4. Proofreading 

Lets’ Take A Deeper Look At Developmental Editing

The importance of developmental editing

An outsider’s perspective is not only helpful but important to an author, especially if it’s the author’s first book. For a first-time author, the book is their baby, and it can be hard to see any faults, even if the book is riddled with them.

Calling in a developmental editor will not only help the book but will help you grow as an author. The first developmental edit can be hard, but if you approach it with the mindset your next book will so much better.

While no editor can guarantee that your book will be accepted by a publisher, or will be a best seller, a developmental editor’s work on your book can a help your book make a great impression on the reader, which will potentially bring in those positive reviews.

A developmental editor asks questions.

They want to know why, how, when etc.

1. Why is your character behaving the way they are overall, and in this scene in particular?
2. What is your character really trying to achieve here?
3. Could this problem be solved with a single conversation? If so, why is the whole of the book resting on the problem?
4. What is the theme of the book and how is this scene playing into that?
5. What is the character’s motivation.
6. Does this scene really matter?
7. Have you started the book in the right place?
8. Is this character necessary?
9. Is this sub plot necessary?

What are the big picture elements?

Developmental editing looks deeper into big-picture issues with your book. Working with the author, the editor’s goal is to on elements that don’t work, and help bring coherence to your ideas, solve timeline inconsistencies, and Pacing and structure, is also something that a developmental editor will address, rather than spelling and grammar.

• Plot: Is the plot strong enough, is there enough plot, are there any plot holes, are there plot inconsistencies?
• Character development: Are the characters believable, are their backstories believable and feeding into their actions in the book, do they have compelling arcs, and are they well-rounded?
• Pacing: Is the pacing appropriate, is it too slow, too fast, is it keeping the reader hooked.
• Structure: Is the book starting in the right place, ending at the right place, how are the chapters laid out, how do the scenes flow into each other, is the book in the right POV and voice, how is the information in the book revealed?
• Timeline inconsistencies: Is your main character six months pregnant when we first meet her but takes another eight months to give birth? Is a character twenty-three in Chapter 1 but without going back in time in the plot, nineteen in Chapter 2?
• Tone and Style: Both the target audience and the genre matter. Is the writing style consistent and appropriate?

How To Work With A Developmental Editor:

• • Communicate clearly: It’s important that you and the Developmental Editor are on the same page right from the beginning. If you editor knows what your goal was with the story, what you are trying to achieve, what the theme of the book is, and what your inspiration was for the story.
  • Be open to feedback: Fighting your Developmental Editor on every suggestion makes the whole process ugly for everyone. Be receptive to their suggestions. A good way to respond is to read their comments. Think about them for a week, and only respond then.
  • Focus on the big picture: Remember developmental editing is not about spelling and grammar, (although if your editor is fairly OCD they may attend to that as well, but always hire a proof-reader at the end). Developmental editing is big-picture, structural work.

When Should An Author Hire A Developmental Editor

The best time is hire a developmental editor is either if you have a full outline of the story or when you’ve written the first draft. If you have an outline, you can save a lot of time getting the necessary plot and character feedback before you start writing the first draft. However, if you already have a first draft, a developmental editor is the first editor you should hire. It’s pointless to hire a proofreader first as the book may have too many issues that need to be addressed first. 

The End Result

After a developmental edit, the manuscript should be engaging, stronger, as polished as possible, and ready for submission or publication.

The Last Word

If you’d like to write for children, young adults, or adults, why not sign up for one of the rich and in-depth courses that Writers Write offers to learn how to write the best book you possibly can.

by Elaine Dodge. Author of The Harcourts of Canada series and The Device Hunter, Elaine trained as a graphic designer, then worked in design, advertising, and broadcast television. She now creates content, mostly in written form, including ghost writing business books, for clients across the globe, but would much rather be drafting her books and short stories.

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