Developmental Editing

A Bear Hug for Your Book

You’ve carried your story for a while: months, maybe years. That’s hard work. Now might be the time to let someone share the load so you can cross the finish line with confidence and flair.

What Developmental Editing covers

A developmental edit is often described as a big-picture, high-level or wide-angle view of your book. It’s definitely those, but I also like to think of the developmental edit I offer as a bear hug for your book: I wrap myself around it, hold it close, discover where it’s strong and where more support is needed. Then I provide that support.

A WordServings Developmental Edit examines

• structure, organization and pacing
• plot or argument arcs
• character development and consistency
• subplots and themes
• openings and endings
• voice and tone
• clarity of ideas
• likelihood of reader engagement.

Benefits by genre

• Fiction. You receive insight on plot, pacing, characters, and whether your story meets genre expectations.
• Non-fiction. You learn how well your ideas are organized, how clear your argument is, and how to strengthen your authority.
• Memoir. You see how effectively your life events have been shaped into a compelling and relatable narrative.

What You’ll Receive

• Your manuscript, festooned with in-manuscript comments. Using Track Changes, I write clear notes, lots of them, where issues appear AND where things are going particularly well.
• Extensive editorial letter detailing strengths, challenges and next steps, specific recommendations for revision priorities, a summary of next steps to guide your rewrite or polish.
• Follow up call. Time to ask questions and discuss revisions.

Investment

Every story is unique, so every quote is tailored to reflect the scope and depth of the individual manuscript. As a guide, a Developmental Edit of 50,000 words generally falls within the USD $3000–$3500 range. This reflects the detailed attention and care your story receives at WordServings.

A clear agreement covers scope and fee before any work begins, and there are never any hidden costs.

Ready to begin?

If a Developmental Edit seems like more than you want to commit to right now, consider the leaner Manuscript Assessment.

Or if you like to go it alone with just a little guidance at the beginning to flag patterns and direction, check out EDIT 8000.