Discovery drafts are the first drafts or partial drafts of a manuscript that the writer uses to explore the story they are writing. First drafts typically include directions that the story could take but didn’t, characters that appear or disappear and overly produced or non-existent settings. 
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​The discovery draft evaluation service helps writers figure out what their story is about and discover interesting connections between their ideas. In discovery drafts (first or partial drafts), the writer already knows that their story has issues and is not asking the editor to address them. Instead, the editor determines the most promising elements of the story and identifies possible directions the manuscript could take.

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The discovery draft evaluation process
Why choose the discovery draft evaluation
Difference between discovery draft evaluation and other services

The discovery draft evaluation process
In the discovery draft evaluation, the editor reads your manuscript and provides constructive and honest feedback about the big-picture storytelling elements such as theme, characters, plot, setting, point of view, pacing and genre conventions.

The editor provides an evaluation report about things that are working well in the story, compelling elements that can be used to make the story more powerful, things that aren’t working well in the story, perspective concerns and conventions of the story’s genre. The discovery draft evaluation takes about 1-2 weeks, depending on the manuscript’s length.

Why choose the discovery draft evaluation
Writers can choose the discovery draft evaluation service when they have:

• A draft with a plethora of characters, a complex plot, multiple settings, and more viewpoint characters than their story probably needs. Developmental editors can help writers figure out the core of their story and remove the unnecessary plot points and characters.
• More of a map or outline of a story (than an actual story) with basic characters and plot. Developmental editors can provide potential directions the manuscript could take and help writers expand their plot and characters.
• A draft with a boring plot, predictable characters and a lack of central conflict. Developmental editors can help writers create relatable and realistic characters with a compelling plot.
• An incomplete draft with a few unwritten scenes. Developmental editors can help writers see the potential directions their story can go and flesh out their plot and characters.
• A partial manuscript with many missing storytelling elements. Developmental editors can help writers figure out the missing components of their story and see what happens next.

Difference between discovery draft evaluation and other services
Developmental editing vs discovery draft evaluation
Developmental editing is the first step in the editing process, and it is the first kind of editing writers should look for after they have finished self-editing their story. 

The developmental editor addresses the manuscript’s strengths and weaknesses and provides constructive and detailed feedback on the big-picture storytelling elements such as theme, plot, character development, point of view, pacing, setting, genre conventions and dialogue.

The editor provides a marked-up manuscript with suggestions and an editorial report to further guide the writer. Developmental editing takes about 4-6 weeks, depending on the length and complexity of the manuscript.

On the contrary, in the discovery draft evaluation, the editor is not trying to identify potential storytelling issues. The writer already knows that their story has issues. Instead, the editor determines the most promising elements of the manuscript and identifies possible directions the writer can focus on when revising their next draft.
 
Manuscript critique vs discovery draft evaluation
The manuscript critique is a less intensive version of developmental editing. Writers should look for this service after they have done their best self-editing their story.

The manuscript critique addresses the manuscript’s strengths and weaknesses and provides constructive and honest feedback on the same storytelling elements of the developmental editing service.

The editor provides an extensive editorial report, and the manuscript critique takes about 3-5 weeks, depending on the length and complexity of the manuscript.

On the contrary, in the discovery draft evaluation, the editor’s work is not to identify potential storytelling problems but to figure out the core of the story and potential areas that the story can be further developed.
 
Beta reading vs discovery draft evaluation
​A beta read is a reader’s reaction to the story, where avid readers of a particular genre read the story and provide constructive feedback from the reader’s point of view about the big-picture storytelling elements of a manuscript, such as plot, character development, point of view, pacing and genre conventions.

The editor provides a reader’s report to show the writer how readers will experience their story.  Beta reading takes about 1-2 weeks, depending on the length of the manuscript.

On the contrary, the discovery draft evaluation isn’t about evaluating the effectiveness of a story. Discovery draft evaluation is about figuring out the core of the story and evaluating the potential directions the story could take.

I am ready to discuss my book and the editing service I need. How do i do that? 
Check out my editing services and fill in this form to provide more information about your manuscript. I will respond to you as soon as possible to discuss your story and provide you with a no-obligation customised quote!

Additional resources
What is developmental editing?
What is a manuscript critique?
What is beta reading?
How to find the right editor for your fiction story?
Why it’s important to hire a developmental editor for your story
How can writers avoid editing scams and find trusted editors

Many writers nowadays fall for editing scams. Many people are pretending to be editors, claiming they will make your book the next bestseller. They make false promises claiming that they have “insider knowledge” and only their service or product will instantly provide you with bestseller status, thousands of sales and positive reviews.

The scammers often depend on the desperation, frustration and inexperience of writers who are exhausted by the writing process and are looking for shortcuts or don’t know how the publishing process works. The scammers usually send generic messages praising the writer’s manuscript and making guarantees about the success of their book.

Does it sound too good to be true? Because it is. No editor or publishing professional can ever guarantee that their editing service will make a writer’s book a bestseller with thousands of readers and sales. Editors can only promise that they will do their best work and help writers improve their manuscripts.

This blog article explains 9 steps that writers can take to help them avoid editing scams and find fiction editors they trust to help them improve their manuscripts and achieve their writing goals.

