What Does A Developmental Editor Do?

Developmental editing focuses

on big picture elements of the story and plays a deeper role in manuscript development

. Plot holes, character arcs, pacing, action sequences, and dialogue are all things covered by a developmental editor when it comes to creative writing.

What do developmental editors examine?

Developmental editing is a thorough and in-depth review of your entire manuscript. It examines

all the elements of your writing, from individual words and sentences to overall structure and style

. In fiction, this edit will also address any issues related to plot and characterization.

What is the role of a development editor?

A developmental editor may

guide an author (or group of authors) in conceiving the topic, planning the overall structure, and developing an outline

—and may coach authors in their writing, chapter by chapter. … A developmental editor aims to make a very marketable book that answers the intended audience’s needs.

What is the difference between developmental editing and copyediting?

As its name implies, a developmental edit (also often called a content, structural, or story edit) focuses on the heart of your book—the story. … Line editing and

copyediting focus on the language you use to tell the story

.

Do you need a developmental editor?

If you tend to write perfect prose that’s exactly suited to the needs of the writer, then

you don’t need a developmental editor

. … Ask your editor if they’ll spend time coaching you on the manuscript or if you should get an outside editor; they’ll often encourage you to hire a developmental editor on your own.

What can I expect from a developmental editor?

Sometimes called a content edit or a line edit, the focus of a developmental edit is on

plot, characterization, pacing, storytelling, marketability-big picture items

. My goal is to support your strengths and shore up your weaknesses, whether your goal is traditional publication or self publication.

What does a developmental edit look like?

Developmental editing focuses on

big picture elements of the story and plays a deeper role in manuscript development

. Plot holes, character arcs, pacing, action sequences, and dialogue are all things covered by a developmental editor when it comes to creative writing.

How long do developmental edits take?

It should take

approximately one calendar month

for an average-sized novel to be edited. However, several factors must be considered when working out the final turn around time for a developmental edit.

What is the difference between developmental editing and editorial assessment?

If you’re on a budget, you can consider an editorial assessment as opposed to a

full developmental edit

. An editorial assessment is a thorough letter from an editor that summarizes the book’s big-picture concerns in a more compact format.

How much do developmental editors make?

Can an editor steal your book?

If an agent, editor, or publisher really wanted to steal your book, they would still need to rewrite it to avoid a plagiarism lawsuit. This takes time and lots of it. The reality is, industry professionals

don’t have the time to steal your idea

. … No one has time to steal your idea.

What are the 5 major types of edits?

• Developmental, substantive, or content editing.
• Structural editing.
• Copy editing.
• Line editing.
• Mechanical editing.

How much should a developmental editor charge?

manuscript developmental Editing RATES

Developmental editing rates for your manuscript usually cost

between $. 07 and $. 12 per word

. Some developmental editors charge by manuscript page, in the range of $7.50 to $20 per page.

When should I get a developmental editor?

When Should You Get Developmental Editing? Developmental editing comes early in your writing and editing process. I recommend hiring a developmental editor

after your first or second draft of your book

. Your developmental editor will read your manuscript and give you high-level feedback on the shape of your story.

Why is developmental editing so expensive?

The reason developmental editing is so important is because

there are many stories that are published that get “edited”

when in fact all that’s been fixed are various typos, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and repetitive words. … A developmental edit can sometimes cost a lot of money.

What is the difference between line editing and copyediting?

Copyediting, commonly called line editing, is a light form of editing that applies a professional polish to a book. … Some professionals divide copyediting and line editing into

two separate edits

, copyediting being the lighter, grammar-only edit, and line editing being a more intense look at each sentence’s meaning.