I’ve been fortunate enough in that many of my clients are already aware of developmental editing and why it’s important for their work, however this is not always going to be the case. Many authors, even self-published ones, still underestimate the importance of a “story” edit. That’s right, developmental editing focuses on the story, characters, plot, structure, readability, credibility, intended audience, and most important of all – will readers enjoy it?

The editorial process of the developmental edit may vary from editor to editor, however the idea is the same – work with an author to help the author create the best possible story they can.

That last point is key. An editor is not helping you create the best YA fantasy adventure on the market – that is not a realistic expectation. The editor is helping you create your best YA fantasy adventure.

So why is a developmental editor important?

A developmental editor immerses himself or herself in your story  –

Curious why an editor is able to charge a hefty fee? This is why. A developmental editor immerses himself or herself in your story. They soak it in; let it consume them for the days/weeks/months that they work on it. They are as close as they can be with your story without actually being the one who created and wrote it. When I edit or critique a manuscript, I usually gather all my thoughts and notes, type them up as if they are ready to send and then wait a couple days before sending off. Just because I “finished” doesn’t mean my work is done, and it definitely does not mean I’ve stopped thinking about it. Even doing this and being certain I’ve said all I can, I still find myself emailing a client a few days later with another idea that came to mind. Or a client may have additional questions later and want to bounce ideas around. Being immersed in the story means an editor is invested, and don’t you want to know your editor is invested as much as you?

A developmental editor understands your vision –

This is your story, your book, your writing. The right editor knows this and does not try to change this. They understand what you are hoping to accomplish (and if they don’t, tell them) and they will help you accomplish that. Do you have a specific theme to your story? An editor will help you stick to it. Is your intended audience single parents, young adults, or realists? An editor will make sure your story captures the audience you want. The same goes for genre. An editor should not try to change your vision – if that’s the case, why would you work with them? Make sure you and your editor are in sync.

A developmental editor is a reader –

When editing, I am not just looking at your work like an editor, I look at it as a reader as well. As a reader, what would I want to see more of? How does this story make me feel? Am I excited for the characters, do I even like the characters? Am I thinking about the story even after I’ve finished reading? Can I picture the people and world that this author has created? Has this author hooked me as a new fan?

The beauty of this trait of an editor is that they are your ideal reader. They know why something doesn’t work, or why one section is better placed in another section. They can express this to you and pinpoint the hows and whys. They have been trained for this, studied it, and perfected it. You may have readers who can do this as well, but often times a reader may just feel like the story didn’t work for them, a character didn’t gain their support, or something was off. An editor is a reader with an editor’s eye.  

A developmental editor encourages you –

The right editor is rooting for you. They want to see you succeed because when you succeed, so do they. They are not there to shut you down or tell you that you’re a bad writer. They are a coach in many ways, and they work with you to help you create the best story, not for them to create it for you. One of my favorite moments in editing is when I provide suggestions of where something (plot, characters, motivation) may need expanding and the author takes it to the next level.

A developmental editor sees what you don’t –

If you haven’t heard the phrase “even editors need editors” I encourage you to put it to memory now. I say this phrase all the time, because it’s true. An editor cannot content, line, or copy edit his or her own work.

In their head, a writer knows their story front to back. They know their characters, what they look like, how they act, why they make the choices they do – they know the world they’ve created, the setting, the smells, the way it works. A writer often times lives in their story – it’s part of who they are. Which is why it’s easy for a writer to not see what a new reader sees, or, doesn’t see.

A developmental editor will find the missing pieces that you didn’t even realize were missing.

Have you worked with a developmental editor before? What did you gather from the experience? Are you more confident in your story after using a developmental editor?

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