The Editor's Half Hour Developmental Editing for World-Building
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Jul 1, 2025 In this enlightening discussion, Andrew Hodges, a developmental editor and cultural anthropologist, delves into the critical role editors play in shaping fictional worlds, particularly in speculative fiction. He shares insights on the balance between guiding world-building and preserving a writer's creative vision. Andrew tackles common mistakes in crafting new worlds and emphasizes the importance of nuanced cultural representations. He also offers practical tools and frameworks for managing complex worlds, making the editing process intentional and story-driven.
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Anthropology Shaped His Editing Path
- Andrew describes his decade as a cultural anthropologist and PhD research in Serbia and Croatia.
- His ethnographic work with astrophysicists, queer football fans, and language activists shaped his editorial perspective.
Publishing Sparked Editorial Curiosity
- Andy recounts how publishing his anthropology books exposed him to editorial craft and copyediting precision.
- That exposure motivated his shift from academia into editorial work focused on writing and craft.
Keep Developmental And Line Editing Distinct
- Separate developmental edits from line edits on fiction and avoid rewriting the author's voice without permission.
- Use an initial critique and editorial report, then suggest structural changes rather than making them directly in fiction.
