M F ALFREY

Before the line edit, copy edit and proofread stages there are potentially three initial phases: the alpha read, the beta read, and the first editing stage also known as the developmental edit. For a piece of fiction, these earlier stages tend to be focused at a more macro level of analysis. In this post we focus on the developmental edit.

What it is

This stage is aimed at developing and refining the story to achieve the author’s creative and publishing goals and the editor should have their reader-writer-editor hat on. Typically, an editor will be knowledgeable of the craft and will be familiar with the genre and style the manuscript is presented in. Unlike a beta read, the developmental read takes a more technical approach to story, character, plot, setting and worldbuilding, and point of view whilst holding in mind the target audience. The editor will consider what works from a technical standpoint and also what communicates the author’s overall vision effectively to the intended readership. Typically, this stage is performed on a completed draft.

What it is not

As with the alpha and beta read stages, the developmental edit is not about grammar, spelling or punctuation. Rather, the focus is on believability, clarity, and execution. This is because, like with the alpha read, the story is still subject to revisions and perhaps even re-writes—so any grammar, spelling or punctuation corrections would be wasted time at this juncture of the story’s journey.

What the author gets

Generally, the developmental edit provides the author with comments and observations designed to inform them about what is being communicated clearly and what is not. Ultimately, it shows the author, who is super close to the story, if the essentials are clear to someone who is not privy to the full backstory, worldbuilding and lore. In other words, when a writer knows a story so deeply, it is easy for them to overlook where assumed knowledge causes an information gap between author and reader.

Further Reading