Every Superhero Needs a Sidekick.
You're a writer. That makes you a superhero.
A developmental editor is like your sidekick. They help you as an author live up to your fullest potential.
If you look at successful writers - from Ernest Hemingway to Kathryn Stockett - you’ll note that almost all of them worked with a developmental editor.
Times have changed and traditional publishers don’t even supply developmental editing these days. They expect agents to send along manuscripts ready for production.
Indie and self-publishing authors, too, can benefit from developmental editors if they expect to stand out among the 300,000+ titles self published each year.
{So what does a developmental editor do?}
Any sidekick worth her salt carries a quiver full of live-saving gadgets.
A great developmental editor will help you on several fronts:
Organization
Content and prose instruction
Clear edits
Creative input
Getting unlost
{Organization}
Imagine your book as a human body. And by the way, it’s beautiful. Your nose is cute as a button. Your eyes glitter. And that hair. Oh, that hair! All this is for naught without a skeleton to hold those beautiful acoutrements in place.
A developmental editor helps you build your skeleton.
{Content and Prose Instruction}
Now that your skeleton is upright, it’s time to connect those joints and build some muscle.
A developmental editor can really help you shine by specifically critiquing your prose, or literary style. Is it consistent? Is it on target for your audience? Is it clear and concise?
Your content is also critical. Content includes:
Character development
Story
Narration
Consistency of themes
Dialogue
Structure
A good developmental editor will use a keen eye to inspect your work and offer specific suggestions to help you take your content to the next level.
{Clear Edits}
You should receive your manuscript back with Tracked Changes (typically in Microsoft Word).
The edits will be highlighted on the side of the document while still allowing you to see your original work. This allows you to maintain final control over changes and the final work.
{Creative Input}
A good developmental editor won’t just critique your work, they should come alongside you in the creative process.
When I collaborate with a writer, I’ll dive into their world and come out with suggestions for enhancing characters, elevating the climax, or even small twists in service to connecting themes.
Many screenwriters and TV writers write with partners or teams to get the most out of their limited time slots. It’s the same with a book - you can elevate your story with a collaborative developmental editor.
{Getting Lost and Unlost}
When you write a book, it's inevitable that, at some point, you will be too close to your project to figure out what's working and what isn't.
This is natural.
In fact, you must get lost in order to breathe real life into your story. You should be swimming in every detail, unable to see the forest for the trees.
Don’t worry, most great writers feel this, too. My 5-part series How to Write Like a Badass highlights Ernest Hemingway who says, “The first draft is shit.”
As I peer into my omniscient crystal ball I can see you’re freaking out a bit. You’re asking, "Is this even good?" “Who am I to be writing this?” "Will the world throw me into the sea, chanting ‘Death to Sauron!’?"
Well, congrats. You're a writer.
I take particular pride in helping you vanquish these surreptitious demons.
Not all developmental editors will support you in this way, but as a writing coach, I’m in love with this part of the relationship. I might humbly add that I could be the best in the world at it.
A great developmental editor will be the tower up which you climb to once more see the forest for the trees.
{When}
I recommend finding a developmental editor early in your writing process.
Don’t wait for your manuscript to be perfect. A great editor has seen it all. I believe the earlier a developmental editor can join the process, the earlier they can spot your true superpowers and work to bring them into the light, while at the same time helping to enhance your not-so-super powers.
I’ve even worked with authors and speakers before they started writing. We organized and outlined their thoughts, ideas, and previous work. From here, they were able to dive in to writing with clarity, trust, and confidence.
The sooner you can find a developmental editor the quicker you can get your story on track and save a lot of time, energy, and money.
{What a Developmental Editor Is Not}
A developmental editor is not a ghostwriter. Yes, I'll rewrite certain paragraphs for clients to help get an idea across. Yes, you can hire someone to write your book for you. But a developmental editor exists to help you harness your superpower.
Inside of you lies a story only you can tell. A developmental editor should not strive to make it their own.
A developmental editor does not correct spelling and grammar. That’s the job of a copy editor, who will come along later in the process once you’re story is completed.
For more information about how to find the right developmental editor for you and what you need to know before working with an editor, check out these aptly named articles:
How to Find the Right Professional Editor for Your Book
10 Must-Knows Before Hiring a Professional Editor