Portfolio
Education, fiction training and experience 
Memberships
Social media
Recommendations
Professional organizations
Sample edits
Communication with the editor
Terms and conditions

Portfolio
The first step to take to avoid editing scams is to check the editor’s website. Browse the editor’s website and pay particular attention to the writer testimonials. Editors usually include testimonials on various webpages, so make sure to visit at least 2-3 webpages and carefully read them.

Also, make sure to check the “Portfolio” webpage or the webpage where the editor lists their previous editing projects to see if they have experience in editing projects similar to yours.

Education, fiction training and experience 
Another step to take to find trusted editors is to look at the “About” webpage of the editor’s website. Most editors have a dedicated “About” webpage where they include relevant information about their education, fiction training and experience and explain the services they offer and the genres they edit. Read carefully the editor’s “About” webpage to make sure you find a trusted editor for your fiction story.

Memberships
Another step to take to avoid editing scams is to check if the editor is a member to professional organizations. Is the editor you are considering a member of a professional organization like the EFA, CIEP, ALLi or ClubEdfreelancers? Most editors include in their “About” page their memberships to these organizations and have badges that demonstrate their membership at the footer of their website.

ALLi’s editing and publishing professionals are vetted and verified before becoming ALLi partner members, so if you come across an editor who is an ALLi partner member,  you can most likely trust that they are a real person.

Social media
Another step to take to find a trusted editor is to check the editor’s social media profiles. Most editors include links to their social media accounts on their websites so you can easily check their social media account profiles.

Check when their account was created and see how many followers they have, what kind of posts they publish and generally their interactions online. Real editors interact with writers and other editors over time and publish their own original posts. 

Recommendations
Another step to take to avoid editing scams is to ask other writers for editor recommendations. Do you belong to a writer’s group, a writer’s organization or have writer friends who have already professionally edited their manuscripts? Ask them for accommodations. If you and your writer friends write books in similar genres, you might be able to hire the same editor.

Alternatively, you can ask writer groups on Facebook for editor recommendations, but be careful when you take into consideration recommendations from people you don’t know. 

Professional organizations
Another step to take to find trusted fiction editors is through professional organizations like the EFA (Editorial Freelancers Association) and ALLi  (Alliance of Independent Authors).

The EFA includes the Member Directory, where writers can find the editorial freelancer they want by checking off the categories that apply to them and contacting the editor of their choice.

The EFA also includes a Job List where writers can post editing jobs. When posting for an editing job, make sure to include the kind of editing service you need, the genre and word count of your story, your estimated budget and your desired deadline to find the right editor for your story.

Also, if you are an Alli member, you can search the Approved Services Search to find vetted and trusted partner members (editorial professionals) to help you edit and publish your manuscript.

Sample edits
Another step to take to avoid editing scams is to request sample edits. Most editors provide free sample edits of about 1000-2000 words to assess the writer’s style, identify the strengths and weaknesses of the manuscript, and ensure that their style of feedback aligns with the author’s expectations.

Editors will happily provide you with a sample edit (free or paid), so make sure to ask them for one before booking an editing service with them.

Communication with the editor
Another step to take to find trusted editors is to communicate with them. Do not pay for a service or product without communicating with the editor first and ensuring that a real person is behind it. Communication can be achieved by email or video chat.

You can ask questions about a particular service you are interested in ( scope of work, deliverables, fees, deadlines). You can also provide more information about your manuscript, your timeline and estimated budget. You can also ask editors more questions about their education, fiction training, experience and how they helped writers in the past.

Editors are always happy to answer questions about themselves or their services to help writers determine if they are the right fit for their story.

Terms and conditions
A final step to ensure you avoid editing scams is to consider the editor’s terms and conditions. Trusted editors are transparent about their editing services.

Check the editor’s services’ pages and their Terms and Conditions page and carefully read how they handle editing projects, sample edits, quotations and fees, cancellations, confidentiality and copyright issues. Read their Privacy Policy page to see how they collect, use and store your personal information.

Also, a legitimate editor always offers a clear contract that outlines the editing project’s scope of work, deliverables, deadlines and fees. Most editors ask for a booking fee or a deposit upfront to book a spot in their schedule, which is standard practice. Just make sure not to pay the whole amount for an editing project upfront, especially to editors that you don’t know and trust yet. Always use secure platforms when making a payment to protect yourself from scams.

Conclusion
Writers often fall for editing scams from people who pretend to be editors and promise them that their service or product will turn their manuscript into an instant bestseller and make them rich.

​Writers should be extremely cautious and always make research (portfolio, education and training, memberships, social media), ask for recommendations from other writers and sample edits before trusting an editor and hiring them.

And remember... if a service or a product is too good to be true...it probably is. No editor can guarantee success and fame. They can only promise to deliver their best work and help you improve your manuscript.

Additional resources
How to find the right editor for your fiction story
9 important questions editors ask authors before working with them
What are the different types of editing services

Fiction writers often don’t know the difference between the different types of editing services and cannot recognise what type of editing service their manuscript really needs. 

