Types of Editing
What is a developmental edit?
Developmental Editing
A developmental edit (also known as global, structural, or content editing) is an in-depth review of a complete or pretty-darn-close draft of a manuscript. *If you’ve written half or two-thirds of the way through a manuscript and you’re (argh!) stuck, see below for story consulting services.
A developmental editor looks at the big picture: plot, structure, character development—and how these aspects of story are coming together (or not).
One of the ways my approach to editing is different is that I integrate my work as a teacher into my feedback. I always include notes re: how a writer is using the narrative elements—scene writing, summary narration, exposition, and interiority—the core building blocks of narrative prose.
Some editors separate the manuscript critique (assessing the problems) from the actual edit (offering solutions). But frankly, who needs a doctor that gives you a diagnosis but then doesn’t offer a treatment plan?
A developmental edit from me includes both, in the form of detailed margin notes, a global cover addressing big picture issues and approaches to revisions, and a follow up discussion to go over any questions or concerns.
Line Editing
A line edit is exactly what it sounds like: a line-by-line edit of a manuscript. This is sentence-level editing with the goal of achieving overall clarity, unity of tone, and correcting any grammar or usage issues. A line edit should only happen AFTER you’ve done substantive revisions.
Why? Because revising a manuscript means making structural changes and those changes will filter down to the sentence-level, which means you’ll need to revise those sentences anyway.
Copy Editing
Copy editing is editing FINISHED copy—writing that is about to be published—for overall structure and clarity. (Then, ideally, a proofreader will review for consistency and accuracy.) This is the final polish—the point at which all substantive changes have been made.
As you can see, each of these roles is different, requires a different set of skills, and falls at a different point on the continuum from initial inspiration to publication.
Line editors and copy editors need to have a good ear for language and tone and a passion for fact finding and the elements of style.
But developmental editing requires intuition, compassion, and the willingness to ask tough questions—it’s a role uniquely situated between the generative process of drafting and the more analytical process of revising.
For that reason, I always address both the “head”—the craft-oriented, intellectual aspects of writing—and the “heart”— the emotion and vision underlying a story.
Story Consulting
Story consulting has several different applications:
The first is helping a writer who is stuck on a draft to work through the full story arc. It’s damn hard to move forward with a novel or memoir until you know where it ends, even if the arc (and the ending) might change dramatically.
The second is to work with a storyteller (I’ve done this process with writers, filmmakers, and visual artists) to develop and shape a narrative. In that capacity, I review existing work, do preliminary research and create interview questions, and outline possible structural choices.
And the third is to offer feedback on the narrative arc of a collection of stories, essays, or poems and provide a suggested manuscript order.
Coaching
As a coach, I work with writers to establish goals and deadlines, offer feedback and suggestions for revision, and give targeted craft exercises to help clients refine their skills.
I often coach writers after a developmental edit as they revise a draft. I’ve also worked with writers on short stories or essays who are working toward building a collection.
Most writers need encouragement, feedback, and deadlines to do their best work—myself included!