You’ve finally finished the rough draft of your novel. Congratulations—that’s a huge accomplishment in itself! Now you’re thinking about professional editing and are wondering where to start. Perhaps you’ve done some googling and have learned that “editing” can mean a lot of different things. Developmental editing, substantive editing, line editing, copyediting, content editing, and proofreading are some of the most common terms thrown around, and it doesn’t help that there’s no standard, universal definition for any of them.
Any of these services can be expensive in itself, and combining two or more of them can understandably generate some serious sticker shock. If budget is a major consideration, then starting with a manuscript assessment is well worth considering.
Typically, a developmental edit is recommended as the first step of the editing process. This is a big-picture edit that is focused on the overall structure, content, and flow of your book. In fiction, a developmental editor will look for issues like point of view, pacing, character development, and plot holes. The manuscript will be marked up (usually with Tracking in Microsoft Word) with suggestions for how to resolve these issues, and it will typically be accompanied by a letter outlining the major issues and offering detailed feedback.
A manuscript assessment is essentially a mini developmental edit. The editor performing this assessment will perform a careful read of the manuscript and note the most pressing issues that need to be addressed. When I perform a manuscript assessment, I don’t generally mark up the manuscript itself (or at least not much). Instead, I provide a detailed report that outlines the strengths and weaknesses of the novel with a particular focus on big-picture elements such as plot, characterization, and overall structure. I also give feedback on areas such as dialogue, point of view, and genre expectations. My report includes suggestions on how to resolve these issues as well as recommended resources for further learning.
A manuscript assessment takes significantly less time than a full developmental edit and therefore is significantly less expensive, making it a great option for budget-conscious authors. My recommendation is always that you devote your editing dollars to the highest level of editing you can afford (see How to Save Money on Editing). Addressing the big-picture issues in your novel will easily give you the most bang for your editing buck. While grammar and punctuation are important, the fact is that your readers are far more likely to be put off by gaping plot holes or weak characters than by misplaced commas.
If you’d like to learn more about what a manuscript assessment entails and how I can help you ensure that your book is the very best it can be, let’s chat! I’d love to hear from you.
