Developmental Editing
Build a strong foundation for your manuscript with expert guidance on plot, themes,
characterization and other fundamentals.
Build a strong foundation for your manuscript with expert guidance on plot, themes,
characterization and other fundamentals.
Manuscript evaluation is an excellent resource for authors in search
of high-level self-editing guidance from a professional editor.
Developmental editing is an in-depth assessment of your manuscript’s foundational elements. Your editor will read your entire novel and provide detailed feedback through margin comments and a comprehensive critique covering plot, characterization, pacing, and structure.
Unlike manuscript evaluation, developmental editing includes comprehensive annotations throughout your document, pinpointing issues as they occur and offering specific solutions for improvement in the critique.
Compared to line editing or proofreading, developmental editing focuses on the macro elements of storytelling and typically happens first in the editing process.
Invisible Ink editors recommend developmental editing to authors who fit any of the criteria below:
Invisible Ink editors recommend developmental editing to authors who fit any of the criteria below:
Serious novelists ready to level up: You’ve completed a full draft, gone through the self-editing process, and are ready for professional guidance to transform your good story into a great one.
Authors stuck in revision limbo: You know something isn’t working in your manuscript but can’t pinpoint what needs fixing. A developmental editor can identify the problem areas and provide actionable solutions.
Writers preparing for publication: Whether you’re pursuing traditional or self-publishing, a developmental edit ensures your manuscript meets professional standards before moving to line editing.
Storytellers seeking genre expertise: Our editors understand the conventions and expectations of different genres, helping you craft a novel that resonates with your target readers.
Step one: Submit your manuscript sample and get matched with an Invisible Ink editor specializing in your genre.
Step two: Receive your quote and timeline, then submit your full manuscript for review.
Step three: Your editor reads your entire novel, making detailed margin comments throughout.
Step four: Receive your annotated manuscript plus a comprehensive critique document outlining strengths and areas for improvement.
Step five: Schedule a follow-up conversation to discuss the feedback and ask questions.
Step six (optional): Submit your revised manuscript for a second developmental review at a discounted rate.
Your editor will be looking for fundamental changes that will strengthen your manuscript for the next revision. This will include in-line comments and a full, written critique covering:
A compelling plot keeps readers turning pages from beginning to end. Your editor will examine your story’s pacing, identify plot holes or inconsistencies, and suggest ways to strengthen your narrative arc.
Whether your novel follows a traditional three-act structure or experiments with nonlinear storytelling, we’ll help you create a cohesive and engaging reading experience.
Strong characters drive great stories. Your editor will evaluate your protagonist’s motivation and growth, assess supporting characters’ roles and development, and identify opportunities to deepen character relationships.
We’ll help you ensure each character serves a purpose in your narrative and feels authentic to readers.
Your story’s world should feel lived-in and believable, whether it’s set in a small town or on a distant planet. Your editor will assess how effectively you’ve established your setting, and give you advice on how to strengthen it.
We’ll help you balance descriptive detail with forward momentum, ensuring your world enhances rather than overwhelms your story.
Your unique voice is what sets your work apart. Your editor will create a customized style guide, which ensures consistency in tone and style throughout this manuscript and any others you create.
We’ll preserve what makes your writing distinctly yours while helping you eliminate habits that might distance readers from your story.
Each genre has reader expectations that successful novels meet or deliberately subvert. Your editor will ensure your manuscript honors genre conventions while helping your story stand out in the marketplace.
Whether you’re writing romance, thriller, literary fiction, or any other genre, we’ll help you deliver what readers expect while maintaining your creative vision.
