The Importance of Developmental Editing for Fiction Writers
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Developmental editing is the most intensive and rigorous edit you can sign up for.
A good developmental edit explores every corner of world-building, character, and plot while also providing you with a roadmap to take you through the murky middle, past the subplot mire, and beyond the unfinished conclusion. Because of its in-depth approach, developmental editing sometimes comes with a negative connotation, that somehow a writer who needs this kind of edit isn’t good enough to make it on their own. Let me be the first to say this is patently untrue. Whether you’re a beginning writer or a seasoned veteran, in-depth big-picture feedback is invaluable when it comes to crafting compelling fiction. Developmental editing is important because as you develop your book with this kind of edit, you’re developing your craft and maximizing your potential as an author.
Developmental editing builds your craft
Most writers have an instinctual sense of story, but even talented artists recognize it takes skill to develop a sketch into a finished portrait. The more you write and pore over the elements of your work, the more you will improve. Now imagine what you could do with the help of someone who can see your book from the outside, assessing strengths and weaknesses from the perspective of your audience and market, evaluating the power of character arcs and plot twists, and suggesting solutions to enhance the best and brightest parts of your writing. A developmental editor uses her skill with story structure, genre, and character to show you how to draw out the elements of your work that separate it from the crowd.
Developmental editing strengthens world-building
Fiction is defined by the world it takes place in. Even if the story happened just yesterday down the street, world-building is what makes the difference between a did not finish (DNF) and a reader telling everyone they know about your book. A good developmental edit steps into the world of your book and asks questions that your reader will be wondering about. It helps you create a world that isn’t confined to a set or a sound stage but extends into reality. It will also push you explore elements of your story that are rich with potential and unique opportunities, some of which might take you in exciting directions and solve problems in other places.
Developmental editing boosts characters and stakes
A good developmental edit should dig into your protagonist—after all, if there isn’t a good sense of why a reader should care what happens to this person, they won’t stick with the book. A developmental editor helps you go deeper, asking questions and probing the motivations and purposes that propel your main character. By building up that character you love, putting them in tight spots designed to challenge them, and giving them opportunities to fail or succeed, you’ll create a connection to your reader they won’t soon forget.
Meeting and surpassing reader expectations
Expectations are essential in fiction—readers come to fiction looking for specific characters, tropes, and plot points. If these aren’t there, the story will feel incomplete. However, we’re not talking about cliché. We’re talking about speaking the language of your audience. Your developmental editor should be well acquainted with what the readers of your genre are looking for and provide guidance on what might currently be missing in your work. When you’re aware of what your audience wants, you can go even farther and delight your readers by taking those elements in new and unexpected ways.
Maximizing your potential as an author
Each time you work on your book with this kind of in-depth attention and external support, you are gaining skills and tools that will serve you well in this book and the next one you write. You’ll gain language to express what you’re doing, which makes it easier for you to talk about your work—why you do what you do. In turn, that makes it easier for you to finish the book as well as share it with others.
Going farther than you imagined
Each revision you make based on a developmental edit takes your book up a notch. You’re moving beyond the first idea and maybe even the one after that to find what the story truly needs. In the process, you discover what you can do when you’re at the top of your game. By listening and paying close attention to your writing, a developmental editor helps you identify your strengths and shows you how to use your powers for good.
Supporting increasing complexity in your writing
It’s worth mentioning—even New York Times bestsellers use developmental editors. Put simply, the more complexity you have in your book, the more you can benefit from someone helping you to keep it organized. This is where a developmental editor can come in, pointing out areas that have gotten convoluted or where additional layers have become confusing. Then the editor will suggest clarifications or solutions. They can show you how to layer in a way that creates depth, intrigue, and dedicated readers.
Gaining confidence and staying motivated
Creating a book is a long process, whether it takes you a few months or a few years. After a while, it’s all too easy to lose sight of what you’ve made. It can begin to feel like it’s sprawling out of control in all directions, and you might be tempted to throw in the towel even if you know the book’s not quite where you want it. A developmental editor will show you what’s working well (I assure you, there’s lots in there that’s great) and areas to improve. With personalized and actionable feedback, you can get back on track to achieve your dream, excited to see where the story will take you.
Developmental editing—A master class in your own book
Here at Ground Crew Editorial, we like to say getting a developmental edit is like taking a master class and your book is the text. You’ll get thorough advice that’s specific to your concerns and your goals. All we do is talk about you and your book—these are your ideas, your characters, your world. We do our best to help you make your strengths shine on the page by challenging you to go deeper, to explore, and—above all—to have more fun.
Work with us!
If this is your first book, you’re getting conflicting advice from critique partners, or you’re receiving silence or rejections from agents/publishers, a developmental edit can take you from confusion and frustration to confidence and clarity. Developmental edits are our favorite service to provide, and we can’t wait to hear about the world you’re making.
Great engine photo thanks to Metin Ozer on Unsplash!
