Developmental Editing

Developmental Editing

While copyediting focuses on grammar, punctuation, spelling and syntax, this is not the primary focus in developmental editing. Developmental editing focuses on the structure, organization and content of a book/document. This type of editor evaluates the book for its intended purpose in regard to readability and consistency of the language. All books/documents remain confidential. These will neither be shared nor shared without the author’s permission.

This package is suitable for the following documents:

  • All genres of fiction/non-fiction, short stories and chapbooks. This further includes novellas and novelettes.
  • Books for children and YA.
  • Blog posts. (Include multiple blog posts in one document for easy editing.)
  • Newspaper/magazine articles.
  • Business documents (cover letters, press releases, speeches, etc.).
  • Poetry
  • Scripts for YouTube.
  • Academic and non-academic essays (Please let me know which citation you’re using when you order.)
  • Reviews: books, products, movies, etc.
  • Content intended to be published via social media.
  • One free revision.

Developmental editing includes:

  • Evaluation of how the content fits together as a document.
  • Assists with evaluating the order of information within the document. Is it presented in a logical form so that the reader can easily understand it?
  • Checks for language and word choice, in addition to grammar, punctuation, spelling and syntax.
  • Clarify all abbreviations, acronyms and/or jargon within the document.
  • Helps writers identify their goals while further helping them improve his or her manuscript.
  • Is all necessary information included, while all unnecessary or redundant information is deleted?
  • Are all indexes, glossaries, appendixes and the table of contents useful to the reader? Is the information laid out well or is it scattered?
  • Removal, the addition of or the rewriting of sentences.
  • Expansion or reduction of paragraphs.
  • Recommends sentences, paragraphs and/or chapters to be reordered in order to better clarify the overall message of the book/document.
  • Recommends either the addition or deletion of subplots in order to help the author move his or her story forward.
  • Asks questions to help the author clarify information in the story, thus allowing the author the ability to express their story more effectively.
  • Reading the book/document for clarity and organization to ensure that the content flows easily for the easily. Minor changes concerning grammar, punctuation, spelling and syntax will be suggested to the author.
  • Rewrites sentences and/or paragraphs to improve the author’s story. All changes will be author-approved before they are placed into the document.

This package further includes the following in regard to fiction and non-fiction:

  • CHARACTERS: evaluation of character descriptions, goals and/or motivations; actions and reactions of characters; strengths/weaknesses of the protagonist, antagonist and supporting characters; how the antagonist is presented in the story; whether the characters fit in well with the genre/era, etc.
  • CONFLICT: analyzing whether story conflict is realistic for the protagonist; determining whether the conflict is overdone or not written well; assisting the author in adding in variations of conflict; analyzing whether there is internal conflict and external conflict for the character(s); determining if the conflict is realistic and authentic for the setting, etc.
  • DIALOGUE: evaluation if dialogue is authentic or too predictable; assessing whether dialogue fits a character and/or the setting; evaluating if the dialogue is appropriate for the character; analyzing if dialogue hints at character descriptions, character actions and/or character gestures; assisting with the removal, addition of or editing of dialogue tags, etc.
  • PLOT: evaluating whether the plot is strong enough to carry through to the last page; reviewing if there are too many (or too few) sub-plots; assisting the author with the hook, inciting incident, plot points, climax and resolution; assessing whether the plot is engaging to the reader; checking that all plot threads are resolved by the end of the story, etc.
  • POINT OF VIEW: determining the narrator in the author’s story and how it affects how the story is written; assessing if the POV character knows too much – or too little – for their role in the story; assisting writers who write in opposite points of view; helping writers determine a suitable POV for their story; assisting writers in using POV to reveal story details, etc.
  • SCENE, SEQUEL & STRUCTURE: determining whether the story is moving too fast or too slow for its genre; checking for consistencies (and inconsistencies) in regard to plot, characters, dialogue, setting, etc.; assisting the author in strengthening scenes and/or sequels by either writing or rewriting passages; analyzing a scene to ensure it is moving the story forward; assessing whether each chapter has an event or occurrence which is consistent to the story, etc.
  • SETTING: determining the level of description in regard to setting – whether it is too specific or too vague; assessing if the setting is appropriate for the genre/era; how the setting impacts the characters and their actions; how the setting moves the story forward; analyzing how well the setting is researched for the reader, etc.
  • SYMBOLISM/THEME: assuring symbolism is used correctly for the genre/era or in regard to the object in question; analyzing whether the story’s theme is appropriate for the particular age group/genre; helping the author sharpen their theme through research and brainstorming; assessing if the author’s theme is a suitable fit for the book’s genre; assisting the writer in developing their theme by either writing (or rewriting) passages; etc.
Word CountDelivery SpeedPriceDelivery Time
1 - 1,000Regular
Express
$25
$50
2 days
1 day
1,001 - 2,500Regular
Express
$40
$55
2 days
1 days
2,501 - 5,000Regular
Express
$75
$100
4 days
2 days
5,001 - 10,000Regular
Express
$125
$150
7 days
4 days
10,001 - 15,000Regular
Express
$175
$225
7 days
5 days
15,001 - 25,000Regular
Express
$250
$275
10 days
5 days
25,001 - 50,000Regular
Express
$375
$425
10 days
7 days
50,001 - 75,000Regular
Express
$500
$550
14 days
10 days
75,001 - 100,000Regular$75021 days
100,001 - 150,000Regular$1,00030 days

**Please contact me if you have documents/books larger than 150,000 words. All documents should be sent in either .doc or .docx format. I use Microsoft track changes.
**Please be aware this package does not include manuscript formatting.

Note: Delivery time includes the time of which I start work on your document. All holidays, nights and weekends are excluded from delivery time. Please contact me prior to ordering. One week is equivalent to five business days (Mon-Fri). I am in the Central Time Zone of the United States.

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