Developmental Editing

I’m editor-in-chief of WoodPig Press, where I assess and feedback on hundreds of submissions across multiple genres every year. I also work as a freelance developmental editor, offering both fiction and non-fiction editorial advice, with speculative subjects a speciality.

As an author, I’ve published thirteen books of popular philosophy with a range of big publishers, and I’ve made a career from explaining difficult topics in an accessible and and engaging way. I’ve taught, examined and studied the subject at various levels, and I have a PhD in “death”! In terms of fiction, I’ve written various sci-fi/fantasy themed novels and short stories, and am a big fan of anything speculative.

So, if you want want help improving your novel, spicing up your memoir, structuring your thesis (or turning it into something the public will actually read!), then please get in touch for a chat. I offer a free Zoom call and sample edit of 1,000 words, and you are welcome to interrogate my 20+ years of experience of working in and around the publishing industry.

But first of all…

What is Developmental Editing?

Publishing terms can be confusing. It doesn’t help that people use them differently and the various roles can overlap! Here’s a brief overview.

Before it gets to publication, a manuscript will traditionally undergo various forms of editing. The first of these is often called the “developmental” or “structural” edit. This is where the text is assessed for any “big picture” issues that may need addressing before we get down to the nitty-gritty of grammar, word choice and sentence structure. So, for fiction, this includes such things as point of view, character, plot, and pacing; for non-fiction, it may focus on the structure of your argument, your use of examples and illustrations, and the tone with which you address your reader.

Does that mean that a developmental edit doesn’t focus on language and expression? Well, it can do, especially if this represents a broad or recurring problem within the manuscript. For instance, your text may be overly descriptive or your sentences too long, or perhaps the language is generally flat and lacking emotional impact. If so, a developmental edit can highlight such issues and provide some suggestions as to how to address them. This detailed focus is called line-editing, and can be offered either as part of a developmental edit, or – if your manuscript is otherwise fine in terms of big picture issues – can be provided on its own. Together, developmental and line editing therefore represent creative, content focused assistance.

Once these and other broad issues are addressed, the manuscript is ready for a copy edit, which focuses on clarity of expression, spotting inconsistencies, and correcting any issues with grammar, spelling and punctuation. The final stage is proofreading, which picks up on any typos and other errors that have been missed, and also ensures that the typeset manuscript (the final proofs) are properly laid out. Copy editing and proofreading represent the technical side of editing.

So, in summary:

Developmental editing (Creative) = big picture issues or general problems with structure, style, pacing, characterisation, etc.
Line editing (Creative) = sentence level issues that affect the expressive tone and quality of the writing.
Copy editing (Technical) = sentence level issues relating to clarity, consistency, grammar, spelling and punctuation.
Proofreading (Technical) = the final polish, during which any remaining errors are caught and the formatting is checked.

Which One Do I Need?

Don’t get too hung up on these terms – it can take a while to get your head around them. It’s best just to think of the editing process as a funnel, starting broad and narrowing in.

If you’re early in your drafting process, or you want general feedback on what big changes might improve your book, then go for developmental editing. If you’re generally happy with your plot, structure, etc, but you want someone to help improve expression and emotional tone, then go for line editing. If both of these are fine, but you want a second pair of eyes to check for clarity, consistency, grammar and spelling, then go for copy editing. If all the above have been done and the text is laid out, then it’s ready for a proofread. Also, some editors will offer to combine some of the above.

As stated, I focus on the creative side – developmental and line editing – but I’m happy to recommend colleagues who specialise in copy editing and proofreading.

What Form Will a Developmental Edit Take?

I offer four services:

A manuscript critique (also called an editorial report/assessment/letter). This is usually a document of between 10 and 20 pages that lays out the main big picture issues, illustrating these with the odd example, and providing suggested improvements. You can think of it as a helpful book review.
A full developmental edit, which as well as a more detailed version of the above report, provides feedback within the margins of selected parts of the manuscript.
Line editing, which provides extensive line-by-line commentary and suggestions throughout the manuscript, but will not address big picture issues.
Combined developmental and line edit, which produces a slightly shorter report and focuses on both structural and line-level issues in a single pass (a cost-effective option for manuscripts where large rewrites are not anticipated).

So What’s the Cost?

This is time intensive and skilled work. I don’t use AI – and nor should you! – and each manuscript receives my detailed consideration and analysis. Writing is a lonely process, I know, and sometimes it’s worth paying for a sympathetic, trained ear to share your creative struggles with and who can give you objective and constructive advice (God, I’ve made myself sound like a therapist!).

These are my standard prices, based on word count:

Manuscript assessment = £6 per 1,000 words
Developmental edit = £15 per £1,000 words
Line edit = £12 to £18 per £1,000 words (depending on degree of intervention needed)
Developmental edit + Line edit = £24 to £30 per £1,000 words (depending on degree of intervention needed)

However, I also offer payment plans, and you are welcome to get in touch to discuss your budget and your requirements, and I’ll see what I can do.

NOTE: To avoid conflicts of interest, neither I nor any other WoodPig Press freelancers will work on manuscripts that have been submitted to the press, and the press does not accept manuscripts that we’ve worked on.