Advice for writers
for writers
Explaining the Role of a Developmental Editor in the Publishing Process
Developmental Editors
When you first encounter the term developmental editor, you may wonder what exactly that is and whether you need one for your manuscript.
Unlike a copy editor who focuses on grammar or a proofreader who catches typos, a developmental editor works at the big-picture level. Their role is to strengthen your manuscript’s structure, pacing, character development, and thematic clarity so that the story resonates with readers and meets the expectations of your genre. In short, they help you refine the heart of your book before it moves into later stages of editing and publishing.
A developmental editor is a valuable partner who helps you make your story as strong and compelling as it can be!
What Is a Developmental Editor?
A developmental editor is a professional who partners with you to shape the foundation of your manuscript.
While you’ve built the framework of your story, the developmental editor helps reinforce weak spots, eliminate unnecessary additions, and ensure the final structure can hold the weight of readers’ expectations. Their feedback might involve reorganizing chapters, deepening character arcs, or tightening the focus of your central theme.
At its core, developmental editing is about clarifying your story’s vision and making sure it truly works as a book!
A developmental editor’s expertise extends to both fiction and nonfiction. In fiction, they examine plot, pacing, and character arcs. In nonfiction, they ensure logical flow, argument clarity, and readability. For example, in a memoir, a developmental editor might advise on restructuring chapters to create a stronger narrative arc, rather than presenting events strictly chronologically.
How Developmental Editors Fit into the Publishing Process
Many writers ask: What is the role of an editor in the publishing process? The answer depends on the type of editor.
Proofreaders and copy editors arrive at the end, correcting surface-level issues. Line editors dig into sentence structure and flow. But the developmental editor comes first! They are the person who ensures your story is strong enough to withstand everything that follows.
Without this step, a manuscript might move into copyediting or typesetting while still carrying deeper flaws—structural issues that surface corrections cannot fix. A developmental editor helps you avoid this by making sure your book’s big-picture elements are sound.
Developmental editing is particularly important for debut authors, who may not yet have a clear understanding of story mechanics, pacing, or thematic consistency. By working with a developmental editor, you gain early guidance that can save countless hours of rewrites later.
What to Expect When Working with a Developmental Editor
What should you expect from a developmental editor? Honesty and collaboration.
A developmental editor won’t simply tell you what’s “wrong.” Instead, they provide constructive, actionable notes. You might receive a written editorial letter outlining strengths and weaknesses, in-text comments highlighting specific areas for revision, or both.
Expect your developmental editor to point out if a subplot drags, a protagonist lacks motivation, or your pacing lags in the middle chapters. But, equally important, expect them to highlight what’s working—your compelling hook, your sharp dialogue, or your well-realized setting! The relationship is less about tearing a manuscript down and more about giving you the tools to rebuild it into its strongest form.
A few practical things to expect during developmental editing:
➤ Lengthy editorial letters: Usually 5–15 pages detailing structural feedback.
➤ Chapter-by-chapter notes: Suggestions on what to add, cut, or reorganize.
➤ Follow-up discussions: Some editors offer calls or emails to clarify complex feedback.
Developmental Editing in Action
Imagine you’ve written a fantasy novel where your protagonist defeats the villain in chapter twelve, only for another antagonist to appear unexpectedly in chapter thirteen. A developmental editor might point out that this structure risks confusing readers or weakening the climax. Their suggestion could be to merge these two antagonists earlier in the plot, building tension toward a single, more satisfying resolution.
Or, consider a self-help manuscript where exercises are scattered throughout and the main principles are introduced inconsistently. A developmental editor might suggest reorganizing chapters to follow a logical progression, ensuring the reader can follow and apply the concepts effectively.
These are just some examples of real ways editors seek to improve both fiction and nonfiction manuscripts!
Why Writers Benefit from Developmental Editors
Working with a developmental editor is not always easy. They may challenge your assumptions, ask tough questions about your characters’ motivations, or suggest cutting passages you feel attached to.
But this challenge is part of the growth process. By addressing problems at the structural level, you can save yourself frustration later when agents, publishers, or readers might otherwise spot the same issues!
Developmental editors offer benefits beyond manuscript quality:
Objective Perspective
They help you see weaknesses that are invisible when you’re too close to your own work.
Professional Insight
Editors understand what works for your genre and market.
Skill Development
Engaging with their feedback improves your future writing.
Higher Chances with Agents/Publishers
A polished manuscript demonstrates that you understand storytelling fundamentals.
In short, hiring a developmental editor can increase your confidence and improve the manuscript’s reception.
How to Know If You Need a Developmental Editor
Not every project requires the same degree of support. If you’ve written several novels and have a clear sense of story structure, you might only need light feedback from beta readers or critique partners. But if this is your first manuscript—or if you’re struggling with plot holes, flat characters, or an unclear theme—a developmental editor can make the difference between a promising draft and a submission-ready manuscript.
Signs you might benefit include:
➤ Uncertainty whether your story “works” as a whole.
➤ Beta readers consistently point out pacing or structure issues.
➤ You’ve revised multiple times but remain stuck.
➤ You want your manuscript as strong as possible before querying agents or self-publishing.
Choosing the Right Developmental Editor
Finding the right developmental editor is as important as the editing itself. Consider:
Experience in Your Genre
Editors who understand genre expectations can provide targeted guidance.
Communication Style
Do they explain feedback clearly and constructively?
Portfolio and References
Previous work and testimonials can indicate competence.
Rates and Services
Understand pricing structures and what’s included, so expectations are clear.
A collaborative and experienced editor ensures you feel supported and confident through the process.
Mini Checklist: What to Expect in a Developmental Edit
1. Detailed editorial letter highlighting strengths and weaknesses.
2. Notes on pacing, structure, and character arcs.
3. Recommendations for reorganizing or refining key sections.
4. Suggestions for thematic clarity and plot coherence.
5. Follow-up clarification or guidance on implementing revisions.
The Role of a Developmental Editor
The publishing process involves many steps, but few are as transformative as developmental editing. By working with a developmental editor, you gain a partner who sees the big picture, anticipates reader reactions, and strengthens your manuscript before it ever reaches an agent, publisher, or bookstore shelf.
At Atmosphere Press, we provide professional developmental editing services designed to help authors strengthen their manuscripts from the ground up. Our experienced editors specialize in both fiction and nonfiction, offering detailed feedback on structure, pacing, character development, and thematic clarity.
So, if you’re serious about bringing your book to market in the strongest possible form, consider taking this step! It may be the difference between a manuscript that falls flat and one that captures attention.
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Erin K. Larson-Burnett, Production Manager at Atmosphere Press (submit your manuscript here!), is a born-and-raised Southerner currently living in Katy, Texas, with her husband and their small domestic zoo. She is an avid ink drinker who lives and breathes books—during the day, she works remotely with authors around the world, honing and perfecting books published through Atmosphere Press. By night, she crafts her own stories…or at least tries to. The Bear & the Rose is her debut novel.
Atmosphere Press is a selective hybrid publisher founded in 2015 on the principles of Honesty, Transparency, Professionalism, Kindness, and Making Your Book Awesome. Our books have won dozens of awards and sold tens of thousands of copies. If you’re interested in learning more, or seeking publication for your own work, please explore the links below.
