What is Developmental Editing and Do You Need It?

You’ve poured your heart and soul into your manuscript. You've written, rewritten, and revised until the words blur on the page but something still doesn’t feel quite right. This is when you call in a developmental editor.

What is developmental editing?

Developmental editing (also referred to as structural editing or substantive editing) is a comprehensive review of the foundations of your story; designed to even out the intricacies of your plot and strengthen the core elements that your narrative relies on. It focuses on big-picture elements including:

✴ Plot, Structure & Pacing - Your editor will assess whether your story flows logically, how well your subplots integrate, and whether your pacing keeps readers engaged or leaves them struggling through a sagging middle.

✴ Characters – Your editor will evaluate whether your character’s dialogue sounds authentic to each voice, if your cast have clear motivations driving their decisions, and whether their arcs feel earned and complete.

✴ Voice & Tone – At this point, the focus is on whether your narrative voice suits your story and if the emotional atmosphere matches your genre expectations. Your editor will consider the consistency of your tone, the use of POV and places where the narrative voice might intrude too much or disappear entirely.

✴ Themes – Your editor will review where your themes are woven naturally throughout the story and where they might feel heavy-handed or tacked on. They can advise on how to strengthen thematic elements to ensure that your deeper meanings resonate with readers.

✴ Worldbuilding – Here, your editor will explore whether your setting feels immersive and is internally consistent. This includes evaluating if you're revealing information at the right pace and whether your world's rules remain clear and consistent throughout.

what does a developmental editor do?

As a writer, you know your characters inside out. You understand the subtle foreshadowing that you planted in chapter three. You recognise the thematic threads weaving through your narrative – all of which is great, except you’re so immersed in your story that you lose perspective.

A developmental editor’s job is to catch instances where you might’ve missed a key detail that explains why your protagonist would risk everything for their goal, or to flag the moment in chapter twelve when you reveal information that readers already figured out in chapter three. They identify pacing issues you can't see because you've read the same scenes dozens of times and they can point out where a plot thread dangles unresolved.

But more than that, developmental editing strengthens your manuscript in ways that make agents and readers take notice. Their input helps you to take your manuscript from good, to unforgettable.

* Your editor should never try to rewrite your story.

Your developmental editor is there to help you tell your story better. The best editors offer guidance while respecting that it's ultimately your creative work. They'll highlight what's working brilliantly just as much as what needs attention – because knowing your strengths is just as crucial as addressing weaknesses. Think of them as a trusted guide helping you navigate toward the best version of your vision, not someone trying to redirect you onto a different path entirely.

What’s included with A developmental edit?

You hire a professional to read your manuscript, that much is obvious. What’s less clear is exactly what you receive in return. There are two main forms of feedback you’ll get from a developmental edit: the Editorial Assessment and the In-Line Developmental Edit.

✴ THE EDITORIAL ASSESSMENT

An editorial assessment is a comprehensive report that covers everything you're doing well and identifies areas that would benefit from further revision. This is typically delivered alongside specific, actionable recommendations on how you can implement adjustments and improvements to take your manuscript to the next level.

A good editorial assessment should give you enough information to understand how your story comes across to readers and a clear roadmap in the right direction to make your manuscript even better.

✴ THE IN-LINE DEVELOPMENTAL EDIT

An in-line developmental edit is where your editor focuses on specifics, providing commentary throughout your manuscript. Alongside an editorial assessment, you'll receive chapter-by-chapter feedback and notes on specific lines or passages.

Your editor might ask questions about certain scenes, highlight their favourite quotes with a note telling you how impactful they were, or point out a perfect moment where moving a detail from an earlier chapter would create more impact by revealing it later in the story. While this level of detail might be more than some writers need – or want – it can be an invaluable way to experience your manuscript from the direct perspective of a reader. You'll understand their reactions as they progress through the story and catch those tiny moments where adding (or moving) a single sentence could make all the difference.

In either case, developmental feedback is crucial to help you improve the flow of your story, ensure your character arcs hit home and hold the hearts of your readers, and make certain that everything adds up with no loose ends before reaching a satisfying conclusion – or a jaw-dropping cliffhanger.

When should you hire a developmental editor?

Timing is everything when it comes to developmental editing. Get it too early, and you might still have significant work to do before the feedback is truly useful. Wait too long, and you could find yourself having to unpick carefully polished prose to fix underlying structural issues.

The sweet spot for a developmental edit is after your initial drafts but before you dive into copyediting. Some writers seek professional developmental feedback as soon as they’ve finished their first draft whereas others prefer to self-edit and revise several times before bringing in a professional editor. In truth, either approach works, as long as you address these big-picture elements early enough in your process. This way, you ensure you're not wasting time perfecting sentences in scenes that might need to be restructured, relocated, or even cut entirely.

If you've been staring at your manuscript wondering whether it's ‘ready’, or if something feels off but you can't pinpoint what – you're not alone. Most writers reach a point where they need a fresh perspective to move forward. I'd love to help you strengthen your manuscript. Get in touch to discuss your project, or explore my editorial services to find the right fit for your needs.

Developmental editing transforms good stories into compelling ones, and compelling stories into unforgettable ones.

Whether you're preparing your manuscript for the next stage of editing, readying it for publication, or simply want to create the best possible version of your story, developmental editing is invaluable.

It gives you an external perspective, teaches you how you can improve what you have, and helps you to grow as a writer.