There are so many types of edits that it can get a little confusing to decide where to start and how to know where to start. According to Tucker Max’s article for Scribe Media on Book Editing and What are the Different Edits? There is:
Developmental Editing
Evaluation Editing
Content Editing
Line Editing aka stylistic edit or comprehensive edit
Copyediting
Proofreading
Today we’re going to talk about developmental edits, how I’m working with my developmental editor, and ideas on how you can do developmental edits on your own or with a writing coach.
Developmental edits:
Developmental edits, conceptional editing, or also known as a manuscript appraisal. This type of editing can be done early in the writing process. It can help you bring the pieces of your novel or outline into harmony. You can also use it after revisions, when you need to focus on organization and structure of the novel.
reduce inconsistency
flow and pace
key details
removing irrelevant material
What project am I working on?
I’m on the developmental edits for If the Seas Catch Fire, book 3 of The Fire Series.
Steve is a freelance journalist and bass player of the band Home. Finds after writing an exclusive piece on a sex trafficking and extreme BDSM group with connections all over the world has a base in Seattle. His life falls apart. He’s blacklisted professionally, and after they release an embarrassing moment on social media, his fans are out for his blood. He reaches for the one person he believes can love him for who he is, and believe in him.
Mallory fell into a friend with fantastic benefits relationship with Steve, the best man in her best friend's wedding. When he wants more from their relationship, she has to decide if she can truly trust that romantic relationships can work for her, despite her family curse. Can she find her way through her fears to stand beside a good man who is wrong and needs her strength?
I drafted the manuscript in April of last year. I’ve revised it, did a beta read, and another revision while I work with my favorite developmental editor.
How I’m working with my favorite developmental editor?
Karena has touched every book in this series and I love that so much. She and I work so well together because she often knows what I’m trying to say and helps me get it in the right order. I couldn’t do this without her. We work through Google docs.
First, I make a folder containing every chapter of the novel.
I share that folder and chapters with her.
We meet up every Tuesday and work our way through a chapter. She can work ahead of me and I try to revise ahead of her as well.
Ideas on how you can do developmental edits alone, with an editor, or with a writing coach.
Story Perfect Editing Services has an article on How to do a developmental edit yourself and save a lot of money on editing. They suggest printing your manuscript out or put it in .epub or some other format where you can’t change it as you read. Read your manuscript through like you’d read a book. Take notes, but be sparing. Analyze your story. Put all your notes together. Write yourself a letter, but pretend you are writing it for the author of the book, and that author isn’t you. Rewrite your manuscript using your editorial letter as a guide. Become an editor again and this time do a developmental edit. Specific issues for developmental editing. Become the writer again and do a developmental edit.
You can look for an editor and after you rewrite your manuscript, send it to them and see what they say about your manuscript. But you might ask yourself where and how do you find a developmental editor? Do your research, check references, and get a free sample edit. Editor World has a list of editors here. Or you can check sites like Fiverr.
You can do the same with Writing Coaches. Coaches will not only give you help with the edits they will also give your encouragement and be a cheerleader.
Are you looking for a writing coach to help you understand what edits you need to do and how to go about doing them?
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