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When you write a book, it's going to go through multiple stages of editing. This is typical and designed to help your book shine and be the best it can be.
At the very start of your editing journey, there will be what's called a developmental edit. This is an edit that digs deep into your story's bones. Not everyone will need this service, but it's extremely helpful when you're trying to nail it and need a little help with its structure.
Let's take a deeper look at this type of editing, when you might need it, and what you can expect during and when it's all over.
Key Components of a Developmental Edit
A developmental edit, also known as a structural edit, looks at the structure of your story. Its bones. Your editor will evaluate several elements to make sure your book hits all the right notes. And if it doesn't, they'll make suggestions on how to strengthen it.
- Plot and subplots
- Pacing
- Characters
- Consistency
Each of these components is critical to making your story shine. If one area is lacking, it's bound to disappoint readers, and we all know what happens when they're disappointed. They make it known—everywhere.
Plot (and Subplots)
The plot and subplots make up the structure of your story. If there are glaring holes or twisted timelines, it can confuse the reader. Confused readers have a hard time following the story and will likely eventually either skim the rest or worse, close the book and never look back.
During the developmental edit, your editor will look at the plots—the main one and the subplots—to make sure they flow smoothly throughout the book, from the beginning to the middle to the end. There should be no glaring holes. No unanswered questions. The reader should leave the book satisfied, not with questions.
There are some things you can do during the writing process to prevent these glaring holes.
- Outline your story. Even if you're a pantser, you should have some idea of where you want the story to go and how the plots will resolve themselves. Your outline can just be a brief checklist of points to hit.
- Make sure scenes are logical. This is a big one. Even if you're writing fantasy, there should be a logical progression between scenes. It should never be jarring. If you feel like you're pulled out of the scene, so will your readers.
Pacing
The pacing of a story is how fast the plot unfolds. But, don't be mistaken, it's not how many pages or how long the story is. Rather, it's how quickly the story moves for the reader.
It's a delicate balance that you definitely want to nail.
Move too fast, and the reader will feel as if they've got whiplash. Move too slow and you risk them yawning as they turn the pages, or closing the book altogether.
To avoid pacing issues, you'll want to ensure you have a well-structured plot (these go hand-in-hand) and a mixture of scenes, whether they're long and descriptive or short, tense sequences.
Characters
When readers pick up a book, they do so with a hope of getting invested in the characters. They are what makes the story. You owe it to them and your characters to put the time into their development. To make them compelling.
During the editing process, your editor will take a deep look at the characters, their motivations, their desires, their growth, their arcs. The main characters should have a certain level of growth throughout as they tackle obstacles that arise.
It's helpful to plot out your characters prior to writing, so you know which arc they will take. It can also help you avoid stunted growth (unless that's the aim, of course) and other shortcomings that might irk the reader.
Consistency
Consistency is key to a solid story. Ever read a book where a character was wearing jeans in one sentence and then a full-piece suit in the next? Yeah, I think we all have. This isn't a sign of lazy writing, but it is a sign that the book needed better editing.
There's a lot to keep consistent in a story. Your characters. The Setting. The timeline. Events.
One little thing out of place can cause the reader to pause and pull them out of the story.
That's why it's a good idea to have a note of all the significant details you include in your book, for consistency's sake.
Feedback
Your editor's feedback should include all of the elements we discussed here. They will likely mark up your manuscript with questions and areas of inconsistency, whether it's a plot hole or an issue with a character or pacing.
They might also touch base on the story's theme and your personal writing style. This is not a deep look at your sentence structure or grammar. That comes later.
When Is a Good Time to Get a Developmental Edit?
The best time to get a developmental edit is as soon as you've finished the full draft. Because, how will you know what to fix in the editing stage if you don't have a full evaluation on it?
I highly recommend that new authors invest in this extra step. It's money well spent, trust me.
How Long Does it Take?
I get it. You're excited, nervous, and every other emotion under the sun while your manuscript is undergoing the developmental edit. But… patience.
Typically, a developmental edit can take a few weeks. Sometimes, if the editor is extremely busy, it can take much longer. They should be upfront with you about expected timelines (and stick to that timeline) before you sign any type of contract. If you're committed to working with this editor, then it's important to respect their timelines. If it's too long a wait, you're better off trying to find someone else.
I promise, emailing them and asking if it's ready yet (very much akin to kids in the car asking "are we there yet?") is not going to make them get it done faster.
