Developmental editing focuses on shaping the big-picture elements of a manuscript so that every part contributes meaningfully to the whole. It often includes conceptual development and is ideal for earlier drafts or when the manuscript still needs work on vision, purpose, or substance.
For fiction, I assess:
- The overall story concept and its alignment with genre conventions
- Character development, motivation, and emotional depth
- Plot structure, pacing, and narrative momentum
- The effectiveness of the chosen narrative form
- Point of view and narrative voice consistency and control
- Dialogue and interiority, including balance and authenticity
- Worldbuilding and setting, and how they support the narrative
- Thematic clarity and how themes develop across the manuscript
- Weak or underdeveloped plot threads and story arcs
- Overall coherence, flow, and readability
- Use of visual elements (e.g., illustrations, maps) where applicable
- Reader immersion, emotional engagement, and payoff
For academic and nonfiction titles, I assess:
- The clarity of purpose and focus throughout the manuscript
- The overall structure, organization, and logical progression of ideas
- The strength, coherence, and credibility of arguments and supporting evidence
- The consistency of voice and tone, and how well they align with the intended audience
- Gaps in content, context, or explanation, as well as areas of unnecessary repetition
- Transitions and connectivity between chapters
- Opportunities to incorporate pedagogical features or supplementary material, such as sidebars, exercises, glossaries, case studies, or data
- The use of setting and detail, particularly in narrative nonfiction and manuscripts that include narrative case studies
- The presence and placement of primary sources, data, or case studies
- The effectiveness and integration of visual elements and the overall art program
- Whether the clarity and tone support the author’s stated goals and audience expectations
- Ways to strengthen the author’s authority, credibility, and expertise on the subject
- The use of inclusive language and accessibility practices, when applicable
- Potential ethical, legal, or sensitivity concerns in content or representation
- Overall audience engagement and the clarity of key takeaways
Here’s what you can typically expect to receive as part of a developmental edit:
- A comprehensive, detailed editorial report
- Chapter-level feedback
- Inline markup and marginal notes throughout the manuscript
- A developed project reference guide
- A targeted revision plan with notes on how to move the manuscript forward
- One thiry-minute round of follow-up support via a phone call
For authors seeking a deeper developmental edit, with expanded visual and structural feedback tools, the next level of service includes:
- Detailed in-chapter and section-level analysis
- Multiple visual architecture maps
- Multiple reader immersion audits
- Series/sequel planning, if applicable
- Voice memos and walkthroughs to clarify complex feedback
- Two thiry-minute rounds of follow-up support via a phone call
For this service, I typically work on:
- Academic and nonfiction - humanities, psychology, social sciences
- Fiction and genre - romance (including dark/erotic), fantasy, historical fiction, horror, science fiction, young adult
- Publication types - scholarly books, trade books, textbooks
Developmental editing is often combined with research services. To request a sample of my work, my resume, or a complete list of projects, please get in touch via email or through the contact page.