This post is for those readers out there who are curious about the process of self-publishing, and more specifically, about what happens when you get a developmental edit.
First, let’s define a developmental edit. This is typically what authors have done after beta readers and critique partners have gone through their manuscript. A developmental editor takes a close look at the story and gives notes about the characters, their motivations, their journey and how they change, the romance, and the important moments in the novel (like the meet cute, the midpoint crisis, etc.)
A DE is so important for an author to do. In fact, when I was researching all the different types of editing I needed for my books before I published, the general consensus was that if you can’t afford all four (developmental, copy, line, and proofread) and can only afford one, you should absolutely get a DE. Making sure your story and characters work is super important, because that’s what your readers will focus on and remember.
I love reading the results of my developmental edits. There are always so many things I didn’t even consider that my editors bring up and I’m able to tweak my story to make it even better. Some editors will even offer to hell you brainstorm ideas if you’re stumped on how to improve a scene.
So, there you have it. An explanation of how a developmental edit works.