Do I Need a Developmental Edit?
An experienced developmental editor can help elevate your book to the next level by providing in-depth feedback about your plot, characters, pacing and more. This type of edit letter will offer you a crucial look into the flaws of your story and a roadmap on how to revise to make it even better.
What is a Developmental Critique?
A developmental critique is a type of edit that delves deep into the meat of your story, including your story’s pacing, overarching plot, subplots, worldbuilding and how all of it works together. This type of edit will provide you a roadmap on where the weaknesses are in your story and how to address them.
A developmental edit covers:
· Plot holes
· Pacing
· Worldbuilding
· Character arcs
A developmental edit does not cover:
· Grammar and syntax
· Typos
· Line edits
As shown above, a developmental editor will not point out all of your typos or misspellings (though they might point out the most egregious ones as they move along). Instead, a developmental editor will focus on the bigger picture. We will make sure that your plot points make sense and occur when they need to occur, that your character arcs are effective, and that your overall story makes the impact you want it to.
What is the Difference Between a Developmental Edit and Beta Read?
A beta read can be done by any reader, whereas a developmental edit is offered by a professional editor. This isn’t the only difference, however. A developmental edit provides more in-depth details over each section. Where a reader report should be 1-2 pages, a developmental edit letter should be 3-4 or more pages depending on the length and scope of the manuscript.
A beta reader report will also most likely simply point out faults, whereas a developmental edit provides solutions for them.
Do I Need a Beta Read and a Developmental Edit?
As I always say, the number of edits you need and the type of edits you need depend on your book and your purpose. If you find that you’re struggling to apply beta reader feedback or receive conflicting feedback, you may want to try a developmental edit. A developmental edit can provide a clearer picture of the gaps in your manuscript and how to fix them.
One of the benefits of a beta read is that it’s typically more affordable. However, it won’t provide possible solutions or as in-depth feedback as a developmental edit.
If you have the money and the dedication, a developmental edit is a great way to elevate your book.
Where to Find a Developmental Editor
A good developmental editor will help identify issues with your book’s pacing, worldbuilding, plot and more while giving you a roadmap to revise. If you are interested in a developmental edit, feel free to reach out for a quote from MadHope Editorial.