In this blog article, we will go through the different types of editing services (beta reading, developmental editing, manuscript critique, line editing, copyediting, proofreading) to help writers distinguish them and make informed decisions about the type of editing service their story really needs at a particular stage of the writing process.
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Beta reading 
Developmental editing
Manuscript critique
Line editing
Copyediting
Proofreading
​
Beta reading 
Beta reading is a reader’s reaction to the story. Writers should seek beta readers after self-editing their manuscript but before giving it to professional editors. Beta readers are avid readers and are familiar with the rules and tropes of a particular genre, and they tell writers how a future reader might understand their story. 

They provide honest and constructive feedback from the perspective of the intended reader about the potential big-picture storytelling elements of a manuscript, such as character development, plot and structure, point of view, pacing, and genre conventions, in a reader’s report.

(Although beta reading is strictly not an editing service, it is included here because it is  a part of the editing process and helps writers improve their stories.)

Developmental editing
Developmental editing is the first type of editing authors should look for after they have self-edited their story. The developmental editor addresses the manuscript’s strengths and weaknesses and provides constructive feedback on the following big-picture storytelling elements:

• theme
• story structure
• character development
• point of view
• pacing
• setting 
• genre conventions
•  scene vs narrative summary (show vs tell) 
• dialogue

Most editors (especially line editors, copy editors and proofreaders) offer free sample edits. However, it is difficult for developmental editors to offer free sample edits because the big-picture issues of a manuscript can cover several pages or chapters. 

Some developmental editors provide free sample edits to assess the author’s writing style, identify potential big-picture storytelling issues and ensure that their editing style aligns with what the author is looking for.

Developmental editors provide a marked-up manuscript with margin suggestions (comments) and an editorial report full of constructive and honest feedback to further guide the author.

Manuscript critique
Manuscript critique (also known as manuscript evaluation) is a less intensive version of the developmental editing service. The developmental editor reads the manuscript and provides constructive and honest feedback on the same big-picture storytelling elements as the developmental editing service. 

The main difference between the two services is that in the manuscript critique service, the developmental editor provides feedback only in an editorial report.

Line editing
While developmental editing focuses on the big-picture storytelling elements of a manuscript,  line editing focuses on the sentence-level errors.

Line editors carefully read the manuscript and go through it line-by-line to ensure that the language remains sharp and clear throughout the story. Line editors provide a marked-up manuscript with margin suggestions.

A line editor is concerned about the:

• logical flow of scenes and the sentences
•  tone/mood of the manuscript
• overall pacing of the story
• word choice
• redundancies and repetitions
• inconsistencies and continuity errors
• fact-checking
• point of view
• head-hopping
• dialogue

Copyediting
While line editing focuses on sentence-level errors, copy editing focuses more on individual words rather than whole sentences or paragraphs.

Copy editors provide a marked-up manuscript and a style guide to ensure consistency within the manuscript e.g the names of characters and locations are spelt consistently.

A copy editor is concerned about:

• grammar
• punctuation
• spelling
• capitalization
• headings
• fact-checking
• consistency
•  readability
• repeated words
• continuity errors

Proofreading
Proofreading comes after the other rounds of editing (beta reading, developmental editing, line editing, copyediting) and typesetting and is the final step of the editing process. 

Proofreaders analyse the manuscript and catch any errors that slipped through the previous editing rounds to ensure that the manuscript is error-free and looks professional. Proofreaders provide a marked-up manuscript with margin suggestions. 

A proofreader is concerned about:

• grammar
•  spelling
• punctuation
• syntax
• formatting
• consistency
• readability

Conclusion
Editors help writers improve their manuscripts and achieve their writing goals through the various types of editing services: beta reading, developmental editing, manuscript critique, line editing, copy editing and proofreading.

Professional editing services are necessary for writers who wish to publish their stories. Writers should be familiar with the different types of editing services and be able to recognise the right type of editing service their manuscript needs at a particular stage of the writing process.

Additional resources
What is the beta reading service?
What is the developmental editing service?
What is the manuscript critique service?
Why do you need a developmental editor for your fiction story
How to find the right editor for your story
9 questions editors ask authors before working with them

What is beta reading?
A beta read is a reader’s reaction to the story. Writers who seek to understand how the readers will experience their manuscript often seek out beta readers.

Beta readers are the first people to read a completed manuscript and provide constructive feedback. Writers should seek beta readers after self-editing their manuscript but before giving it to professional editors.

Beta readers are avid readers and are familiar with the rules and tropes of a particular genre. They can provide honest and constructive feedback from the perspective of the intended reader.

Beta readers do not edit manuscripts. They don’t explain why anything is going wrong or give potential solutions. They tell writers how a future reader might understand their story.
The beta reading process
Beta reader questionnaire
3 reasons to choose beta reading
Where to find beta readers

The beta reading process
I provide beta reading services in the romance genre and point out potential big-picture storytelling issues:

• Characters (goal, motivation, conflict)
• Plot
• Point of view       
• Pacing
• Genre conventions
• Overall impression of the story

If you are interested in my beta reading services, fill in the information in the contact form about the genre, word count, preferred completion date and any specific concerns you need help with your manuscript.

I will read your story and provide constructive feedback in a reader’s report explaining the big-picture storytelling issues of your story. The reader’s report will answer the questions mentioned below in the beta reader questionnaire but you can ask any other related questions you may have.

