DEVELOPMENTAL EDITING
Developmental editing delves into the foundation of your content, examining structure, content flow, and overall organization to shape your big ideas into their most powerful form.
Big Picture Analysis
A Captivating Narrative
Even the most valuable information needs engaging delivery. I’ll help tighten your words into a compelling narrative that keeps readers glued to the page from the introduction to the conclusion.
Consistency and Accuracy
I’ll help you maintain factual integrity while ensuring your content remains accessible to your target audience and your writer’s voice shines through. After all, what draws them to your book is you!
Tight Structure
I read your manuscript twice, examining it holistically, identifying strengths and areas needing development. Identify content gaps that might leave readers confused and ensure your ideas build upon each other naturally.
Clear Messaging
Your central message should be crystal clear and resonate with readers. I’ll help you refine and amplify core concepts, the language you use, and how it’s presented to readers so they walk away taking the action you intended.
Genre & Format Expectations
Understand how your book is meeting (or falling short) of reader and genre expectations. I’ll tell you if you need to lengthen, shorten, or restructure your material to meed industry standards. Use this feedback to guide revisions so your book hits the right marks.
Pacing and Flow
When you’re passionate about a topic, it’s easy to get bogged down relating facts, stats, or unnecessary background information that we as professionals find fascinating but readers view as unnecessary or overwhelming. I’ll guide you on maintaining reader engagement throughout technical or complex sections.
Writing Voice and Language
You want your book to sound authentic, but sometimes it is necessary to change word choices or how concepts are explained so your audience understands and connects with the topic. I’ll give you advice on honing your author voice while using a tone and language choices that match your audience.
What a Developmental Edit Is NOT
I’m not line editing, copyediting, or proofreading here—developmental editing is all about substance and narrative power, not nitty-gritty grammar or line-by-line polishing. Save the grammar goblins for the final stages of editing!
Deliverables
Rates start at $0.035/ word ($1200 minimum) | Turnaround time 6-8 weeks
Double Read Through
I’ll dissect your manuscript twice, as if I’m solving a crime and determined to save the day.
Thoughtful In-line Comments
Discover thoughtful, supportive in-line notes designed to spark ideas, point out what’s already singing, and highlight where the story needs a boost.
Editorial Letter
If you’re writing a book, you’ll receive a 5-10 page guide filled with what’s working, what’s not, and doable action steps for nailing those revisions. Think of it as your revision Cliff Notes.
Actionable Feedback
After reviewing the editorial letter, book a free one-hour consultation with me to brainstorm, clarify, and fine-tune your next moves. The goal if for you confidently tackle revisions.
Content I Edit
I edit a wide variety of genres including:
- Memoirs
- Health and wellness
- Self-help
- Personal development
- Spirituality
Start With a Sample Edit
What is a Sample Edit?
I’ll edit a 1,000-word excerpt of your manuscript. I ask for the entire manuscript so I can get an overall feel for the story and your writing. I typically choose a section at least several chapters into the book because you’ve likely spent more time working on the beginning, and it often differs from the rest of your book since you are setting up the story and characters. Something from the middle better represents your writing style and structure for the bulk of your book.
This process serves two key purposes:
- Meet and Greet: It’s our literary “first date.” You experience my editing and communication style, which helps you determine if my approach aligns with your needs.
- Price Quote and Turnaround Time: No two manuscripts need the same TLC. By evaluating a section of your manuscript, I can gauge how long the full edit will take, which allows me to create an accurate price quote and timeline.
Please note, a sample edit might contain more or fewer marginal comments than the actual development edit, since I’m trying to show you what you can expect over a short section of text. With a full developmental edit, you’ll get an in-depth editorial letter with examples, resources, and more in addition to the in-line (marginal) comments.
How Does a Sample Edit Work?
Whether or not you choose to continue working with me, you’ll walk away with valuable feedback on the section I review, at no cost to you. If I feel like your manuscript isn’t quite ready for a developmental edit, I’ll be upfront with you about that and suggest alternative next steps.
When you request a sample edit, you’ll be taken to a short intake form. Here you’ll tell me about your book, any areas of concern you have, your timeline for editing, and some optional questions to help me get to know you a bit better. Finally, you’ll upload your manuscript as a Word doc.
Now the ball (or should I say book) is in my court. I’ll complete a free sample edit and provide you with a quote, an estimated time to complete the project, and delivery date options based on my availability.
You’ll review my edit and proposal, get all jazzed about how I can help you rock your revisions, and say “Rachel, let’s freaking do this.”
Once I get that enthusiastic thumbs up, we’ll pick a date for your edit and I’ll send you a contract to sign (with NDA included), and you will pay the deposit. Then it’s game on!
When you’re ready to get started, send that manuscript on over.