How do you find a developmental editor?
- Four core channels: EFA, Reedsy, referrals, ACES.
- Typical cost: $2,000-$8,000 for a 90,000-word novel.
- Price often correlates with reputation and turnaround.
- Look for editors who have published in your genre.
- A "sample edit" of 5-10 pages is standard before signing.
You find a developmental editor by searching four channels: the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA), Reedsy’s marketplace, referrals from agented or published authors in your genre, and ACES (American Copy Editors Society) directories. Most working developmental editors charge $2,000-$8,000 per book; the price often correlates with reputation and turnaround time.
Chapter i·Why it matters
The choice of developmental editor matters more than the choice of any other editor. A great dev editor saves months of revision and improves the book; a bad one wastes money and confuses the writer. Finding the right one takes 4-8 weeks of research — and that research pays off across every subsequent book.
Chapter ii·What to include
- A target list of 5-10 editors who work in your genre.
- A sample-edit request: 5-10 pages for $50-$200.
- Reference checks: talk to 2-3 of their previous clients.
- A budget range: $2,000-$8,000 for a 90,000-word novel.
- A timeline agreement: 4-8 weeks for the read plus your revision.
- A clear scope: developmental only, or developmental plus line?
Chapter iii·Example
A debut literary novelist builds a target list of 8 developmental editors over 6 weeks: 4 from EFA, 2 from Reedsy, 2 from agent referrals. She requests sample edits from 3; the best returns insightful feedback with a clear voice. She signs for $4,800 covering the full manuscript with 5 weeks turnaround.
Chapter iv·Related questions
WriteLoom holds editor candidates, sample-edit responses, and references alongside your manuscript.
See the Edit studio