What Does it Cost?
Editing is a costly, but necessary part of your writing career, especially if you plan to make writing your sole source of income.
Every editing company, whether it's an agency or an individual, sets its own rates, so it can be somewhat variable for this reason. However, the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) has created a median rate chart that lists what you can expect to pay for various levels of editing, from an assessment to proofreading.
According to the 2025 rates, authors can expect to pay between $0.03 to $0.073 per word. For a 60,000-word manuscript, that's anywhere from $1,800 to $4,380.
Again, this is an average cost, and you might find an editor who charges less or more.
Finding a Developmental Editor
While developmental editing is common, not every editor does it. Some may leave it up to more experienced professionals who know what to identify in a story and how to pick those elements apart.
That said, finding a developmental editor is the same as finding any other type of editor. You can search freelance sites, get a recommendation from fellow authors, or do a search and interview those that pop up at the top of the results.
Make sure you research your editor before you sign any contracts. Get to know their history. Ask how long they have been editing and for any potential references and educational background. They should have no problem answering these questions for you.
Make sure you jive well. There will be a bit of back and forth during this process, and you want someone you can work well with. That doesn't mean pick someone who will coddle you (they shouldn't), but definitely someone you can develop a rapport with.
Cost is likely a concern, especially if you're at the beginning of your career. Each editor has their own rates, and some even work with you on a payment schedule.
Finally, be clear about your expectations going into this. What are you looking to get out of it, can the editor offer that? Discuss the specifics. What kind of timeline are you looking at? What will communication between you two look like? Ask all the questions you want until you're satisfied you can work with them.
Then, sign a contract. Do not enter this stage of editing (or any stage, really) without a contract that outlines everything you've spoken of. Don't be afraid to ask for changes to the contract if it is missing one of the stipulations. Only sign it when you're completely satisfied with its terms.
Tips for Surviving the Developmental Edit
As writers, we are attached to our words. We love our characters, our stories, and our literary worlds that we create. The last thing we want is someone to come in and butcher them.
But, alas…
It's so very necessary, especially if you are a full-time author or aspire to be. The ultimate goal in this case is to satisfy your readers. In order to satisfy your readers, your stories need to hit all the notes.
That said, going through a developmental edit can be nerve-wracking. But, I promise, you will come through the other side, perhaps not entirely unscathed, but you will. Here are some tried-and-true tips I recommend to help you through the process.
- Find an editor you like. This is so important, and the industry isn't so scarce that you don't have options. In fact, you might find you have too many. Make sure your personalities align at least somewhat. If you're bubbly and personable, working with someone who's very straight-laced may not be a good fit. But also? Make sure that editor has experience. They should know your genre inside out. If they don't, you're not going to get the feedback you need to improve your manuscript.
- Go in with an open mind. This is a tough one. A really tough one. Because we want to believe our words are perfect as they are. Rarely, that's the case. If you followed step one and chose an editor who is both experienced and you gel with, you will get the feedback you need to improve. But you have to be willing to accept this feedback the way it's intended: constructively. Your editor isn't trying to tear you down, though it may seem like that. They're trying to guide you. You, of course, have the final say in any/all changes suggested.
- This isn't about nitpicking the fine details. Earlier, I mentioned several elements that are part of a developmental edit. It's important to remember we're looking at the story as a whole and not nitpicking the finer details at this stage. So, if you used the wrong form of there, too, or you're, that's not going to make the assessment, unless it's constant throughout. Then, your editor will likely mention it, but will not fix those instances at this stage.
- You're going to have to do some work. I would wager 95% of the time, you're going to get some notes on your manuscript that will require you to dig deep into the story's structure and make some significant changes. This is especially true if it's your first foray into writing a book. Your editor will find those elements that don't match up and leave you feedback (and often, suggestions) on how to improve or address the issue.
- Stay positive. Nobody likes to have their work critiqued. Not even the most experienced authors. But, stay positive. Remember that this feedback is designed to improve your book for the better. It's not meant to hurt your feelings, and it's not meant to discourage you from writing, though it may do both. Use it as motivation to tackle your story with a renewed vision.
At the end of the day, this is your story. These are your words. The editor is there to help you deliver the best reading experience possible, but you have the final say. You're free to ignore advice if you don't agree with it, or to use your editor as a brainstorming partner, someone who can help you fill in those missing holes and suggest ways to make your book really shine.