Beta reader questionnaire
Plot

•  How strong is the story premise?  
• Did the plot make sense to me? Are there any plot holes or confusing sections that should be made clearer? Do any sections take me out of the story?
• What is the story’s central conflict? Is the conflict between the main characters believable?
• Is the central conflict successfully resolved in a way that satisfies the reader? 

Characters

• Are the main characters proactive, likeable, relatable, compelling and engaging?
• Are the characters’ goals, motivations and conflicts clear and understandable? What are the consequences for the main characters if they don’t achieve their goal?
• Are characters’ actions consistent?
• Was I able to keep track of the characters, i.e. who was who? Were there too many?

Point of view

• Is the point of view handled appropriately and consistently throughout the story?  
•  How often does the viewpoint change? Is it fairly consistent throughout the story?
• Is the switch between the multiple points of view clear e.g no confusing head-hopping?
• Does the pov character describe the necessary story events for the scene e.g no information dumps?

Pacing

• Does the overall pacing work?  Do scenes progress in a realistic, compelling manner and flow with effective transitions?
• Does the story move along at an appropriate pace, without rushing or dragging?
• Is the story free from information dumps or backstory that slow the pace of the story?

Genre conventions

• Does the story conform to the requirements/expectations of the romance genre? Does this book break any specific rules of the genre?
• Is the genre clear from the beginning? Do readers know what kind of story they’re getting into?    

Overall impression

• What did I like and didn’t like about the story? 
• Did I find anything confusing or boring or annoying?
• Did the story grab me at the beginning? Were there any points where I started to lose interest?
• Was there anything that I had trouble believing or that seemed illogical?
• Does the manuscript need further editing services?

3 reasons to choose beta reading
You are on a limited budget
If you are an author with a limited budget, then the beta reading service might be suitable for you. If you are not sure how much the beta reading service costs, you can look at the EFA’s editorial rates to get an idea of the rates that beta readers charge.

Every beta reader’s circumstances are different and the cost of the service depends on a lot of factors such as the manuscript’s turnaround time and the editor’s training and experience.

​For example, as a new beta reader, I offer significantly lower rates than those of the EFA to get honest testimonials from writers and grow my portfolio.

You are a new writer and you need to learn more about the writing craft
If you are a new writer without a lot of writing craft knowledge, then the beta reading service might be the right service for you. The reader’s report will provide you with an overview of the big-picture storytelling issues of your story without overwhelming you with detailed page edits.

Writing, editing and publishing a book is a learning process and the constructive feedback the beta reader provides will help you improve your manuscript and your writing craft.

You have no idea how to further improve your manuscript
You are struck. You have rewritten and edited your story multiple times, and you don’t know how to further improve it. If you feel that something is missing from your story but you can’t pinpoint what exactly that is, then the beta reading service might be suitable for you. The beta reader will help you identify and improve the big-picture issues of your manuscript.

Where to find beta readers
Free beta readers
If you have a limited budget, you can find free beta readers. You can ask friends and family to read your story and provide feedback for free. However, be aware that friends and family might be biased and not provide objective feedback to not critically harsh your story.

You can also find writers’ groups on social media sites like Facebook and Substack. There are many writer groups where you can connect with other writers and beta read each other’s stories.

Paid beta readers
You can find professional beta readers in social media such as Facebook groups, LinkedIn and Substack. If you are looking to hire a professional beta reader, it is best to check their LinkedIn profiles to see their background, education, training and experience.

You can also check sites such as Upwork and Fiverr to find beta readers or post beta-reading jobs. Make sure to include the kind of service you need, the genre, the word count of your story, your estimated budget and your desired deadline when you post a job. You can also check the EFA’s Job List and Member Directory to find and hire a beta reader.

You can also search online at the websites of different beta readers to see what kind of services they offer. Every beta reader defines their service differently, so make sure to check what the beta reading service entails, the process, the cost, and the deadline to find the right beta reader for you.

I am ready to discuss my book. How do I do that?
Check out my beta reading service and contact me for a customised quote for your manuscript.

Further reading
What is the developmental editing service?
What is the manuscript critique service?
How to find the right editor for your fiction story
9 important questions editors ask authors before working with them
​

The manuscript critique (also known as manuscript evaluation or manuscript assessment) service is a less intensive version of the developmental editing service. (If you are not sure what the developmental editing service includes, read what the developmental editing service is.)

The manuscript critique addresses the manuscript’s strengths and weaknesses and provides comprehensive feedback on the following issues:

• theme
• story structure
• characters (goals, motivations, conflict, character development)
• point of view
• pacing
• setting
• genre conventions
• scene vs narrative summary (show vs tell)
• dialogue

It does not address line editing or copyediting issues such as grammar, spelling or punctuation.

The editor reads the manuscript and provides constructive feedback in an editorial report. The main difference between the developmental editing service and the manuscript critique service is that the developmental editing service includes margin suggestions (comments) in the manuscript document and an editorial report, while the manuscript critique service includes only an editorial report.
​
Free sample edits
The editing process
5 reasons to choose the manuscript critique service
​
Free sample edits
Most editors (especially copy editors and proofreaders) offer sample edits. However, it is difficult for developmental editors to offer sample edits because the big-picture issues of a manuscript can cover several pages or chapters.

