The Basics of Developmental Editing | Questions & Tips for New Authors
I recently did an 8 week series on Instagram going through the major categories of Developmental Editing. I wanted to put it all together in this blog post for authors to utilize and reference in their editing process.
First Things First
DE should be done after you’ve gone through a round of self edits & need more big picture editing done. It’s not focused on grammar, spelling, and punctuation but rather elements such as plot holes, character development, and narrative movement.
Also note that these questions and tips are a to be used as a guide and are not hard and fast rules. At the end of the day, my best advice to authors is to write the book that you want to read. If that means breaking down genre conventions and “rules” then so be it!
You can reach out to me via my website or Instagram if you’re ready to book a developmental edit or hopefully this series will help you learn how to master the basics on your own.
Plot & Structure
Does your novel follow a specifict structure such as “Save the Cat” or “The Hero’s Journey?”
Do you have a clear beginning, middle, and end?
Are there any scenes or chapters that could potentially fit or flow better in another section?
Do your subplots get weaved in and out of the story?
Check for plot holes and inconsistencies.
Check for plot holes and inconsistencies. As an editor, I go through each chapter and make notes and summaries to compare at the end of my first read through.
Are there any plot twists? Were they foreshadowed at all?
Do you have sub plots or B Story that fit into the story & get resolved at some point?
Could you up the stakes or add to the drama anywhere?
Does your main plot stay consistent throughout the story?
“Plot is about elements, those things that go into the mix of making a good story even better. Structure is about timing–where in the mix
those elements go.”
Character Development
Questions
Do your characters evolve & change by the end?
Have you weaved in any backstory to add depth?
Do your characters have clear goals and desires? What is standing in their way of obtaining them?
Have you added in side characters that add value to the story?
Are your characters unique and complex?
Tips
Build a character profile for every character. This will help you keep track of details & make each character unique. Click here for my character profile template!
Don’t tell the readers what your characters faults and misbeliefs are, show them through action.
Make your characters faults & fears relatable & believable.
“Characters make your story. If the people come alive, what they do becomes the story.”
Pacing & Flow
Tips
Try to keep each scene and each chapter the same length to keep an even tempo.
Ensure every scene keeps the plot moving forward by including plenty of action and dialogue and keeping the MC’s goals in mind.
Consider ending chapters or scenes on a cliffhanger or with unanswered questions to keep the reader invested.
Questions
Do my scenes have a good mixture of action, dialogue, and inner dialogue?
Does the story flow well? Is there tension building? Are there moments that feel slow or bring the narrative to a stop?
Are there any unnecessary scenes?
Do you pull the reader in on the first page? Are they hooked by page 10 or the end of Ch. 1?
“You should write the fast stuff slow and the slow stuff fast.”
Conflict & Tension
Questions
Does your story have a main conflict? Are there subplots that tie into the story and don’t get left behind?
Do you let your characters flaws and mistakes show?
Are the resolutions to conflict probable and convincing?
Do you have any twists or surprises to shock the reader?
Tips
Ensure that the stakes are kept high and are believable to keep the reader engaged
Keep tension building but place moments of relief throughout.
Use a balance of internal and external conflict.
Reveal hidden motives, backstory, and secrets along with foreshadowing to add suspense.
“Words, I think, are such unpredictable creatures.
No gun, no sword, no army or king will ever be more powerful than a sentence. Swords may cut and kill, but words will stab and stay, burying themselves in our bones to become corpses we carry into the future, all the time digging and failing to rip their skeletons from our flesh.”
Setting & Timeline
Ensure you’ve created an active setting, being clear and specific to ground the reader in place.
Include sensory details: color, texture, sound...
Are the cultural and geographical details accurate?
Does your setting fit the mood and enhance the vibe? Have you created an atmosphere readers will enjoy?
Does your story flow in a way that is logical and keeps the readers attention?
Is your timeline linear, fractured, framed, or real
time?
Do you weave in backstory without distracting from the main timeline?
Could you cut down anything? Or potentially add in missing scenes?
“Don’t forget - no one else sees the world the way you do, so no one else can tell the stories that you have to tell.”
Dialogue, Voice, and POV
Ensure each character has their own distinct voice. Assign certain sayings or words to a character.
Use dialogue to show characteristics vs. telling the reader how a person is.
Try not to use dialogue to info dump on the readers.
Use a balance of dialogue tags and action to show who is speaking.
Don’t have your characters saying things they already know in order to give the reader information.
Does your story have more than one POV? Make sure the opening lines of each scene & chapter reveal which character’s POV it is.
Try not to switch POV in the middle of a scene or chapter, that’s called head hopping and gets very confusing for the reader.
Make each POV unique. This is a common issue in dual POV romance.
If you have two POVs, try not to favor one over the other and give a good back and forth.
“Dialogue in fiction has five functions. One or more of the following must always be at work, or you’re just taking up space: 1. Reveal story information 2. Reveal character 3. Set the tone 4. Set the scene 5. Reveal theme.”
Theme & Genre Conventions
Does your novel have a consistent message and theme throughout?
Will your theme resonate with readers and your target audience?
Do your characters help establish the theme?
Have you made your message or theme clear without being repetitive, this is a fine line to walk.
Do your subplots also connect in with the main theme?
Keep in mind what your readers will expect. Example: Romance readers except a happily ever after.
Decide if you want to subvert the genre and if you’re okay with readers potentially being unhappy.
How can you follow these conventions while avoiding being cliche or predictable?
How can you make your story stand out amongst the rest while delivering readers needs?
That’s a wrap on my developmental editing basics. I hope you’ve learned how to look at your story from a different perspective, asked yourself some serious questions, and learned what elements to look for in your self editing process.
When you’re ready to book an editing service, you can reach out to me through my website, my email: aprileditorial@gmail.com or my IG: @april.editorial
I’d be happy to help you with developmental editing or I offer copy/line edits and proofreading as well.
Happy writing,
xx
April Editorial
