Ever wondered what a developmental editor does, or how to find the right one for your writing journey? In this video, I break down the essential role developmental editors play in shaping your story from the ground up, sharing insights on what to look for and how they can help bring out the very best in your manuscript. I also share a trusted resource to help you get started with your search.
Hello, Jane Cleland here.
What does a developmental editor do and how do I find one? A developmental editor is the first layer in the editorial process. You know the term editing is an umbrella term, and there are several categories of editing under that umbrella, and the first is developmental. This is where the story gets developed. So a developmental editor will help you ensure that your story has integrity on all of the levels in which it needs to have integrity. It has to be fresh, engaging, entertaining, has to have plenty of plot twists, interesting and engaging characters who are motivated in a genuine way to do the things the plot delineates for them. They’ll look at structure. And they’ll look at, um, bigger issues and littler issues. They’ll make sure the setting is right. But what they won’t do is get down to the sentence level.
That’s a different kind of editing, known as copy editing, line editing. So developmental editors help you make sure, big picture, wide lens, that all is well. And if you need that assistance, it’s a beautiful thing and you’ll have such confidence and you’ll know you’re going in the right direction. I can recommend an organization called The Editorial Freelancers Association, the-efa.org. Look for an editor who has experience in your genre and comes from a background you aspire to. If you wanna be traditionally published, make sure the editor you work with has traditional publishing experience. I know you can do it. I think it’s a wonderful thing.
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