My solution is to ask authors to send me their completed manuscripts. I read chapters from the beginning, middle and end of the manuscript to get a general idea of the story and identify potential issues. I perform a free sample edit on the first 1,000 words of their manuscript (4-5 pages).

I explain to the authors that the purpose of the sample edit is to:

• assess the author’s writing style, and identify potential big-picture storytelling issues.
• set scope expectations and ensure that my style of feedback aligns with what the author is looking for. 

For the manuscript critique service, the author gets only an editorial report of the first 1,000 words of their manuscript. I might provide more feedback on the editorial report than a 1,000-word manuscript typically needs to give the author an idea of my editing style and make sure that it aligns with their expectations.

The editing process
First read-through
The editor reads the entire manuscript as quickly and as comfortably as possible to gain a general understanding of the story and to write down basic information about each chapter.

Edit the manuscript
The editor reads the entire manuscript the second time slowly and carefully and takes extensive notes in an editorial report to guide the author.

Review and send documents
The editor finishes writing the editorial report and sends it to the author.

Author review
The author reviews the editorial report and asks the editor any questions they may have through email or a video call.

5 reasons to choose the manuscript critique service
You are a new author who needs to learn more about the writing craft 
If you are a new author without a lot of writing craft knowledge, then the manuscript critique service might be the right service for you.

The editorial report of the manuscript critique service gives you an overview of the most important big-picture storytelling issues that cover multiple chapters in your manuscript without overwhelming you with detailed page edits. It states the big-picture storytelling issues and offers solutions to guide you in how to further improve your story.

You are an established author who is confident in their writing-craft knowledge 
If you are a published author with a fair amount of knowledge of the writing, editing and publishing process, then the manuscript critique service might be the right service for you.

Established authors usually don’t need detailed page edits and thorough guidance. An editorial report addressing and providing solutions to the big-picture storytelling issues of their story seems more suitable to their level of writing craft knowledge and editing experience.

You have not received any offers from publishers/agents
You have sent your manuscript to multiple publishers and agents and haven’t received any positive responses yet. You feel frustrated and overwhelmed thinking that you will never publish your manuscript.

Go back to the rejection letters sent by the publishers and the agents. Read them carefully and note down common issues that they mentioned in their rejection letters e.g lack of character development or slow pacing. They will probably be issues that cover several pages and chapters of your story rather than just one or two chapters.

Hire a developmental editor to edit your story and provide constructive feedback to help you improve these issues. As a result, you will have an improved manuscript with a higher chance of getting published.

You are too close to your own story and you need another pair of (professional) eyes 
You are struck. That’s it. You have rewritten and edited your story multiple times, and you don’t know how to further improve it. You probably feel that something is missing but you can’t pinpoint what exactly that is.

Hiring a developmental editor will help you identify the big-picture issues of your manuscript and provide honest feedback in an editorial report to help you improve your story.

You don’t have the budget for a full developmental editing service
​Developmental editing services are typically more expensive than copyediting and proofreading services because of the intensive feedback the editor provides. Many authors are reluctant to hire an editor for their story because of the cost of the service.

If you are an author with a limited budget, then the manuscript critique service (a less intensive and cheaper version of the developmental editing service) might be the right one for you.

If you are not sure how much the manuscript critique service costs, you can look the EFA’s editorial rates and estimate how much the service can cost. The rates published on the EFA website can give the author a rough idea of what the cost of different editing services are.

If you want to learn more information about hiring an editor, read how to find the right editor for your fiction book and 9 questions editors ask authors before working with them.

Every editor’s circumstances are different and the cost of the service depends on a lot of factors such as the manuscript’s turnaround time and the editor’s training and experience.

As a new developmental editor, I offer significantly lower rates than those of the EFA to get honest testimonials from authors and grow my portfolio.

Every editing project is unique. Contact editors and get a no-obligation quote based on the specific needs of your manuscript. 

I am ready to discuss my book and the editing service I need. How do I do that?
Check out my editing services and fill in this form to contact me. I will respond to you as soon as possible with a customised quote!

Further reading
What is developmental editing (vs other kinds of editing)?
How to find the right editor for your fiction story
9 important questions editors ask authors before working with them

Developmental editing is the first step in the editing process, and it solves the big-picture storytelling issues in your manuscript.

It is the first kind of editing authors should look for after they have completed self-editing their story. If  you are not sure what kind of editing your manuscript needs, learn more information about the different kinds of editing.







What is developmental editing?
​Free sample edits
The developmental editing process
4 reasons to hire a developmental editor
Cost

What is developmental editing?
​The developmental editor addresses the manuscript’s strengths and weaknesses and provides comprehensive feedback on the following issues:

• theme
• story structure
• characters (goals, motivations, conflict, character development)
• point of view
• pacing
• setting
• genre conventions
• scene vs narrative summary (show vs tell)
• dialogue

The editor states the issue, explains the reason and provides solutions (margin comments) on each page of the manuscript document. The editor also provides an editorial report to further guide the author. 

Free sample edits
Most editors (especially copy editors and proofreaders) offer sample edits. However, it is difficult for developmental editors to offer sample edits because the big-picture issues of a manuscript can cover several pages or chapters.

