Editorial service · 02
Developmental Editing
Big-picture editing. We work on the architecture of the book before a single sentence is polished.
What this means for your manuscript
Developmental editing works on the book beneath the sentences. For fiction, that might mean the shape of the plot, the pressure on a character or the placement of a reveal. For nonfiction, it might mean the central argument, chapter order and the questions a reader needs answered.
The approach
How the work unfolds
- 01
We agree on the book's purpose and what a successful revision would achieve.
- 02
The manuscript is examined for large-scale patterns and turning points, with comments linked to specific passages.
- 03
An editorial letter explains the reasoning behind proposed changes and helps you decide what to tackle first.
What you receive
A clear outcome
A substantial editorial letter and annotated manuscript, with priorities for revision agreed in the project scope.
What happens next
After the edit
Allow time to revise the structure before investing in line editing or copyediting.
Editorial demonstration · fictional example
See the thinking in context
This scenario is invented to illustrate the kind of editorial question we might explore. It is not a client project or testimonial.
In a fictional mystery, the ending is satisfying but its clues arrive too late. A developmental edit maps earlier opportunities for fair-play clues without revealing the solution too soon.