Developmental editing, one of my most popular services, is a high-level evaluation, one step above a manuscript evaluation, with a focus on the book as a whole. In this process, I read your entire manuscript to get a feel for its potential for success, adding comments with specific advice and feedback along the way.
The deliverable: (1) Inline comments throughout your manuscript sharing my reader reactions, asking questions for further development, and offering actionable suggestions for improvement; (2) a second read-through after you’ve made changes following my suggestions for improvement (within 6 months of original project date); (3) two 60-minute phone or video calls before and after the service to understand project goals and to discuss project changes; and (4) an evaluation report (generally about 15 pages) in which I point out any issues in:
- Plot clarity, overall story structure, and loose ends
- Character development and arcs
- Pacing and reader engagement
- POV, narrative style, tense, and voice
- “Showing” vs. “telling” issues
- Setting and dialogue
- Underdeveloped or overdeveloped areas
- Story beats (opening and closing lines, first 5 pages, the hook and overall premise)
- Any problem spots
After I deliver the 15-page evaluation report and your manuscript with inline comments back to you, it will be up to you to make those suggested changes as you see fit. I schedule a 60-minute phone or video call with authors at this stage to discuss suggested changes and develop a plan for moving forward. Many authors enjoy this hands-on learning process.
While other editing services (line editing and copyediting) will get you a beautifully written book, only developmental editing will get you a properly developed storyline—which will appeal to your readers.
What This Includes:
I take the editor-author relationship seriously, and I’m in your corner to help your book succeed. I’m here to make sure you are as prepared as possible to succeed in this saturated industry, and that means pumping you full of knowledge and resources (in addition to superb editing!) to ensure your book stands the best chance for success, especially against less prepared authors.
Developmental editing includes:
- 15-page evaluation report: A 15-page evaluation report in which I evaluate and detail problem spots and offer suggestions for improving the manuscript. In this report, I also offer suggestions and advice on how to (practically) market your book once published, explain the pros and cons of self-publishing or traditional publishing, offer a basic guide of how to find your book’s target audience, and make suggestions on next steps for your manuscript.
- E-mail support: Any and all questions about your book, the publishing industry, cover design, book pricing, and marketing advice, please ask. I’m a publishing professional here to help.
- Phone support: The developmental editing service includes two 60-minute phone or video calls before and after the service to discuss your goals with your book and discuss suggested changes.
- Book promotion: I regularly post blogs and social media videos teaching about writing and commonly refer to my clients’ work as examples (possibly including yours, in the future!). Every week I share pictures, links, and reviews of books I have edited, and am always happy to help promote books I’ve edited in some capacity.
Once your overall story, pacing, tone and voice, etc. are taken care of in the developmental editing process, I always recommend line editing (focus on improving sentence structure, logic, consistency, and clarity) and copyediting (final check for surface errors including spelling, punctuation, grammar, and word choice) prior to getting your manuscript published. Developmental editing is one of the services included in The Ultimate editing package.
Please read my guide for information on sample edits, editing packages, rush project options, and the scheduling process.
Questions? Ready to get on the schedule? Contact me!
Book editor Kristen Hamilton is the owner and sole employee of Kristen Corrects, Inc., where she provides manuscript editing services for self-publishing and traditionally publishing authors. Several authors whose books she has edited have won awards and have topped Amazon’s best sellers lists.
Reading is Kristen’s passion, so when the workday is over, she can usually be found curled up with a good book alongside her three cats. In her free time she enjoys playing video games, dancing adult ballet, speaking French, watching scary movies, tending to her courtyard, and traveling to tropical destinations. She lives with her husband and sons outside of Boise, Idaho.