Developmental Editing

IS YOUR COMPLETED MANUSCRIPT NOT QUITE UP TO SCRATCH?

 

You’re halfway through your manuscript after months of cancelled social engagements and near-solitary confinement.

There’s freshly brewed coffee in your favourite mug and 100 crisp white pages lying neatly in your lap. You’re full of enthusiasm as you settle down to have a read.

But after reading the first couple of chapters, you frown and wonder, ‘What on earth was I thinking?’

It doesn’t take you long to realise the whole thing is not quite up to scratch. 

How I can help 

You’ve spent months researching your topic and hearing the sound of your own writing voice in your head, so it’s virtually impossible for you to remove yourself from your work to see it objectively. That’s how I can help with a developmental edit.

It’s a full critique which admittedly might hurt, but it’s a vital next step if you’re serious about publishing a professionally polished book to industry and market standards. 

Developmental Edit

My Developmental Edit is a big-picture edit that helps you strengthen your book idea and/or structure.

It includes everything offered in my Reader’s Report, with the aim of digging deeper, reviewing:

      • Your book idea, style, and structure in relation to your intended readership;
      • Your opening/closing ‘hook’;
      • The phrasing of sentences and paragraphs to ensure clarity of message;
      • Your overall voice and ‘storytelling’ style;
      • Language appropriate to your intended readership;
      • The main point effectively conveyed in relation to your book’s message;
      • Your knowledge/expertise effectively conveyed;
      • Any holes, missing arguments, confusing ideas;
      • Cliches, stereotypes, mixed metaphors;
      • Appropriate sources cited, complete bibliography;
      • Inclusive appropriate language;
      • Whether you are leaving ideas on the table;
      • Whether you need to cull;
      • Overall strengths and weaknesses, with suggestions on how to improve flow.

It will also include:

      • A 45-minute phone or video conference call to discuss the edit/any queries.

Your developmental edit includes an annotated manuscript and a separate report.

Please note that there is no hands-on editing or writing. It does not include a copy edit or proofreading

Why might you use this service?

This will suit you if:

    • You have a completed manuscript but feel overwhelmed with too many or conflicting beta reader reports;
    • You have an idea for a book and need help to develop and structure your ideas;
    • You are part-way through your manuscript but feel stuck and unclear about how to move forward.
NEXT STEPS

Please complete my contact form, and we can discuss the finer details.