My solution is to ask authors to send me their completed manuscripts. I read chapters from the beginning, middle and end of the manuscript to get a general idea of the story and identify potential issues. I perform a free sample edit on the first 1,000 words of their manuscript (4-5 pages).

I explain to the authors that the purpose of the sample edit is to:

• assess the author’s writing style, and identify the manuscript’s structure and potential big-picture storytelling issues.
• set scope expectations and ensure that my style of feedback aligns with what the author is looking for. I might leave more comments in my sample edit than I would on the full manuscript to ensure clarity and context. Authors can typically expect 3-5 comments per page on their completed manuscript.

The developmental editing process
First read-through
The editor reads the entire manuscript as quickly and as comfortably as possible to gain a general understanding of the story and to write down basic information about each scene (e.g viewpoint characters, location, main story events) and their initial impressions of the story.

Edit the manuscript
The editor reads the entire manuscript the second time slowly and carefully and performs the actual edit of the story. The editor provides margin suggestions (comments) using the Track Changes in Microsoft Word and takes extensive notes regarding the big-picture issues of the story in an editorial report.

Review and send documents
The editor reviews all of the edits and suggestions in the manuscript and finishes writing the editorial report. Finally, the editor sends the Microsoft Word documents (the edited manuscript and the editorial report) to the author. 

Author review
The author reviews the documents and asks any questions they have to the editor usually through email or video call.

4 reasons to hire a developmental editor
You have no idea how to further improve your manuscript
Hire a developmental editor to help you unlock your story’s full potential, provide honest feedback and help you improve your manuscript.

Make sure you have a strong story premise
If you want to make sure that you have an interesting story with compelling characters, ask the developmental editor to provide constructive feedback and help you strengthen the premise of your story.

You are trying something new or you are a new author
Are you writing in a new genre, trying a dual point of view for the first time or is this the first time you completed a draft?  Editing is a learning process and the feedback the developmental editor provides helps you improve your writing craft.

You have not received any offers from publishers/agents
Note down common issues that the agents mentioned in their rejection letters such as lack of character development, slow pacing or inconsistent point of view. Discuss these issues with a developmental editor and ask them to focus their suggestions and feedback on them.

Cost
How much does developmental editing cost? This is perhaps the most frequently asked question authors ask editors.
​
Developmental editing services are typically more expensive than copyediting and proofreading services because of the intensive feedback the editor provides to the author’s manuscript.

Every editor’s circumstances are different and the cost of the service depends on a lot of factors such as the manuscript’s turnaround time and the editor’s training and experience.

You can look at the editorial rates of different editing services at the EFA’s editorial rates and estimate how much a service can cost. The rates published on the website can give the author a rough idea of what the cost of developmental editing for an editing project might be. Actual editorial rates may vary. 

As a new developmental editor, I offer significantly lower rates than those the EFA proposes. Remember that every editing project is unique. Contact editors and get a no-obligation quote based on the specific needs of your manuscript. 

I am ready to discuss my book and the editing service I need. How do I do that?
Check out my editing services and fill in this form to contact me. I will respond to you as soon as possible with a customised quote!

Further reading
What is developmental editing (vs other kinds of editing)?
How to find the right editor for your fiction story
9 important questions editors ask authors before working with them

What is developmental editing? 
Developmental editing is the first step in the editing process. Developmental editors help authors improve the big-picture storytelling issues of their stories.
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Developmental editing addresses big-picture storytelling issues such as:

• theme
•  story structure
• characters (goals, motivations, conflict, character development)
• point of view 
• pacing
• setting
• genre conventions
• show vs tell
• dialogue

Developmental editors write margin suggestions (comments) in the manuscript itself to explain their edits and suggest solutions to the authors. They also make notes in a separate document (often called an editorial report or a revision letter) to guide the author.




4 reasons to hire a developmental editor:
You have no idea how to further improve your manuscript
Make sure you have a strong story premise
You are trying something new or you are a new author
You have not received any offers from publishers/agents

You have no idea how to further improve your manuscript
You have revised and edited your manuscript as much as you can on your own. You have improved your story to the best of your abilities but you have no idea how to further improve your story. You are stuck.

The solution is to hire a professional developmental editor to help you unlock your story’s full potential. The developmental editor will provide objective, constructive and honest feedback about the big-picture storytelling issues of your story and help you improve your manuscript.

Make sure you have a strong story premise
You have finished your manuscript and you have a completed draft after multiple revisions. Now, it’s time to hire a professional editor to look at it and make sure that you have a strong and compelling story premise.

If you worry about specific storytelling issues or have any questions about your story, you can ask your editor to focus on these particular big-picture storytelling issues while they are editing your story. 

Keep in mind that you should never be the only person who has read your story before publishing your story and that hiring a professional editor is the best solution for the big-pictures storytelling elements of your story.

If you are budget-conscious, exchange stories with critique partners and improve your manuscript based on their feedback before hiring a professional editor. If you can’t afford a full developmental edit, you can request beta reading or manuscript critique services.

You are trying something new or you are a new author
Are you trying something new in your story e.g dual point of view or is this the first time you completed a draft?

As a new author, editing is a learning process where you can also apply the feedback the editor provides to your next stories and improve your writing craft. Therefore, hiring a professional editor is an investment that is worth it for the improvement of your story and the advancement of your writing career. 

