What is Developmental Editing?

Purpose

What does the book aim to add to the world, and does it deliver on this aim? Is the argument persuasive? Is the scope of the project well-defined? Has the author identified their audience, and how their work will differ from what has already been done? To be effective, a book must have a clear sense of what it is, and is not, trying do.

Structure

Do chapters build on each other effectively, deepening the reader’s interest and investment as the book unfolds? Is the narrative framed well? Do the threads of narrative, context, and argument work well together? Is the pacing effectively managed throughout? What elements should be cut back or eliminated?

Voice

Has the writer found the right way to address the reader? Where does the writing feel engaging—and where is it straining, defensive, or dutiful? How can we build on the author’s strengths and avoid the off notes? Has the writer embraced their authority and found ways to guide the reader with confidence? Is the writer taking enough risks and finding ways to delight in their material? Is the voice a natural expression of the book’s purpose?

Potential

What is missing from the book? Are there characters or scenes or narrative beats that are absent or underdeveloped? Are there arguments which are missing, or missing steps? Have all the counterarguments and alternative perspectives been considered? Are there ideas or themes that could be explored in more depth? Will more context—historical or otherwise—bring more drama and clarity to the work?

At Verto, developmental editing helps our clients settle on a structure that allows their best material to thrive. It helps writers identify what is not yet on the page and solidify what the book wants to argue. It equips authors to write with authenticity, confidence, and personality.

To accomplish all this, we use a distinct approach. Often, our first step is a counterintuitive one: We encourage the writer to stop writing. This allows the author to take a step away from the manuscript and reflect, with our guidance, on what the book truly wants to be.

We then help the writer work toward this ideal version of the book through structured assignments that ask the writer to articulate, for themselves and us, the machinery and purpose of the book. (What is the argument? How do the chapters work together, and why? What is this character’s story arc? What are the meaningful turning points in this narrative? Who is the audience?) These assignments, which each take a few days to complete at most, are designed to help the writer break down the immense puzzle of writing a book into individual building blocks. These blocks, in turn, help us see how to construct (or reconstruct) the book into something sturdy and compelling.

We then return to the manuscript for a more traditional editing process. By drawing on the deep developmental work of the assignments, the writer will find that they can finish a strong draft much faster than they expected—and accomplish things that once felt out of reach. Ours is a unique method that has helped our authors win rave reviews and write national bestsellers.

Above all, our developmental editing is collaborative. We pride ourselves on serving as creative partners: asking questions, guiding, pushing, steering toward surprising takeaways. No matter what challenges you face, we will accompany you along the sometimes grueling—but also exhilarating—journey of sharing your ideas with the world.