![]() If the overall reaction is less positive, you may benefit more from a manuscript critique, which will tell you in broad language what isn’t working and why. If the overall reaction is positive, you may be ready for developmental editing. You could get a general sense of how strong the novel already is with honed beta reader feedback. In other words, an ideal beta reader should understand if something is a plot flaw and why, rather than provide vague feedback such as: “I just didn’t really like this part” (though this is useful feedback, too). You need to find a community of readers who are a) well-read in, and fans of, your genre, and b) familiar enough with the craft of writing to tell you how their opinions on your story are formed. Why not just have a manuscript critique?Ī way to help you determine whether you want to go straight to developmental editing or begin with a critique would be to start out by asking a handful of beta readers their thoughts. ![]() So again, the question isn’t should your book be developmentally edited, but how much can it be improved? The second, though no less crucial, question to ask yourself is: Are you willing and do you have the time/energy/money to implement the changes, large or small, that will improve it? A developmental edit is appropriate for authors who have a surplus of these four things: willingness, time, and energy to redraft, and the money to hire an editor. No book will be loved by all, so the first rule of Beta Club is: Don’t try to fix everything your readers don’t like. (Every reader will have different preferences, and not every reader will like something that is perfectly suited to the story itself. Not every “except” is something that needs to change, and an editor can also help you figure these out. Many authors get feedback from friends and beta readers who will tell them how much they enjoyed a novel, “except…” That “except” is what an editor will help you focus on and suggest options for improvement. A developmental editor will work with you to identify and improve those areas. The newer to writing you are, the more of these there might be. The truth is, every book has flaws or areas that could be stronger, more supported, better written, or even removed for the overall story’s sake. The actual question an author should ask themselves and their editor is: How much will my book be improved by developmental editing (also known as content editing)? “Need” is a word that implies your book will not sell a single copy unless it has been written to the highest literary standards (which, of course, are subjective to some degree). Here’s a question I get from a lot of new writers. Does my novel need developmental editing?
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |