Structural editing focuses on how the content is organized and presented. It examines the architecture of the manuscript: what's there, in what order, and how well it holds together. It often involves reorganizing, trimming, or reshaping content to improve clarity, flow, and reader comprehension.
For fiction, I assess:
- The overall narrative arc, including pacing and flow
- Plot development and coherence, including subplots
- Character depth, motivation, consistency, and growth
- Point of view and narrative voice for consistency and effectiveness
- Scene purpose, transitions, and the balance of action, exposition, and dialogue
- Pacing and tension, noting where the story slows or moves too quickly
- Worldbuilding (i.e., its clarity, integration, and relevance, especially in speculative, fantasy, or historical fiction)
- Thematic and tonal consistency throughout the manuscript
- Chronology and timeline continuity
- Paragraph organization and structural flow
- The strength of openings and endings, including hooks, resolution, and reader impact
- Dialogue for realism, character voice, and narrative function
- Information flow (i.e., clarity, timing of reveals, and the balance of exposition and immersion)
- Overall reader engagement and emotional impact
For academic and nonfiction titles, I assess:
- Overall structure and organization, ensuring a clear framework and logical flow of ideas
- The clarity, consistency, and development of the central argument or purpose
- Chapter, paragraph, and section structure, including coherence, balance, and transitions
- Pacing and information flow (i.e., how ideas progress and whether repetition or overload occurs)
- Content relevance and sequencing (i.e., what belongs, what distracts, and what may be missing)
- Headings and subheadings for clarity, hierarchy, and navigational usefulness
- Tone, voice, and narrative stance, ensuring consistency and suitability for audience and purpose
- Reader engagement and accessibility, tailored to the intended audience
- Use of evidence and examples, including clarity, integration, and effectiveness
- Inconsistencies in logic or areas that may require fact-checking
- Transitions between ideas, sections, and chapters
- Integration and referencing of visuals such as tables, charts, and figures
- Footnote or endnote clarity and appropriateness
- Considerations for pedagogical or supplementary material
- Structural issues such as redundancies, digressions, or underdeveloped content
Here’s what you can typically expect to receive as part of a structural edit:
- A comprehensive, detailed editorial summary
- Inline markup and marginal notes throughout the manuscript
- Structural outline
- One thiry-minute round of follow-up support via a phone call
For this service, I typically work on:
- Academic and nonfiction - humanities, social sciences
- Fiction and genre - romance (including dark/erotic), fantasy, historical fiction, horror, science fiction
- Publication types - reference books, scholarly books, trade books, textbooks
Structural editing can often be combined with developmental editing or with line editing. 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.