AAP Editing Services

Developmental Editing

What is it?

The macro (big picture) part of your editing journey. The process begins at the first meeting or discussion between author and editor, where your editor will ask questions about your book’s proposal/outline and any issues or sticking points you are encountering whilst writing. Your editor gains an overview of what you are trying to achieve with your writing, and you gain perspective on what your editor can do to help you whilst you continue to write. This initial collaboration is crucial to setting out on the developmental editing phase with a shared vision for your book.

What does it involve?

• Looking in-depth at: voice, structure, focus/viewpoint, pacing, plotting and narrative arc (fiction), character development and ‘believability’ (fiction), forming an argument (non-fiction), ‘gaps’ in the narrative

• Reordering/restructuring chapters, sections or parts

• Suggesting new writing approaches, where appropriate

• Reviewing and renovating the introduction, prologue, epilogue, etc.

• Enhancing/discarding sub-plots (fiction)

• Getting rid of unnecessary material, e.g. repetitive or meandering writing

• Interweaving strands of ideas or narrative into a more cohesive whole

• Making sure that the book’s title (and subtitle, where applicable) really convey what the book embodies

• Providing a book blurb for the author to work on, or offering feedback on the author’s own blurb

What to expect from your editor:

• A ‘click’ at your first meeting, which makes you feel that you can work well together

• The ability to problem solve, without dictating to you

• Someone who can inhabit the role of both critic and cheerleader of/for your writing

• Powerful questions and candour

• Good judgement: the ability to evaluate and discuss both your writing and your approach to it, then communicate that to you in the right way, at the right time

• Taste which aligns well with your own: your editor’s comments might reflect some of the things you had already been wondering about, and their alterations make you think, yes, making that change would definitely improve my writing/get me closer to my vision for my book…

• Empathy: your editor can perceive what your aims are, communicate well with you throughout the process, and help you realize your aims in a way which suits you best (the editor might provide a nudge but the response is all yours).

What your editor expects from you:

• An initial meeting to discuss your vision and purpose for writing your book

• Either a complete or partially complete first draft, or a commitment to submit chapters/distinct portions of your book at a regular pace (within reason)

• Regular opportunities to communicate about suggested changes and ideas to consider

• A book blurb to edit, or instructions to write a book blurb for you

• A closing meeting to check there is nothing outstanding to work on, decide if you’d like the editor to take a final look at your manuscript later in the editing journey, and provide any feedback you have for the editor in terms of how well the developmental process went for you.

Timeline: 3-6 months up to 1 year.

Number of reading rounds: 2 (on average, with the second being lighter and more like line/copy editing)

Pricing: starting at €4,275 for up to 70k words. Estimated time needed for 70k words 95-100 hours. Scheduled contact calls, meetings and ad hoc communications are charged at the same hourly rate quoted for the editing work.