A developmental edit is an EXTENSIVE and in-depth edit of your entire manuscript. This term has been very confusing for inexperienced writers since it includes several different types of editing, but it’s also a type of editing in its own right. It has a profound analysis of:

• Single words,
• The phrasing of individual sentences,
• Structure,
• Style,
• Plot holes,
• Problematic characterization,
• Pace,
• Everything else you can imagine.

   Have in mind that after an entire round of developmental edit, a manuscript can change substantially, and, sometimes, that can be really tough for inexperienced writers. Why? Because a lot of what you have spent a considerable amount of time writing can be cut, shaped, moved, or heavily criticized (or all of the above at the same time).

   Good developmental editing will also consider your target audience and will commercially judge your work. Only once your manuscript has been cut, reshaped, revised, and developed will it be ready for a copy edit and proofread.