DEVELOPMENTAL EDITING
What is developmental editing?
Developmental editing, also called structural editing or substantive editing, is typically done on a partial or initial manuscript. The developmental editor focuses on the big picture of your manuscript – story structure, pacing, character- and world-building, style and thematic development. A good developmental editor is able to identify your target readership and understands the nuances of your genre. While they may occasionally point out a few grammatical mistakes, their primary focus is not on fixing typos.
When to contact a developmental editor?
It is best to connect with a developmental editor once you have finished writing at least half of your manuscript. If you need help earlier, a book coach might be a better choice. The ideal time to work with a developmental editor is when your first draft is complete and you are looking for professional and unbiased feedback on how to enhance your existing text.
What is the difference between a developmental editor, line editor and coach?
What does developmental editing entail?
A sample edit is conducted before developmental editing. For a sample edit, please send the first 10 pages of your manuscript (Times New Roman, 12 pt, 1.5 line spacing, left-aligned) to contact@rvbookcoaching.com. A sample edit helps our editor gauge the scope of work and provide an accurate quote for your project.
If you are happy with the quote, you can send the full manuscript to the editor. The developmental editor adds comments to your manuscript and provides suggestions for improving the text. In addition, the editor writes a 6- to 20-page feedback file. The exact length of the evaluation depends on your manuscript and the specific issues identified.
How much does developmental editing cost?
The price of developmental editing depends on the volume, style and genre of the manuscript as well as several other variables. At RVbookcoaching the developmental editing costs anywhere between 0.012–0.016 dollars per word.
This means that the developmental editing of a 50,000-word manuscript may cost between $600 and $800. This price includes a thorough reading of the manuscript, in-text comments and a manuscript evaluation.
If you want to compare rates, you can find the internationally recognised rates at https://www.the-efa.org/rates/. You’ll notice that our rates are below the average. This is because we are operating in Estonia where the cost of living is lower than in the US or UK. This allows us to offer high-quality services at a lower cost for you.
How to proceed after developmental editing?
If you would like to discuss your manuscript evaluation with the editor, you can book a free 30-minute consultation.
After developmental editing, it is a good idea to write a second version of your manuscript based on the feedback. This can sometimes be demotivating, so consider booking a few coaching sessions while you are rewriting your manuscript. A coach will help you stay on track and overcome any potential writer’s block.
Developmental editing is perfect for you if you are looking to enhance you manuscript through professional feedback.
Want to receive professional feedback?
Send us a sample of your writing and we will provide a quote within three working days.
