Craft: What’s a Developmental Edit?
There are a lot of different definitions of what editing is and does.
There are no real standards for editors, so writers often have no good way of knowing if an editor is worthwhile. Even recommendations can be biased. Just because your writer friend liked their editor doesn’t mean it was a good edit or would be a good fit for you. I’ve worked in traditional publishing as a managing editor. I’m a gold member of the Christian Pen: Proofreaders and Editors Network, which requires passing editing tests and being vetted. I’m also a Alliance of Independent Authors approved partner service provider.
But it’s also important that your editor gets you and your story. It needs to be a good fit. My goal is always to preserve your vision and your voice for your story. You want an editor who also wants that for you, as well as making your story the best it can be.
Good editing teaches principles of craft
You should also learn the principles of craft along the way that you can apply to your future works. The edits should explain why this or that is being suggested and how it will make your book stronger.
Nonfiction developmental edit
For nonfiction, a developmental edit will look at the overall flow and structure of your book. These are some of the questions it will answer.
- Do the chapters flow well?
- Does the order make sense?
- Is there enough information on a topic or too much information?
- What transformation are you promising your reader?
- Do you deliver that?
- Does each chapter deliver a consistent reading experience?
- Does the tone and style match your target audience?
Knowing your target audience and your goals for your book will help your editor in making the appropriate suggestions.
Fiction developmental edit
For fiction, we have a lot more ground to cover. We still need to know your target audience and your goals for your book. But we also need to look at:
- The story arc as a whole
- The growth arc of your main characters
- The scene structure
- Genre expectations
- Appropriate use of backstory
- Tension levels
- POV
Because of the subjective nature of editing, your editor should ask for a sample of your writing to determine what you need. However, it is difficult to get a sample edit for a developmental edit, since it focuses on the work as a whole. However, your editor should be able to tell from your sample some areas they can see right away that will need strengthening or that they’ll want to look at more closely.
Prices for developmental edits vary based on word count, where you are on the writing journey, and the expertise of your editor. In general, you get what you pay for, like most things in life. Because a developmental edit does such heavy lifting and gives you the most bang for your buck, you can expect to pay on average between $2,000-$5,000.
Next I’ll talk about copyedits.
