So What Does A Developmental Editor Do?

Editors come in many shapes and guises – and distinct types of editors inhabit quite different roles within the publishing process. Typically, line or copy editors are called in post-manuscript to help tidy up and improve things, whereas a developmental editor is often called upon pre-manuscript or as the work evolves. Think of a kind of writing coach.

Fundamentally, a developmental editor works with writers to develop and shape their manuscripts. Their primary focus is to help writers improve the overall structure, content, and organisation of their work.

To effect this, some of the specific tasks that a developmental editor might undertake include:

1. Assessing the manuscript's overall strengths and weaknesses, including character development, plot, pacing, and style.

2. Providing feedback on the manuscript's organisation, structure, and flow, including the placement of scenes, chapters, and other elements.

3. Suggesting revisions or additions to the manuscript, such as additional scenes, character development, or thematic elements.

4. Advising the writer on how to improve the clarity, consistency, and tone of their writing.

5. Providing guidance on how to appeal to the target audience, including market research and analysis.

In short, a developmental editor works closely with writers to help them refine and develop their work, with a focus on improving the overall quality and impact of the manuscript.

Assessing the manuscript

A developmental editor assesses a manuscript's overall strengths and weaknesses by closely analysing the elements of character development, plot, pacing, and style. Here’s how a developmental editor might approach each of these elements:

1. Character Development: A developmental editor will evaluate how well the characters are developed and whether they are believable, well-rounded, and engaging. They will consider how the characters' personalities, backgrounds, and motivations are conveyed through their actions and dialogue, and whether they undergo meaningful changes over the course of the story.

2. Plot: The editor will evaluate whether the story has a clear and compelling arc that keeps the reader engaged from beginning to end. They will assess whether the plot is logical and coherent, whether it has sufficient tension and conflict, and whether it resolves satisfactorily.

3. Pacing: The editor will consider the pacing of the story and whether it is consistent throughout. They will look for areas where the pacing might drag or where the story moves too quickly, making sure that the pacing suits the story and genre.

4. Style: The editor will evaluate the writer's style and voice, considering the use of language, tone, and sentence structure. They will assess whether the writing is clear, concise, effective, and whether it suits the intended audience and genre.

To assess a manuscript's overall strengths and weaknesses, the editor will read the manuscript in its entirety and take notes on each of these elements. They may also provide feedback on specific scenes or passages that stand out as particularly strong or weak. Finally, they will provide the author with a comprehensive editorial report that outlines their overall assessment of the manuscript and provides suggestions for improvement.

Organisation and structure

Assessing a manuscript's organization, structure, and flow is an essential part of a developmental editor's job. Here are some ways a developmental editor might approach this:

1. Organisation: The editor will evaluate the manuscript's overall organisation, including how the story is presented, and whether the plot unfolds in a logical sequence. They will also consider whether the manuscript's structure fits the genre and whether it contains all necessary elements, such as introductions, conclusions, and transitions.

2. Structure: The editor will examine the manuscript's structure to ensure that it meets the requirements of the genre, such as having a clear beginning, middle, and end, or conforming to certain narrative structures. They will also consider how the structure impacts the pacing, and whether it supports the story's themes and characters.

3. Flow: The editor will evaluate the flow of the manuscript to ensure that the story progresses smoothly, and that scenes and chapters are connected to each other in a way that keeps the reader engaged. They will also look at how the manuscript uses transitions between scenes and chapters, and whether these transitions are effective in moving the story forward.

4. Placement of scenes and chapters: The editor will assess whether scenes and chapters are placed in a way that enhances the story's flow and pacing. They will evaluate whether scenes and chapters are appropriately balanced in terms of length and content, and whether they build to a satisfying climax.

To evaluate the manuscript's organisation, structure, and flow, the developmental editor will read through the manuscript several times, taking detailed notes on each of these elements. They may also provide the author with a chapter-by-chapter breakdown, highlighting areas where the manuscript could be improved. The editor may also provide specific recommendations for reordering scenes or chapters, or for adding or removing certain elements to improve the manuscript's overall effectiveness. In their feedback, the developmental editor will focus on helping the author create a clear, compelling story that is well-organised and engaging to readers.

Revisions

One important aspect of the developmental editor’s role is to provide suggestions for revisions or additions that can help strengthen the manuscript. Here are some ways they might approach this:

1. Additional scenes: The editor may suggest additional scenes to help fill gaps in the story, clarify character motivations or relationships, or build tension and suspense. They may also recommend adding scenes to provide more depth or detail to certain aspects of the story or setting.

2. Character development: The editor may suggest adding or expanding on certain characters to improve their depth, complexity, and relatability. They may also recommend changes to dialogue, actions, or internal thoughts to help create more well-rounded characters.

3. Thematic elements: The editor may recommend adding or expanding on thematic elements to help reinforce the story's themes and messages. They may suggest ways to integrate these themes more fully into the plot or to create more resonant connections between characters, events, and ideas.

4. To suggest revisions or additions to a manuscript, the developmental editor will often provide the writer with specific feedback, highlighting areas where additional scenes, character development, or thematic elements could help strengthen the manuscript. The editor may provide examples or suggestions for how these changes could be made but will typically leave the final decision up to the writer.

Clarity, consistency and tone

One key area in which a developmental editor can provide guidance is in improving the clarity, consistency, and tone of the writer's writing:

1. Clarity: The editor will evaluate the manuscript for clarity, looking for areas where the writer's meaning may be unclear or difficult to follow. They may recommend ways to simplify sentences, clarify ideas, or reorganise paragraphs to improve the manuscript's overall clarity.

2. Consistency: The editor will assess the manuscript for consistency, looking for areas where the writer may have used different spellings, names, or other details inconsistently throughout the manuscript. They may recommend ways to standardize these elements to make the manuscript more cohesive and professional.

3. Tone: The editor will evaluate the manuscript's tone, considering whether it is appropriate for the intended audience and genre. They may recommend ways to adjust the tone to better suit the audience or genre, or to align more closely with the writer's overall voice.

To advise the writer on how to improve the clarity, consistency, and tone of their writing, the developmental editor may provide examples of how to simplify sentences or clarify ideas or suggest ways to standardise language or details throughout the manuscript. They may also recommend changes to the manuscript's overall tone or voice, providing specific examples of how to adjust the language or phrasing to better suit the audience or genre.

Target audience and market

Appealing to a target audience is an important consideration for any writer who wants to maximise the impact of their work. A developmental editor can provide guidance to an author on how to appeal to a target audience by conducting market research and analysis:

1. Conducting market research: The editor may research similar books or works in the same genre to see what has been successful in the past. They may analyse trends in the market to identify what readers are looking for in terms of style, content, and themes.

2. Identifying the target audience: The editor may work with the author to identify the specific target audience for the manuscript. They may consider factors such as age, gender, geographic location, interests, and reading habits to help narrow down the target audience.

3. Tailoring the manuscript to the target audience: Based on their research and analysis, the editor may provide guidance on how to tailor the manuscript to the target audience. This might include making changes to the writing style, content, or themes to better appeal to the target audience.

To provide guidance to an author on how to appeal to a target audience, the developmental editor will typically begin by researching the market and analysing trends. They will then work with the author to identify the specific target audience and advise on how to tailor the manuscript to this audience. This might involve making changes to the manuscript itself, as well as developing a marketing plan to help reach the target audience.

Geoff Poundes is a professional developmental editor, specialising in non-fiction and in particular business, sport and history, biography and memoir. Go to www.geoffpoundeseditor.co.uk to find out more.