Developmental editing is a form of editing that focuses on the structure, organization, and development of a text. It goes beyond surface-level editing to look at how the content supports the overall argument or message of the text. Developmental editors work with authors to refine their ideas, organize their material into an effective format and structure, create strong transitions, and rewrite or revise sections as needed. They may also suggest changes in tone or style to make the work more readable and engaging.
Developmental editing refers to editing that aims to improve the content and overall structure of a manuscript. This is very different from the steps that follow and which I will be explaining soon — stylistic (line) editing, copy editing and proofreading — types of editing that ensure that a manuscript’s grammar, punctuation and spelling are in accordance with rules codified in reference books such as the Chicago Manual of Style and The AP Stylebook.
As mentioned above, developmental editing takes on topics such as pacing, plot, characterization and setting. There are no set rules to abide by.
Developmental editors draw upon their instincts, experience, and love of reading — and, hence, good editing — to help a manuscript reach its fullest potential. For authors, one of the most difficult parts of experiencing the editing process is cutting sentences and even whole passages out of their manuscript, but that’s what a developmental edit is for.
Most published books go through at least one round of developmental editing. It is not for the fainthearted, though, since it can lead to major changes in a book. Characters can be changed or merged, entire plots can be tossed out, settings can change and so forth. But, in the end, it’s all worth it. Books that haven’t gone through developmental editing can seem unwieldy and lack focus.
After the developmental edit has been completed, that is where my other steps, line editing, copy editing and proofreading come in to play. I am what is referred to as an “immersion” editor — I really get into my work, your book, your characters.
When I am hired to do a stylistic or line edit, I do that, as well as a thorough copy edit, leaving just a light proofread to be done, if the author would like to have it done.
When I am hired to do a copy edit, as I just mentioned, I do a thorough job.
If a proofread is all you need, I will catch any errors that slipped through the cracks in the previous steps.
I gained valuable experience using all these skills when I decided to not only translate from English to Spanish the twenty-five novels I have published, but also to do all the research and investigating of the text, and then the line/stylistic editing, copy editing and proofreading of the translated text.
The fact that I can do Spanish as well as English editing is a big plus for many of my clients.
And there remain many more books to be edited, in English and Spanish!
If you are ready to start talking about having me help you with a developmental edit of your English- or Spanish-language novel:
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