Developmental Editing and Manuscript Evaluation
How does developmental editing and manuscript evaluation differ from book coaching?
It’s true that there is often an overlap between the tasks that editors do. While book coaches often offer developmental advice, for coaches it’s more about support and mentoring for the author, rather than getting into the mechanics of building a cohesive plot or engaging content.
Developmental editors look at the “big picture” aspects of an author’s manuscript, including:
- Character and plot development – Do you have characters that are interesting and well-developed? Is your plot engaging and does it fulfill your readers’ expectations for that genre?
- Pacing – Are your scenes moving along at the proper pace for your story style? For writers of mysteries, thrillers, and supernatural stories, getting bogged down by too many details or info dumping is a death knell.
- Dialogue and interior monologue – Is the dialogue between your characters convincing, and does it sound natural? Is there a good balance between dialogue and interior monologue?
- Timeline – Is your timeline correct and realistic?
- Settings and imagery (world-building) – Do your settings and imagery make sense with your story? Do you use them to enhance your story?
- Continuity (names, physical features, places, objects, and more) – Are the right characters doing the right things, in the right places, at the right time? Are details consistent throughout the book? Is the narrative presented in a consistent and coherent manner?
After a thorough analysis, a developmental editor will provide inline comments and editorial queries, pointing out issues that will cause problems for the reader. They will also provide an explanation of why these are issues, the potential consequences if you don’t deal with them, and suggestions for how they can be fixed. It's up to the writer to decide if the advice works for their vision and to make changes. Open communication is key as the writer makes changes and the editor provides support.
At this stage, there is little detailed work done, unless it’s along the lines of “Make sure you spell Meghan’s name consistently throughout the story.” After all, if you have major plot holes, your characters have nothing to do, or your content is confusing and dragged out, does it matter if your commas are in the right place?
Developmental Editing Packages
I offer two levels of service here, depending on how much detail and support you want:
Manuscript Evaluation
A manuscript evaluation is perfect if:
- You've completed your first or second draft.
- You're looking for actionable editorial feedback about what works and what doesn't.
- Your budget doesn't allow for a full developmental edit.
The provided revision letter will give you a clear idea of what issues exist in your manuscript, but this level won’t include teaching information or specific suggestions for correcting those issues. However, there is coaching time included, so once you get the results of the evaluation, you will have an opportunity to ask questions.
Package Includes:
- A read-through of the complete manuscript.
- Inline comments and a comprehensive revision letter describing the development issues.
- 60 minutes of follow-up coaching time via phone or virtually. Time can be broken up into multiple sessions.
- Pricing* is based on the length of the manuscript:
- Up to 50,000 words - $350 with delivery in 10 days
- Up to 75,000 words - $500 with delivery in 14 days
- Up to 100,000 words - $850 with delivery in 21 days
*Faster delivery times and evaluation of longer novels may be available for an additional fee. Please contact me for more information.
Developmental Edit
Many authors enjoy working with editors because not only does their work in progress benefit, but they often learn how to become better writers. If you want explicit information about what issues are cropping up, what makes them an issue, why it’s important to fix them, and get actual suggestions about how to fix them, this is the package you want!
Package Includes:
- A read-through of the complete manuscript.
- A comprehensive revision letter describing the development issues.
- Editing and queries on your manuscript using track changes and comments.
- 90 minutes of follow-up coaching time via phone or Zoom. Time can be broken up into multiple sessions.
- Pricing is based on the length of the manuscript and the amount of developmental work that needs to be done. A review of the manuscript will be done prior to providing a price quote.
- Delivery time varies but typically takes a minimum of 21 days. Faster delivery time may be available for an additional fee.
“Editing. It’s like dieting, except a lot more violent.”
–Leya Delray