{"id":1061,"date":"2020-11-01T19:51:55","date_gmt":"2020-11-01T19:51:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/catherinedunn.co.uk\/?page_id=1061"},"modified":"2025-08-17T14:03:47","modified_gmt":"2025-08-17T14:03:47","slug":"developmental-editing-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/catherinedunn.co.uk\/index.php\/developmental-editing-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Developmental editing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"woman<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What is developmental editing?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Developmental editing tackles the overarching areas of plot, characterisation, point of view, style, tone and so on, looking at the big picture. You’ll sometimes hear it called structural editing or substantive editing. A developmental editor looks at the overall structure and content of your book. Both fiction and non-fiction books can benefit from developmental editing, but I specialise in fiction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During a developmental edit, as well as the points mentioned above, I’ll also look at dialogue, world-building, themes and any other relevant issues across the book as a whole. I’ll provide an overarching report and make comments and suggestions in the manuscript itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Developmental editing doesn’t deal with spelling, punctuation and grammar (unless it’s appropriate to point out a recurring error or a tendency to overuse a certain construction as a comment on style). A developmental edit may result in major changes, such as rearranging sections or rewriting large areas. There’s little point looking at the fine details if whole sections of text are going to be cut or rewritten! For this reason, developmental editing takes place before line editing<\/a> or copyediting<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My service<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before I start work, we will agree on a price and scope for the project. My developmental editing prices usually range between 0.021 and 0.024 GBP per word, but it can vary depending on the type of work involved. We’ll discuss your needs and make sure you’re choosing the most appropriate service \u2013 developmental editing, copyediting, proofreading or something else. We will also, of course, agree a deadline for me to get the edited document and report back to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can decide how you want me to communicate with you as I work through the piece. If any major queries arise that might affect how my work progresses, I’ll get in touch with you straight away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you receive the edited document and report, you will no doubt want to go ahead and do some further work on your manuscript in light of the comments and suggestions. You may not agree with all my suggested changes, but at least some of them should give you food for thought!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As per my\u00a0terms and conditions<\/a>, the total price includes a further subsequent email exchange and\/or phone or video call to pick up on any issues arising. You may want to ask questions, answer questions, clarify things or discuss differences of opinion. You can make this email or call as long as you like and I will answer in as much depth as possible. You may not feel ready to get back in touch until several months later, after assimilating the report and suggestions and working on the manuscript again. That’s fine! I’m happy to enter into further discussions – and, in fact, I welcome discussion and exchanges of opinion! – but after this email exchange, I will have to charge for editorial support at an hourly rate, which will be discussed and confirmed with you ahead of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your budget doesn’t stretch to a developmental edit but you still feel that the more ‘big picture’ elements of your book need work, you might be interested in a manuscript assessment<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contact me for a free, no-obligation quote<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I do recommend that, if your budget will stretch to it, you have your work copyedited<\/a> as well. This will pick up detailed technical errors and help your work read more smoothly.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What is developmental editing? Developmental editing tackles the overarching areas of plot, characterisation, point of view, style, tone and so on, looking at the big picture. You’ll sometimes hear it called structural editing or substantive editing. A developmental editor looks at the overall structure and content of your book. Both fiction and non-fiction books can […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1061","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nDevelopmental editing - Catherine Dunn<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/catherinedunn.co.uk\/index.php\/developmental-editing-2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Developmental editing - Catherine Dunn\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"What is developmental editing? 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