Developmental
Editing

Developmental editing (also called substantive editing or content editing) is a deep and comprehensive form of editing that focuses on the structure, content, and overall effectiveness of a manuscript or piece of writing. It happens early in the editing process, before any copyediting or proofreading. 

 

During developmental edits, I'll read through the manuscript twice, making notes in the margins on specific passages that might need to be revised or cut. At the end of the process, I'll provide the author with a developmental editing letter that highlights the works strengths, offers suggestions, and asks questions to help make it as strong as possible before querying or self-publication.