What is a discovery meeting and why writers can benefit from it

Are you a first-time writer who is unfamiliar with the editing process, and you are not sure what kind of editing services your manuscript needs? Or are you unsure if you want to work with a specific editor for the first time?

A great way to assess if a particular editor is right for you and your manuscript is through a discovery meeting (or a discovery call). 
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What is a discovery meeting?
Who is the discovery meeting for?
3 reasons you need a discovery meeting

What is a discovery meeting?
A discovery meeting is a free, no-obligation, initial meeting between you (the writer) and the editor to discuss how the editor can help you improve your manuscript and to determine if you are a good fit to work together.

The discovery meeting is a great way for you and the editor to get to know each other’s personalities, see if you communicate well and determine whether you feel comfortable working together. A discovery meeting usually lasts about 15-30 minutes.

The writer usually fills in a form (questionnaire) to answer questions about their manuscript and sends a synopsis and the completed manuscript (or the first chapters) to the editor for review before the discovery meeting.

During the discovery meeting, the editor provides comments and suggestions about the manuscript to see if their editing style of feedback aligns with what you are looking for.

The editor might also provide you with an estimated project quote (scope of work, deliverables, timeline, and fee) to determine if you are a good fit to work together.

Who is the discovery meeting for?
A discovery meeting can help new writers who don't have much experience with the editing process and are not sure what kind of service they need to improve their manuscript. Also, they are a great way for writers to meet the editor they are interested in working with for the first time.

Discovery meetings are particularly useful for writers who are interested in developmental editing services. Developmental editing addresses the manuscript’s strengths and weaknesses and provides constructive feedback that covers the big-picture elements, such as theme, plot, characters, point of view, pacing, setting, genre conventions, scene vs narrative summary (show vs tell) and dialogue. 

Developmental editing requires an understanding of the plot and the main characters’ progress over the course of the entire story.

Discussing the big-picture elements that cover the entire manuscript during the discovery meeting will give the editor a better sense of your story’s needs, and they will be able to provide helpful suggestions that are representative of the type of feedback you can expect on your entire manuscript.

3 reasons you need a discovery meeting

Discuss the manuscript 
During the discovery meeting, tell the editor all the important information they need to know about your story, such as the genre, word count, your goals and intentions and the premise of your story.

If you have already provided this information to the editor, you can discuss more in-depth details about the aspects of the manuscript that you like and the aspects that you need help with and how the editor can help you improve them.

Discuss the service 
During the discovery meeting, discuss what kind of editing service you are interested in and what kind of feedback you are looking for.

The editor (who is already familiar with your manuscript) will advise you about the kind of editing service your manuscript needs next. Discuss with the editor and respectfully share your opinions until you come to an agreement. 

You can talk in more detail about what the service includes, such as the deliverables (edited manuscript document, editorial report, evaluation report), the estimated timeline, an estimated fee and the payment plan. 

Ask any related questions you have and make your expectations or concerns clear. The editor might request more time to provide a more accurate project quote or a contract based on your discussion.

Build a successful professional relationship
Clear and honest communication, respect and kindness are the keys to a successful professional relationship between you and the editor.

Don’t make assumptions about how the editor works. The discovery meeting is a great way to ask any questions or clarifications you have about their services,  editing process, or the project quote and get specific and clear answers.

You can also ask them how (medium), and how often they will communicate to share the progress of the editing project (especially for long projects that take weeks to complete) and be upfront about any specific arrangements you would like the editor to make.

The editor will provide you with a contract (after the discovery meeting) that will be agreed upon by you and the editor and be respected during the editorial process. 

Are you interested in working with me?
Do you wish to work with a reliable and supportive developmental editor and beta reader who can help you improve the big-picture elements of your manuscript, such as theme, plot, characters, point of view, pacing, setting and genre conventions?   

Book a free discovery meeting to discuss how I can help you improve your story and to determine if we are a good fit to work together.

Fill in this form to learn more information about your manuscript, express your interest in booking a discovery meeting and send me the synopsis and the first 15-20 pages of your manuscript (2-3 chapters). 

I will email you to arrange the date of the discovery meeting (depending on the availability of my schedule).

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Learn more about the discovery meeting

Learn more about the services

Conclusion
A discovery meeting is a helpful way for the writer and the editor to get to know each other and discuss how the editor can help the writer improve their manuscript. The writer and editor can discuss what kind of editing service the manuscript needs, and the writer can ask any questions they have about the services, the editing process, or the project quote.

​Honest communication and respect are the keys to a successful professional relationship between the writer and the editor.

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

About the author

Maria Georgiou is a professional developmental editor and beta reader for romance authors. She specialises in editing contemporary romance, YA romance, romantic comedy, romantic suspense, paranormal romance and romantasy. She is a member of the EFA, ClubEdFreelancers and ALLi.
Learn more about the author: About me
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