Development Editing
Take your draft from good to great with a bespoke development editing service.
Write without fear. Edit without mercy.
A development editor is like a surgeon. A draft, newly finished, full of effort and love and the hope of the author, is placed tenderly into the hands of the editor, who will, with all the precision and expertise their training has given them, cut into it with zero compunction or squeamishness.
Just as you wouldn’t expect a parent to perform surgery on their own child, an author can’t be expected to edit their own draft. Editing—particularly development editing—is about systematically assessing a draft and identifying the elements that’re holding it back. To do a good job, you need the kind of detachment that’s impossible to maintain if you did all the labour of creation.
I offer a bespoke development editing service, unique for each author and project. No project is too big, too small, too niche, or too unusual. I’ve edited articles, including opinion pieces, how-tos, and reviews; short stories; essays; web copy; slide decks; and scripts.
And, of course, books. In fiction, we focus on plot, pacing, character arcs, and (my favourite) worldbuilding. In non-fiction, it’s all about the conceptual slant, that special something that every author brings to the table. I’m particularly interested in non-fiction books that draw on your niche subject matter expertise: books on tech, health, science, or skills.
Broadly speaking, the service is split into two parts: the review, and the substantive edit.
Review
This is the first part of my process, where we’ll discuss your project in detail. I need to know your goals. Who do you want to read your work? What do you want them to get out of it? Is it for entertainment? Are you trying to persuade, convert, or influence? Are you trying to teach readers something? Do you want them to learn, laugh, cry?
Once I have a sense for the project, I’ll read the draft and assess it based on my understanding of your goals. I’ll look for obstacles in structure, flow, pacing, development, and so on.
What you will get
This review process will take up to two weeks, depending on the length of your draft. You’ll get a detailed report with insights on content, concept, the readership profile, strengths, and issues. I also include a vision statement and summary section.
I’m happy to include specific sections in the report to address unique concerns too. For example, you might want an assessment on readability for non-native speakers, or you may be concerned about how your draft will position against a specific book or article in a crowded market.
I’ll also mark up and comment on the draft itself using the track changes function in MS Word. These comments will help pinpoint problem areas and can clarify the insights in the developmental report.
Substantive edit
The second part of the process is about addressing the problems found in the review. This edit is infinitely flexible:
I can work solo, if you trust me to dive into your draft and move sections around, delete stuff, and outline new sections for you to write up later.
We can collaborate on tricky sections, going one paragraph at a time and solving issues according to your priorities.
I can walk through your draft and elaborate on my developmental report, explaining in detail why certain elements of your draft are problematic and how I would change them, but leaving you to make the changes you want.
Substantive editing works on a spectrum, and the author is in control. Ultimately, it’s your work, so you have to be happy with the edit, and I’m all about honouring your vision and helping you create something you’re proud of.
What you will get
The edit can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to several months to complete, but at the end of the process you’ll have a shiny new draft (and a copy in MS Word with changes tracked, just in case).
Pricing
Because each project is different, there is no easy way to break down pricing. However, I aim to be as transparent as possible, and will always explain the pricing up front when I understand the scope of the project.
I charge a rate per 1,000 words, and that rate changes depending on the project. Relevant factors are the complexity of the subject matter, the quality of the writing sample, any pressing deadlines, and unusual author requirements.
I ask for a deposit of 20% total cost up front, to be payable upon signing a letter of agreement, after an initial consultation call (or email if you prefer).
For longer projects, I’m happy to structure the work plan and payment schedule into sections.