Developmental Editing: Perfect your Manuscript – Jericho Writers
Jericho Writers
167-169 Great Portland street, 5th Floor, London, W1W 5PF
UK: +44 (0)330 043 0150
US: +1 (646) 974 9060

Developmental Editing

Our Developmental Editing Service provides the same level of rigour you would get from a Big-Five publishing house.

Developmental Editing


A Developmental Edit gives you the detailed, structural report of a manuscript assessment but on a deeper, more in-depth level. Explore the differences between both services here.

With this service, you’ll receive the same level of editorial rigour you’d expect from a Big-Five publishing house.

You’ll receive line-by-line comments throughout your manuscript with in-depth, actionable feedback from your developmental editor. You’ll also have the chance to discuss your work and get advice on your next steps in an hour-long phone call with them.

Undertaking a developmental edit will get your work into the best possible shape to submit to agents or to self-publish, and you’ll get to experience the process of working with a professional editor.

Purchase your developmental edit here

Please note, during busy periods turnaround times may be extended.

£473.00

Developmental Editing

Get a 3,500 word editorial report* and a marked-up copy of your manuscript
Including a one-hour follow up with your editor
An estimated 6 week turnaround
Premium Members receive 10% discount

*For 0-60,000- word manuscript, the report will be no less than 2,500 words. For 60,000-word + manuscripts, the report will be a minimum of 3,500 words.  For 100,000-word + manuscripts, the report will be a minimum of 4,000 words.

Compare Similar Editing Services

Compare our Manuscript Evaluation, which is suitable for all, with our premium Developmental Editing service, which is best for those with more polished drafts.

Manuscript AssessmentDevelopmental Editing
PriceFrom £395 (10% discount for Premium Members)From £473 (10% discount for Premium Members)
Full editorial report
In-text comments
Short email follow-up
1 hour follow-up
Suitable for first drafts
Suitable for later drafts
2-4 week turnaround*
6 week turnaround*
View serviceView service
*Please note that turnaround times may be extended during busy periods
I’m so glad I found Jericho Writers. I had been looking for developmental editing on my manuscript and found the very, very best.
Claire W

Could you be our next success story?

We’ve helped hundreds of writers like you get published. Many of our clients have gone on to win prizes, become bestsellers, get film deals, achieve huge global sales, and more. Now it’s your turn.

Frequently asked
questions

1

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.

2

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.

3

How do you choose the editor?

We match manuscripts based on over 20 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.  

4

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’ll do our best to place you with your preferred editors).

5

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!

6

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. The writing process is a long one, so whether it’s line editing or copy-editing, or something on a larger scale, like a manuscript evaluation or developmental edit, we have the service for you. 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.

7

How and when do I submit my manuscript?

After purchase, we’ll invite you to upload your full manuscript via our online submission form. Once we’ve received your submission, we’ll get back to you as soon as we’ve matched your work up with the right developmental editor.

8

How do I know if a developmental edit is the right choice for my manuscript?

We recommend our developmental editing service 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 one of our developmental editors. 
  • 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.   
9

What does a developmental editor work on?

The developmental editing process looks at both the broad and the small aspects of a manuscript. Your professional developmental editor will write a long written report containing structural commentary that looks at the big picture elements of your story, such as themes, characterisation, and your narrative arc. Developmental editing involves the more minute details too (like sentence structure, unclear dialogue, and grammar), and our freelance developmental editors provide page-by-page feedback along with annotations on the manuscript itself.

10

What is the difference between substantive and developmental editing?

Developmental editing is also called substantive editing, and the two services are now generally considered to be one and the same. Though this hasn’t always been the case. While developmental editors focus on both large and small scale edits, substantive editors have traditionally dealt with improvements made at the scene, paragraph, and sentence levels. However, the terms are now largely used interchangeably, with both offering enhancements that can be made on a small and a large scale.