The Benefits of Developmental Editing for Writers
By Mary Kole
Mary Kole is a former literary agent, freelance editor, writing teacher, author of Writing Irresistible Kidlit, and IP developer for major publishers, with over a decade in the publishing industry.
Developmental editing is the most comprehensive—and challenging—discipline in the editing and publishing world. As such, it’s not for everyone. Are you a writer looking to take your work to the next level? If so, then developmental editing might just be the thing for you. Developmental editing is an intensive form of editing that helps writers bring their manuscripts to the next level and reach their full potential in an extremely competitive publishing landscape. In this article, I will explore exactly what developmental editing entails and how it can benefit writers in any category or genre.
What is Developmental Editing?
Developmental editing is a form of book or manuscript editing that focuses on helping writers develop a structure and story that best fits the narrative they are trying to convey. The first step is to understand the writer’s intentions for their story and make recommendations based on this understanding and a knowledge of the market that the writer is attempting to enter. And developmental editing isn’t just for writers hoping to get into the traditional market and worrying about making their slush pile submission as strong as possible. Writers aiming to self-publish also need a second set of eyes on their work. In fact, an editor is often the last set of eyes on a manuscript before it’s published, so the stakes are higher for developmental editing, copy editing, and proofreading in a self-publishing scenario.
The editor works closely with the writer to identify any plot holes or inconsistencies in character arcs, as well as any issues with pacing, dialogue, point-of-view, and other elements of storytelling, including the all-important ingredient of writing voice. The editor also provides feedback on how the writer can make their work more cohesive and well-rounded. Some editors, especially those with professional publishing experience, may make recommendations for comp titles and submission or book marketing strategy.
The Benefits of Developmental Editing for Writers
There are many benefits of developmental editing in writing and publishing. First and foremost, having an experienced editor look over your work can help you identify issues before they become larger problems down the line. Wouldn’t you want to hear that your plot is a non-starter at the novel outline phase, before you commit 400 pages to the manuscript? An experienced editor providing developmental editing can also provide valuable insight into how readers may interpret certain aspects of your work, allowing you to make necessary revisions before submitting it for representation, publication, or distribution.
Another benefit of getting developmental editing is that an experienced editor can often help mitigate some of the stress from writing by providing you with necessary feedback, coaching, encouragement, and the ability to ask questions and learn in a safe space. Having someone in your corner for developmental editing allows you to focus more on the creative aspects of writing, rather than worrying about whether everything is clicking together. Also, having someone else provide objective feedback on your work can often help give you an unbiased perspective, which allows you to see mistakes or improvements that may have been overlooked if you’d been working alone. Writers are notorious for not being able to be objective about their own work—which is why the field of developmental editing exists.
Level Up Your Writing With Developmental Editing
Overall, developmental editing can be an invaluable tool for writers who are looking to maximize their potential and make their projects as strong as possible. Professional developmental editing offers objective insight from experienced professionals who are familiar with all aspects of writing and publishing. Their goal is to provide valuable feedback that can help strengthen your manuscript’s structure and narrative flow before it reaches its intended audience.
If you’re just starting out and want to snap rocket boosters to your progress as a writer, or are well-published but struggling with a certain plot or character element, developmental editing can help you see the landscape clearly and forge ahead confidently.
Click here to purchase Writing Irresistible Kidlit, my book on fiction craft for MG and YA novels, out from Writer's Digest Books. This will show you my writing craft philosophy and give you lots of valuable advice, including tips for the novel revision process and self-editing. There are over 35 example novels cited and discussed throughout. It’s a valuable resource for any writer’s toolkit.
Click here to purchase Successful Query Letters, my book on query letters, including over forty examples with comprehensive notes on each one. There’s a ton of submission advice, best practices, and insider information in these pages, and you’ll really enjoy seeing what other writers are doing in the slush.