An investment doesn’t necessarily mean hiring an expensive editor. There are many editors to choose from nowadays. Do your research and find the right editor for your book.

You have not received any offers from publishers/agents
You have submitted your story to multiple publishers or agents and haven’t received any offers yet. Look at the feedback the publishers and the literary agents discussed in their rejection letters. Note down common issues such as lack of character development, slow pacing or inconsistent point of view. Then, discuss your manuscripts’ storytelling issues with a developmental editor.

The developmental editor will specifically address these issues and suggest solutions to improve them. As a result, your manuscript will be ready for publication and you will receive multiple offers by publishers and literary agents.

I am ready to discuss my book and the editing service I need. How do I do that? 
Check out my editing services and fill in this form to contact me. I will respond to you as soon as possible with a customised quote!
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Further reading
What is developmental editing?
How to find the right editor for your fiction story?
9 important questions editors ask authors before working with them

You have finished writing and editing your story. You have already learned how to find the right editor for your fiction story.
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This blog article will help you prepare the answers to the questions an editor might ask you to learn more details about your story and to determine if you are a great fit to work together.






​Editors ask the following questions:
How long is your book?
What is the genre of your book?
What kind of editing do you need?
Have you already received feedback for this story?
Have you published any books before?
Who is your audience?
When is your estimated deadline?
What documents do I need to send my editor?
How did you find me?

How long is your book?
The word count of your fiction story is one of the first questions the editor will ask you. Knowing the word count of your book will help them estimate how much to charge, how much time it will take them to edit it and if there is an available time slot in their schedule.

Some authors prefer to mention the pages or the chapters of their book. However, I find that the word count is the best way to tell how long a book is since not all pages or chapters have the same amount of words.

What is the genre of your book?
Some editors work in a variety of genres and others are specialised in a particular genre. For example, I am a romance editor and I specialise in editing light-hearted contemporary romance, YA romance, romantic suspense, paranormal romance and romantasy stories. I don’t edit non-fiction stories or memoirs.

If you are romance author, then I might be the right editor for your story. If you are a non-fiction author, then I am not a suitable editor for your book. If you are not sure about which genres an editor works with, check their website and social media or send them an email. 

What kind of editing do you need?
What kind of editing do you need? Developmental editing, line editing, copy editing or proofreading?

Experienced authors know the differences between the different kinds of editing and they are able to tell what kind of editing their book needs.

However, new authors might not be able to distinguish the different kinds of editing or tell what kind of editing their book needs. 

If you are not sure about the kind of editing your book needs, find out more information about the different kinds of editing.

I am a developmental editor for romance authors. I edit the big-picture storytelling issues of romance stories. I focus on theme, plot and structure, character development, point of view, pacing, setting, genre conventions, show vs tell and dialogue.

I would be happy to discuss your romance story and focus my editing on any concerns you may have. If you are a romance author looking for a developmental editor, then I might be a great fit for your story.

Have you already received feedback for this story?
It is very important for your editor to know if your story has already been edited and what kind of editing services it has gone through. This will help them determine what kind of services your story needs.

If your manuscript has already been line-edited or copy-edited, then you probably need a proofreader. If it has not been professionally edited before, then you might need a developmental editor or a line editor.

It’s always best to tell your editor how many drafts your story has gone through, what kind of editing you or others have done to your story and if you took advice from other writers, family members or beta readers. This will help your editor better understand what kind of editing your story needs.

Have you published any books before?
It is also important for an editor to know if you have hired an editor before and received editorial feedback for a previous book. This shows the editor that you are familiar with the editorial process and what kind of feedback to expect.

Also, editors would love to see any previously published books or blog posts to see your writing style and how they can help you improve your manuscript.

Who is your audience?
Another important factor is your audience. Are you planning to give a few copies to family or friends or are you planning to publish your novel at the mass market? This information will help your editor provide you with the appropriate feedback and decide what kind of editing your story needs.

When is your estimated deadline?
Do you have a publishing deal where your book must get published by a specific date or do you have flexibility? Knowing the date of publication of your story will help your editor better schedule a slot in their schedule.

Make sure to book your editor in advance to ensure that the right editor for your book is available, especially if you have already decided and announced your publication date. If you have more flexibility in your publication schedule, you can better accommodate to your desired editor’s schedule. 

What documents do I need to send my editor?
The editor needs the following documents:

• the completed manuscript
• a complete list of characters along with any information you have about them (name, goals, motivations, conflict, relationship with other characters physical appearance, personality). If you are not sure what kind of information to include, check this article about character profiles.
• a complete list of major locations and events of your story
• a synopsis of your story.

A synopsis is a summary of the plot, it takes about 2-3 pages and it is written in the present tense. It includes the goals, motivations and the conflict (internal and external) of the main characters. The synopsis introduces the main characters of the story (heroes and villains) and conveys the central conflict. A synopsis is an overview of what happens in a novel and includes the major plot points of the story. 

Ideally, you already have this information available because you took notes about your plot, characters and setting while you were writing and editing your story. You just need to send it to your editor to help them better understand your story.

How did you find me?
This information is more helpful to me rather than to you. Did someone else refer them to me? Did you find me through social media, or a directory or did you find one of my blog posts helpful? This information will help me focus my marketing efforts on topics and places that interest you.

