Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
All you need to know.
A Developmental Edit gives you the detailed, structural report that a manuscript assessment offers, as well as in-text comments throughout your manuscript offering in-depth feedback on your work, and a sixty-minute conversation with your editor to discuss any queries and your next step forward.
Our Developmental Editing Service aims for the same level of rigour you would get from a Big-Five publishing house. It should stand you in good stead if you’re about to submit your work to agents or to self-publish.
Developmental Editing at a glance
What you get:
Your editor will read your entire manuscript, recording their thoughts in an editorial report of at least 3,500 words. They’ll also record their comments throughout the manuscript in track-changes, including feedback and suggestions where things crop up. Their comments will address various aspects of your novel including plot, characterisation, structure, presentation and marketability. You’ll receive clear, strategic advice on how to improve your work-in-progress. You’ll also get the opportunity to speak to your editor for up to sixty-minutes, discussing your next steps and opportunities.
Turnaround time:
Usually six weeks, but lengthier or more specialist assignments may take longer.
Price:
Dependent on the length and complexity of your manuscript. Get in Touch with our Writers Support team or apply now to receive a bespoke quote.
Apply Now
Submit your work to find out if it’s ready for a Developmental Edit and receive a bespoke quote.
How does it work?
Your editor will read your entire manuscript and provide a written report of at least 3,500 words, addressing various aspects of your novel, including plot, placing, characterisation, structure, style, pace, voice, presentation, and marketability. The editor will also point out any major problems with spelling, syntax, and flow. This report offers you clear advice on how to improve your work-in-progress. You will also get these comments within the manuscript itself through tracked changes; offering feedback, changes, and questions, and expanding on the suggestions made in the editorial report. The editor will leave detailed feedback on nearly every page of your manuscript, providing specific examples of points made in the editorial letter. After receiving your edit, you’ll also have the chance to chat with your editor in a one-time call lasting up to sixty minutes. Perfect for going over any questions you may have, as well as discussing your next steps.
Not sure which editorial service is right for you?
We break down all our editorial services, their benefits and who they’re perfect for in this article
What our customers say about our Editorial Services
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Pricing Guide for Developmental Editing
Use this table to estimate how much your Developmental Edit will cost
| Word Count | Price |
| 30,000 to 40,000 | £680 |
| 40,000 to 50,000 | £850 |
| 50,000 to 60,000 | £1,020 |
| 60,000 to 65,000 | £1,105 |
| 65,000 to 70,000 | £1,190 |
| 70,000 to 75,000 | £1,275 |
| 75,000 to 80,000 | £1,360 |
| 80,000 to 85,000 | £1,445 |
| 85,000 to 90,000 | £1,530 |
| 90,000 to 95,000 | £1,615 |
| 95,000 to 100,000 | £1,700 |
| 100,000 to 110,000 | £1,870 |
| 110,000 to 115,000 | £1,955 |
| 115,000 to 200,000 | £2,040 |
Apply Now
Submit your work to find out if it’s ready for a Developmental Edit and receive a bespoke quote.
Our Guarantee
We’re confident that we’re the best at what we do. That’s why we offer a guarantee for all the editorial work we undertake.
We promise:
- To give you a stringent, in-depth report.
- To use an expert editor with authority in the industry.
- To consider the market for your manuscript.
- To be honest and constructive.
- To respect your copyright.
- To pitch your work to agents on your behalf if, in our view, it is strong enough to be marketed.
- To respond honestly and in good faith in case of problems,
- To advise you honestly, always.
We’ve had thousands of satisfied customers – and helped countless writers like you get agented and published. Join them!
Frequently asked
questions
How should I format my manuscript
Please use an easy-to-read font like Times New Roman, 12pt. Don’t forget to also number your pages and use double spacing.
How long will it take to match my manuscript with an editor?
We aim to match you with the right editor within 2-4 days. We’ll get back to you as soon as the choice has been confirmed.
How do you choose the editor?
We match manuscripts based on 15 years of experience working with our editors. We consider editor experience, their genres of interest, and whether they themselves feel they are the right fit for your work. As all our editors are freelance, this depends on availability.
Can I choose my editor?
If you have a particular editor in mind, we will of course do our best to match you with them. We cannot guarantee this, however, as all of our editors are freelance and there are times when they are unavailable due to demand and/or other commitments.
Once you have placed your order, you’re welcome to send a shortlist of 4-5 editors from our website (and we’lll do our best to place you with your preferred editors.
What if my book is good enough? Will you help me find an agent?
On some occasions, an editor will flag a manuscript as submission ready. When this happens, a member of the Jericho Writers team will look at the author’s agent submission pack and provide some free advice on it, plus access to AgentMatch. On some occasions, where the manuscript shows real promise, we’ll also approach agents on the author’s behalf.
It’s worth noting however, that this service is reserved for manuscripts which editors believe have strong commercial potential and are of a very high quality. Please don’t be disappointed if yours isn’t selected – most manuscripts require quite a few rewrites before reaching submission standard!
Which editorial service is right for me?
We offer quite a few editorial services so you’re right to take the time to consider all of your options. You can take a look at all of our editorial services here. You might also like to read our article explaining all the different types of editorial services. If you’re still not sure, feel free to get in touch with us and we’ll be happy to offer more advice.
How and when do I submit my manuscript?
After sending in your application, we’ll get back to you as soon as we’ve matched your work up with the right editor, at which point we’ll invite you to purchase the assessment and send us your full manuscript.
How do I know if a developmental edit is the right choice for my manuscript?
We recommend a developmental edit if:
- Your manuscript is in pretty good shape (ie: this should be the last major round of work before submitting to publishers or self-publishing the manuscript).
- You want both broad and narrow comments.
- You want the opportunity to talk at length with your editor.
- You are OK paying for a premium service.
- We recommend a manuscript assessment if:
- Your manuscript is still at a somewhat earlier stage in its journey.
- You feel able to handle the narrower issues yourself, so long as you have reasonable guidance from your manuscript assessment report.
- A developmental edit, which comes at a premium price, won’t necessarily be the best option for you and your manuscript. This is why the process is done via application, where an editor can decide if the development edit is the right service for you before asking you to commit financially to the assessment.
