What is developmental editing?
- The first and most expensive editing pass.
- Reviews plot, pacing, character arcs, POV, theme — not sentences.
- Delivered as a 10-25 page editorial letter plus an annotated manuscript.
- Typical cost: $2,000-$8,000 for a 90,000-word novel.
- Happens after draft completion, before line editing.
Developmental editing is the first and most expensive editing pass — a structural review of plot, pacing, character arcs, point of view, and theme. It happens after the draft is complete and before any line-level editing. A developmental editor delivers a 10-25 page editorial letter, not corrections to individual sentences. Typical cost: $2,000-$8,000 for a 90,000-word novel.
Chapter i·Why it matters
Developmental editing is the only edit that can fix structural problems before they become unfixable. Skipping it or running it after line editing wastes weeks of polish on prose that gets cut. The order matters — developmental first is non-negotiable in professional publishing.
Chapter ii·What to include
- A complete draft, not chapters as you write them.
- A summary or outline for the editor to anchor against.
- A clear statement of goals: what kind of book, for whom.
- 4-8 week schedule for the editor’s read plus your revision.
- A budget of $2,000-$8,000 for a 90,000-word novel.
- A clear handoff: who owns which revisions and on what timeline.
Chapter iii·Example
A debut novelist sends a 95,000-word fantasy draft to a developmental editor. Four weeks later she receives a 15-page editorial letter recommending she cut a 12,000-word subplot, swap chapters 4 and 7, and rewrite the antagonist. Revision takes three months.
Chapter iv·Related questions
WriteLoom’s Edit studio gives you a developmental critique on demand, so you arrive at a paid editor with a stronger draft.
See the Edit studio