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.

**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.