If you are writing or planning to write a nonfiction book, chapter, or article, you may have heard that developmental editing is crucial for a writing project. But what is developmental editing in nonfiction? And should you work with a freelance editor on your manuscript?
In this short post I aim to answer these two questions so you know what to expect from developmental editing in nonfiction.
What is developmental editing of a nonfiction manuscript?
Developmental editing is a stage of the manuscript writing process. If your writing project were a construction project, developmental editing would be the inspection of the building’s foundation.
Developmental editing should take place during the early phase of your nonfiction writing project so that you can prevent rework, reduce cost, and save time.
During this editing stage you, your freelance editor, or both evaluate the materials and ideas you have for your nonfiction book, chapter, or article. So, developmental editing in nonfiction is concerned with the content and organization of the manuscript.
Here are some of the main questions you need to answer at development editing stage:
- Do you have all the content you need for your nonfiction project, or do you need more?
- How’s the content organized? Is everything coherent? Or do you need to restructure the material?
- What’s the flow of the manuscript? Do you explain the ideas from general to detailed? Do ideas flow well?
- Do you have a story with a beginning, middle, and end?
- Is the purpose of your manuscript writing project clear? And does your material (text, images, etc.) support your goal?
Working with a developmental editor on a nonfiction project
Developmental editing is not easy, and it can take a lot of time if you do it yourself. So, you may want to collaborate with a freelance editor to set the direction for your written work.
It’s up to you to decide when to hire a developmental editor. Some authors hire an editor when they have only the outline of their nonfiction writing project. Other authors prefer to wait until they have a complete manuscript before they hire an editor.
This kind of editing can be high. So, waiting until you have a draft makes sense if you’re paying a freelance editor out of pocket. Yet, working with a freelance editor from the beginning of your nonfiction writing project helps you save time and effort. Writing requires many iterations, and having a solid foundation for your manuscript gives you the confidence to pour more time and effort into your project.
How much developmental editing costs will depend on many factors, including the complexity of your project and the editor’s experience and expertise. For example, a freelance editor who is a subject matter expert is likely to be more expensive than an editor with no knowledge of your subject.
If your budget for editing is low, you may wonder if the developmental editor of a nonfiction manuscript needs to have subject expertise. It depends.
If you’re writing a document for specialists, your developmental editor must be familiar with your subject, especially if you have only an outline. But if you’re writing a nonfiction book, chapter, or article for a general audience, subject matter expertise is not essential for your editor. However, the freelance editor you hire should have at least some familiarity with the subject of your manuscript, as well as interest in the topic.
Do you need a developmental editor for a natural sciences book, article, or chapter? I have a PhD in Earth Sciences from Cardiff University (UK) and have been a professional nonfiction editor since 2012. If you think I may be a good fit for your nonfiction writing project, send me a message at editor@languageediting.com.
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Last revised on 29 August 2022
