Alle responds to: “What should a developmental editor help you with?”
And how long should the revision process take?
This article comes from someone who wished she’d been able to afford an editor before her very first attempt to find an agent: I would have saved seven years of rejection had I been able to have a trained professional take apart my work.
I expect a developmental editor to make me really think about the work in a new and enlightened way. I am aware that I expect a lot from them.
After their first read,, I want an editor to come back with a clear presentation of what works and why, and what does not work and why not.
- Line edits embedded in the draft;
- Smaller suggestions and questions embedded in the draft; and
- A cover letter with:
— a paragraph describing their understanding of the story (so that I know they understand what I am aiming for);
— an overview of general responses to areas such as those below; as well as
— specific responses: chapters, scenes, lines. THe editors I worked with that I resepcted most gave a general comment and thenw ent through chapter by chapter.
Not in any particular order:
- What is your character really after and where is that not driving the story?
- Do the secondary and smaller characters have their own story and arch, and how do they fit to drive the primary narrative?
- Are the chapters ordered most effectively?
- Does the story start where the story should start?
- Too many flashbacks?
- Too much backstory in the first chapter? The first few chapters?
- Are the females, people of color and disabled individuals rather than stereotypes?
- Even if their characters are “bad,” are they portrayed with an understanding of their humanity?
- Are scenes of sex and/or violence gratuitous?
- Do or could you better use narration effectively, when choosing to tell and not show?
You can expect that receiving editorial critique will be at least a bit painful. Feedback. ultimately includes the idea that:
- “I have sooooooo muuuuuuch work ahead of me.”
- “I don’t think I can do it.” (Note: you can.); and most painfully:
- “My work is not instantaneously perfect!”
Take heart! If it were, you wouldn’t need an editor.
How long should the revision process take? What is the next step?
If you are writing part-time, you can expect to need anything between six months and a year.
- At that point, I strongly suggest you hire the same editor to read it again.
- Expect to have to put more effort and more time on this revision than you did into the writing the first draft took.
- Consider third, fourth, fifth (whatever it takes) revision cycle with this or perhaps different editor (if you want fresh eyes on it).
- Rinse and repeat until you hear: “It’s ready.”