I am ready to discuss my book and the editing service I need. How do I do that?
Fill in this form and I will respond to you as soon as possible.

Further reading
How to find the right editor for your fiction book
How to prepare your manuscript for your editor
What is developmental editing vs other kinds of editing
Why authors need character profiles
How to write a romance novel using the 3-act structure

Finding the right editor for your fiction book seems easier than ever with the plethora of editors hitting the freelance industry nowadays. There are so many editors to choose from but how will you know who is the right editor for your story?

Many authors do not know the kind of services their story needs and others don’t do thorough research. As a result, authors often end up requesting quotes from editors who offer different services from the ones their story needs in a genre that the editor is not editing.

How can you find the right editor for your fiction book:
Services
Genre
Cost
Where to look for the right editor
Reach out to editors

Services
The first step in finding the right editor for your fiction book is to determine what kind of services you need. Are you looking for developmental editing, copyediting, or proofreading?

If this is the first time you are searching for a professional editor and you are not sure what kind of services you need, read this article about the different kinds of editing and consider the state of your story.

If you only have a raw idea or an outline, then you need a book coach to help you:

•  develop your idea into a compelling story
• finish the first draft of your story
• develop consistent writing habits
•  answer questions about your story

If you have a completed first draft, then you need a developmental editor to help you improve your story’s:

•  theme
•  story structure
• characters (goals, motivation, conflict, character development)
•  setting and worldbuilding

 If you are in the final draft of your story, then you might need a copy editor or a proofreader to help you  focus on:

• sentence structure and flow
• grammar and punctuation
• spelling
• word choice

Genre
The second step in finding the most suitable editor is to identify the genre(s) of your story. Are you writing a contemporary romance or a YA thriller?  If you don’t know what genre your story is, go online and search for the definitions of various genres. 

For example, a story belongs to the romance genre when:

• the romance between the main characters comprises the central focus of the story 
• it has an emotionally satisfying and rewarding happy ending 

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​The romance genre is a very broad fiction category and can be divided into many subgenres such as contemporary romance, YA romance, romantic suspense and paranormal romance. 

Many editors specialise in particular genres while others edit only one genre e.g romance. Make sure to find an editor that specialises in the genre of your story and has the relevant training, education, skills and experience to edit your book.

Cost
The cost of the service is perhaps the most important factor for authors.  The cost of the service depends on a lot of reasons such as the required service, turnaround time, training, experience and cost of living. For example, developmental editing services are typically more expensive than copyediting and proofreading services.

You can look at the editorial rates of different editing services at the EFA’s editorial rates and estimate how much a service can cost. The rates published on the website are only designed to give you a rough idea of what the cost might be based on the genre and the word count of your story. Actual editorial rates may vary depending on the reasons mentioned above.

Where to look for the right editor
You have already determined the kind of services you need, the genre of your manuscript and your estimated budget. Now, it’s time to search for the right editor.

You can find editors on social media sites like Facebook and LinkedIn. There are many Facebook groups for editors and writers where editors advertise their services. You can also check the editor’s LinkedIn profiles to see their background, education, training and experience.

You can also check sites such as Upwork, Fiverr and Reedsy to find editors or post jobs. Make sure to include the kind of editing service you need, the genre, the word count of your story, your estimated budget and your desired deadline when you post a job. You can also check the EFA’s Job List and Member Directory to hire an editor.

You can also look at the websites of different editors to see what kind of services they offer. When you are looking for an editor on the search engines make sure to include keywords such as the kind of services you need and the genre of your story e.g developmental editing for a contemporary romance story or copyediting for a murder mystery story. 

Pay attention to the “Home” page of the editors’ sites where editors usually mention the services and the genres they are editing. You should also check their “Portfolio” page to see what kind of projects they have edited and their “About” page to learn more information about their qualifications. Finally, check their “Services” page to see what kind of services they offer. 

Every editor defines their services differently, so make sure to check what each service includes e.g scope of work, deadlines, cost, and deliverables.

Reach out to editors
When you narrow down your options and find editors that fit your criteria e.g  services, genre, estimated cost, and qualifications, email them to get a customised quote for your story and to discuss with them the specific needs of your manuscript.

Most editors usually have a form on their website that authors can fill out when they request a quote in order to learn more information about the author’s story and provide them with an accurate quote.

​For example, the form on the “Contact” page of my website helps me learn important information about the author and their story such as the project’s title, word count, genre, requested service and preferred completion date. 

Most editors offer a no-obligation customised quote and a 1,000-word free sample edit to see if they and the author are a great fit to work together. The editor will guide you about the next steps of the editing process but you can also ask any questions you may have. 

Clear communication is key for successful collaboration in order to set clear expectations about the scope of the work and to avoid misunderstandings.

Conclusion
Finding the right editor for your fiction story is easier than ever. Define the kind of services you are looking for, the genre of your story and your estimated budget.

Research the editor’s websites and social media and reach out to the editors that match your criteria. Editors are valuable collaborators that will help you shape your manuscript into a compelling story so make sure to choose yours wisely!

Further reading
“Contact” form ​
Developmental editing vs other kinds of editing
EFA Job List and Membership Directory
​EFA rates