Developmental Editing: Expert Guidance for Your Narrative

Developmental editing is the process of meticulously scrutinising a text for improvement, analysing the structural integrity of your manuscript, from giving feedback on plot, character and overall coherence, to ensuring that your themes resonate, your pacing compels, and your voice carries the weight of your intent.

The Developmental Process

1. The Comprehensive Manuscript Assessment - I begin with a forensic reading of your entire draft, looking past the prose to the underlying architecture: Is the premise sustained? Are the characters fully rounded (complex, three-dimensional and realistic)? Does the pacing work?

• The Result: A detailed map of your manuscript’s current strengths and structural gaps.

2. The Editorial Letter (The Roadmap) - You will receive a comprehensive editorial report (typically 10–15 pages) in which I provide actionable, theoretical, and practical solutions for restructuring scenes, deepening character motivations, and sharpening your thematic focus.

• The Result: A strategic blueprint for your next revision.

3. In-Line Structural Commentary: Using Track Changes, I provide marginal notes throughout your manuscript. These comments pinpoint exact moments where the text could be improved, with suggestions for your consideration.

• The Result: Direct, page-level guidance and high-level feedback.

4. The Strategic Consultation Every developmental edit includes a consultation via video or phone. We discuss the roadmap in detail, assess difficult transitions, and ensure you have the creative clarity needed to execute the final rewrite.

• The Result: Total alignment on the path to a submission-ready manuscript.

Investment & Tiers

Developmental editing is a deep-seated collaboration but can be approached in two stages:

• Manuscript Evaluation (Overview Only): A high-level reading and 5-page report on your full manuscript or a substantial extract. Perfect for authors who need an expert feedback before committing to a full edit.

• Full Developmental Edit (Letter + In-Line Notes): My most intensive service. A comprehensive structural overhaul including the editorial letter, full marginal commentary, and follow-up consultation.

  Fees dependent on project size

Testimonials

“As a debut author, wanting to publish my Angling memoirs I was very fortunate to contact Craig Snelgrove.

I needed help in editing and formatting my book. Craig has helped me so much with subtle suggestions for amending text, putting my efforts into Word and giving me advice on publishing.

Nothing has been too much trouble, my thoughts and enquiries always being answered promptly and in a friendly and courteous manner.

Thanks to Craig submitting my now completed manuscript to various possible publishers I am pleased to say that we now have a publisher and are well on the way to an actual printed book.” - Ian Symes