Developmental Editing: A peek into my process
Looking for a developmental editor can be time-consuming and tricky. How do you know if you’re picking the right editor for your style and work flow? Having an insight to an editor’s editing process can take some of the pressure off and help you decide if the editor’s process aligns with what you’re looking for. So with that being said, here’s a peek into my process! 🫣💚
Step 01: Any questions or concerns?
Whether it’s a romance novel or fiction novel, I cover the big picture of a story (plot structure, pacing, character development, voice and tone). On top of that, I also focus on the romance if it is integral to the plot. If the author has any specific craft element they are most concerned about, please let your editor know! I highly encourage authors to voice these concerns so that editors can pay special attention to them early in the process.
Step 02: Free sample edit
With every editing job, I always offer a free sample edit to interested authors. This not only gives the author a preview of my editing and communication style, it also gives both parties a chance to see if we click.
The sample edit I offer involves an edit of five pages from the middle of the manuscript. I specifically request MIDDLE of the manuscript because the beginning of a manuscript tends to be more polished. Once completed, I send it over to the author for review along with a brief list of suggestions. If they are happy with it, we are ready to move forward with the editing.
Step 03: Reading the manuscript
This is my favorite part of editing: reading! I give a manuscript two read-throughs, each pass with a different goal in mind.
For the first pass, I go through the entire manuscript as if I’m, well, a reader. I take my editing hat off and focus on absorbing the story. I’ll occasionally leave some light line-level suggestions when a word jumps out at me that isn’t working or when the phrasing needs a bit of tightening or rearranging, providing suggestions and examples to get the idea across. If there are historical accuracy issues, sensitivity issues, or inconsistent details, I’ll leave comment on that as well. Aside from that, I’m prioritizing REACTIONS. I leave comments on things I loved and want more of, things that confused me, and plot predictions. I make a point to do this because in recording these reactions and guesses, it signals to the author what scenes or details are and aren’t working in regards to hinting to the reader or in suspense-building. By the end of the story, I’d have a broad idea of craft aspects that stood out to me. I then make a list to guide me for when I go through the manuscript a second time.
Here comes the in-line edits/comments. Different from the reaction comments, these are focused on craft aspects I’ve written down prior. I make sure to leave comments in areas that are working as well as areas that need a bit of love. Highlighting strong sections in a manuscript is a great tool for authors because they can refer to them when revising other sections.
Step 04: Editorial Letter
After all the reading has been done, it’s editorial letter time! The letter can range from three to ten pages depending on word count and how heavy the edit was. It is encouraged that the author take time to sit with the edits and suggestions and digest it, at least several days to a week. Why? It could be jarring to see all the edits and rush to fix everything without taking your own vision to account. As with all my edits, I have a “take it or leave it” policy. Taking the extra time allows the edits to synthesize with the author’s vision and gives the author space to pick and choose which suggestions work for them and which don’t.
Step 05: Follow-Ups
This is a rewarding moment in the developmental edit process because I get to hear which suggestion resonated with the author and listen to their ideas and strategies for revision. The follow-up time is an hour in total. Should the author want to add more follow-up time to talk through revisions with me, that can be added to the contract. The follow-up can be through email, call, or video call—whichever they prefer.
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There you have it. My Developmental Editing process! I hope you found this insightful and helpful. As a writer, what is something you find most helpful in a manuscript edit? Leave your comments below, and until next time, happy writing! 🌷
