You’ve put in the hard work; you’ve spent hours writing and polishing off your book baby; you’ve done a thorough read-through and maybe even hired some Beta Readers to give you feedback. Now, it’s time for the most exciting part of writing a book: the developmental editing phase!
Developmental editing (also known as structural editing) is the first stage of book editing, where a professional will help you look at the big-picture stuff, or as I like to call it, the bleeding, beating heart and soul of your novel.
I’ll help you overcome those nasty plot holes you can’t seem to fix and help you dig deeper into characters who seem to have a mind of their own. I’ll help you see the overarching themes of your novel that you might not have even known existed while looking at whether the current structure of your novel is working.
Basically, I’ll dive headfirst into your narrative and draw out the beautiful, pumping veins of it so you can see what’s working and what needs work before it can become the masterpiece you hope it to become.
A developmental edit will provide you with in-line track changes, comments, a style guide, as well as an editorial letter.
Developmental Edit Cost: $0.025 AUD per word.
A $300 AUD deposit is required to secure your editing month. Once your contract is signed and your deposit is paid, your month is officially locked in.
Developmental Edit
Our developmental edit will unpack:
- Your book’s genre and if it currently meets readers’ expectations
- The structure of your story and if it is effective in how it flows together
- Each character’s story arc, development and uniqueness
- The themes within your novel, and if they are conveyed effectively
- Your worldbuilding and settings
- And so much more!
I can’t wait to work with you!
How long will a developmental edit take?
I work on developmental edits in monthly blocks, so you’ll have a dedicated month locked in for your manuscript. Your manuscript needs to be with me by the first day of your booked month, and your full payment is also due by the 1st. I’ll then spend the month diving into your book, working through my feedback and putting together your editorial materials. Your edited manuscript will be back with you by the end of that month.
What genres do you edit?
I currently offer developmental editing for all genres aside from children’s books.
Do you offer a developmental edit sample?
Yes!
However, please note: because developmental editing looks at the ‘big picture things’ (like how your characters develop over the course of your novel or how your themes work together to create a story your readers will love), a sample edit may not reveal too much to you (we won’t have read the full novel when we do it).
Will you make changes directly in my manuscript?
I’ll make light in-line edits where they’re useful, but a developmental edit isn’t a line edit or a rewrite. The majority of my developmental feedback will be delivered through comments and chapter notes so you can understand why I’m suggesting a change and decide how you want to approach it.
What happens after I receive my developmental edit?
You’ll take your feedback away and revise your manuscript. This is where the magic happens! You might make a few small tweaks, completely restructure a chapter, rewrite a character arc, or realise you’ve accidentally been setting up something brilliant for the last 60,000 words. Whatever your manuscript needs, you’ll have a clear roadmap for your next draft, and you’ll have my support the entire time!
Can you edit my manuscript if I’m not finished?
For a full developmental edit, I generally recommend having a complete manuscript. You need the whole story on the page for me to properly assess the structure, character arcs, pacing and overall narrative.
Do you work with first drafts?
You absolutely can bring me a first draft, but I’d recommend doing at least one solid revision first. Your first draft is for getting the story out of your head and onto the page; developmental editing is where we can really start shaping it into the book you want it to become.
Can you edit my manuscript if I’m not finished?
For a full developmental edit, I generally recommend having a complete manuscript. You need the whole story on the page for me to properly assess the structure, character arcs, pacing and overall narrative.
What my authors have to say
Working with Abbie has been such a rewarding experience. Her detailed feedback and thoughtful insights into my story meant so much, and I felt genuinely encouraged throughout the process. I’m incredibly grateful for the care she put into both her tracked changes and the editorial report—they were clear, constructive, and deeply considered. I came away feeling motivated, supported, and excited to implement her suggestions.
Natalie
AuthorAbbie, you’re amazing. I found myself beginning the journey of self-publishing and didn’t know where to start when I happened upon your page for editing and proofreading services. You’ve not only been a constant encouragement, but also an incredible human behind the screen that pushes me to do better and polish my work in a way that doesn’t feel degrading or humiliating. You’ve been such a gift and your touch of magic is littered amongst my pages, burned into these stories alongside me forever–and nobody deserves that level of immortality more than you!
Kylee
The Carapace SagaIt is terrifying handing your book over to someone and knowing it will come back with so many comments and notes, but it is SO worth it. I don’t think I would have ever gotten to where I am now on my author journey without Abbie and I will definitely be using her services for all my future books. She really felt like a writing bestie!!!