Why hire a developmental editor?

Writing a book is hard work, which is why completing a manuscript is such a huge achievement. Finishing a first draft, however, is only half the battle. Writing success is all about rewriting, and that can feel like an overwhelming task when you look back on your manuscript and maybe begin to see the flaws and weaknesses. To make things easier, this is the point at which you should consider hiring a developmental editor.

What does a developmental editor do?

First and foremost, a developmental editor is there to give you sound advice on where your manuscript can be strengthened. Whether you have a completed manuscript or a work in progress, developmental editing assesses the structure and content of your text to diagnose any problems there might be with the plot, characters, style or general organisation.

While copyeditors will delve into the nitty gritty of spelling and sentence structure, your developmental editor is there to look at the bigger picture. This helps you understand where there are areas ripe for improvement, where changes could be made to strengthen your work and make it more appealing to readers.

What sort of things is a developmental editor looking at?

A developmental editor is on the lookout for potential problems in the overall structure of your book. That includes the plotting, pacing, tone of voice and character development, as well as the order of the scenes and any scenes which may benefit from being shortened or lengthened.

All of this gives you a solid overview of how your text hangs together as a whole.  A good editor will leave you detailed notes and actionable advice on fixing any problems they find, making it easier for you to go back over your manuscript and begin the process of amending and improving it.

When should you hire a developmental editor?

When it comes to the editing process, hiring a developmental editor should happen fairly early on, before your manuscript goes to line editing and proof-reading. Once you’ve finished your work, the next thing to do is have a go at editing it yourself – this can be at a very basic level, rewriting scenes you’re unhappy with or fleshing out characters. It can even be as simple as catching spelling errors.

After this, it’s a good idea to get some Alpha readers on board and listen to their feedback. In an ideal world, these initial readers will be strangers rather than family and friends, who may not always give their honest opinions. Once you’ve listened to your Alpha readers and made changes according to their feedback, that’s the time to hire a developmental editor.

Are you ready to hire an editor?

Developmental editing is a vital part of your manuscript’s journey from rough first draft to completed, publishable text. If you decide to hire a developmental editor then you’ll get the firm but fair feedback you need to take your manuscript to the next level, helping you shape your story into something your readers won’t be able to put down.

If you would like more information on developmental editing or would like a sample edit and a quote, please fill in the online contact form.