Most people think of editing as revising what a writer writes. That is true. However, there are many types of editing including technical editing, copy editing, and developmental editing (also known as content editing).
WHAT IS DEVELOPMENTAL EDITING?
Just what does a developmental editor do?
After the writer has completed a final draft of a document, the developmental editor takes over. His or her primary job is to give the piece a cohesive feel. The tone, word usage, and style should be consistent. This is particularly important if a developmental editor is working on a series of pieces or a set of documents. They should all have the “look and feel” and the voice of a single writer. Uniformity and consistency are very important.
Developmental editing is the very highest level of editing. Developmental editing helps you develop every aspect of a book, article or report.
Developmental editing is very invasive. But it is ideal for writers who really want to see how to develop their writing and weed out both major and minor issues. In a developmental edit, your editor leaves no stone unturned and gives you the full benefit of his/her experience and expertise. When an editor looks so intensively at your writing, it's a recipe for a piece of writing you'll be proud of.
Developmental editing is the very highest level of editing. Developmental editing helps you develop every aspect of a book, article or report.
HOW DEVELOPMENTAL EDITING WORKS
When the editor performs the developmental edit, he/she works through the piece of writing sentence by sentence, working to develop all aspects of the piece including a strong introduction and conclusion. This is the case no matter how short or long the piece of writing is. He/she looks at content, structure and overall writing style. The editor may have questions for the author and wants to assure that the final product reflects the writer’s intentions and writing style.
For a larger piece, such as a book or article, the author works through the first edit and then makes revisions and responds to questions. The editor then checks the author’s revisions, developing new text as required.
The developmental editor should be a different person than a proofreader. A proofreader is the final checker in the writing process. He or she looks for typos, punctuation errors, and grammatical inconsistencies that may not have been caught.
Again, it is important to emphasize that the developmental editor’s job is to ensure uniformity in any writing, creating a cohesive piece that has a consistent “look and feel.”
It is rare for an organization to have a developmental editor in-house. Someone with a different skill set may volunteer to do the job, but it will never be as good as when it is done by a professional.
It is rare for an organization to have a developmental editor in-house. Someone with a different skill set may volunteer to do the job, but it will never be as good as when it is done by a professional.
