“Writing is more than putting words on paper. It’s a delicate art of weaving stories and lives between the pages.” – Denise McGrail
Developmental Editing
Your Story Is Waiting.
Let’s bring it to life.
Professional developmental editing for authors, memoirists, and entrepreneurs.
Hiring a developmental editor doesn’t mean you can’t write.
Actually, developmental editing is one of the most crucial (yet often overlooked!) steps in the publishing process, especially for self-published authors.
When you’re planning your book editing budget, a developmental edit is essential before moving on to the copy editing stage.
At Ghostwriting Solutions STL, we help authors refine their message (non-fiction) and create compelling, emotional stories (fiction).
Here are some reasons you might need a developmental edit.
Your message is lost
You’ve suddenly forgot what your message is or the story you’re telling and need help getting back on track.
You’re stuck rewriting
It seems like you’ve been writing your book forever and making little progress toward finishing a first draft.
Beta readers are confused
Your story isn’t landing with your beta readers. They’re having trouble following the story or getting the message.
These are not unfixable problems and they happen for many reasons whether you’re a first-time author or a seasoned writer. A developmental edit can get you back on track.
What Is Developmental Editing?
It’s the complete manuscript overhaul you need!
Developmental editing looks at your book as a whole, not line by line like copy editing. It asks the big questions: Does the story flow? Does the message land? Will a reader stay with this from page one to the end?
Developmental editing includes:
- Overall structure & organization
- Narrative arc & pacing
- Voice & point-of-view analysis
- Clarity of message & theme
- Reader experience & flow
It does NOT include:
- Line editing
- Copyediting
- Grammar & punctuation fixes
- Proofreading
- Formatting
Everything in Our Developmental Editing Package
Manuscript Review
A thorough read-through of your full manuscript followed by a detailed editorial letter covering structure, arc, pacing, and overall strengths and opportunities.
Editorial Support
A video call to walk through the manuscript assessment together, answer your questions about mark-ups, and make sure you have a clear revision roadmap before you dive back into your manuscript.
Revision Support
After you make revisions to your manuscript, we do a second pass to confirm the changes you’ve made are landing and your manuscript is moving in the right direction.
Our services are for all kinds of writers, but the writers we work the most with include:
First-time Authors
You’ve finally written your the book you’ve been dreaming about. We help you polish it and get ready for publishing.
Entrepreneurs
We transform your BIG idea into a bestselling book that promotes your business and gives you another income stream.
Memoir Writers
We help you create a compelling memoir with a strong through-line and powerful message that will resonate with readers.
Denise’s feedback was both insightful and practical. She pinpointed what was working, identified areas for improvement, and backed it up with clear examples that helped me elevate my writing. I walked away with a stronger manuscript and a clearer sense of how to improve my skills.
Developmental editing pricing reflects the expertise of our professional developmental editors and gives you the confidence you need to publish and promote your book.
Sample Edit
$200
First 50 pages
MOST POPULAR
Full Manuscript Edit
Custom
based on word count
Best value!
Manuscript Review
$500
Manuscript review only. No markups. No revisions.
Common Questions
How is developmental editing different from copyediting?
Developmental editing looks at the big picture, including structure, arc, pacing, and clarity. Copyediting focuses on grammar, style, and consistency at the sentence level. Developmental editing ALWAYS comes first.
Does my manuscript need to be finished before I hire a developmental editor?
Yes. Developmental editing works best on a complete draft. If you’re still writing, our book coaching service may be a better fit right now.
How long does developmental editing take?
Turnaround depends on your manuscript’s length and our current availability. Most full manuscripts take 3–6 weeks. We’ll give you a clear timeline during your free consultation.
When should I schedule my consultation?
We work with authors who are ready to begin their projects within 2-4 weeks. We ask for serious inquiries only when scheduling a consultation.
Our custom prices range from $2000-$4000 and are in line with industry standards. Please keep this in mind when submitting an inquiry to ensure your budget matches the services offered.
READY TO MAKE YOUR BOOK UNPUTDOWNABLE?
Your draft deserves more than a spell check. Let’s dig into the big picture together and turn your manuscript into the book it was always meant to be.