Editing Basics - Developmental Editing

Many writers think of editing as simply identifying and fixing errors associated with spelling and grammatical typos, poor word choices or awkward syntax; however, the world of book editing is so much more. 

When publishers and editors talk about editing, they seem to throw many different terms out there: developmental editing, line editing, copy editing and even proofreading.  Trying to decipher what each form of editing entails can be confusing. 

Let’s try to break down the basics of Development Editing first.

What is developmental editing? Simply put, an in-depth review of a manuscript. This first stage focuses on issues such as overall story structure and arc, characterization, and plot holes. It is normally the first editing step after the manuscript is drafted and can lead to multiple rewrites.

The editor takes a broad look at the manuscript and focuses on improving the content and structure of your novel, nonfiction or short story. The goal is to help the manuscript have a clear focus and ensure that the elements, like sentence and style, make sense. Developmental editors also make sure the writing aligns with the expectations of the target audience for the book’s genre.

The components that developmental editors address include:

·       Tone or style

·       Character development

·       Dialogue

·       Story pacing

·       Sentence phrasing

·       Setting

·       Potential plot holes

 These broad issues should be addressed before pursuing other types of editing.

Next up….Line Editing.