What Does a Developmental Editor Actually Do?
2/4/20262 min read
Editing is a broad term that can cover many different areas. When people hear ‘developmental editing’, sometimes they can confuse it with other types. I’ve heard people assume it’s fixing grammar or polishing sentences. That isn’t it though. Developmental editing isn’t about the individual use of words necessarily, it’s about the story underneath those words, the structure, the characters, and the heartbeat of the novel.
It helps to think of a book as a house. Proofreading checks the lightbulbs, copyediting smooths the paintwork, and developmental editing asks whether the foundations are solid and whether the rooms connect in a way that makes sense. It looks at whether a reader’s going to want to stay inside the story for a while.
The kind of things a developmental editor looks at
Structure: whether the plot builds naturally or wanders off track
Characters: whether their choices feel true and believable
Pacing: whether plot reveals and emotional moments are spaced well
Focus: what the story’s really about and whether everything supports that
A developmental editor isn’t there to change a writer’s voice. The goal is to help the author see the story the way a reader will experience it, with kind and honest eyes.
What writers can expect
A developmental edit should feel supportive rather than scary. Writers will get:
clear, practical feedback instead of vague opinions
examples showing why something might feel flat or confusing
suggestions to choose from, not rules they have to obey
The author stays in the driver’s seat. The editor just helps with the map.
Who usually benefits
Developmental editing’s especially useful for writers who are:
close to the manuscript but unsure what isn’t clicking
overwhelmed by mixed feedback
stuck in the messy middle
getting ready to submit or self publish
For anyone who’d like to see how the process works, a small sample edit is usually available to test the waters before committing.
Every novel reaches a point where the author’s too close to see it clearly. That’s completely normal, and it happens to even the most experienced writers. A fresh, thoughtful perspective can make the difference between a story that almost works and one that truly comes alive.
