The Role of a Developmental Editor

A developmental editor is like a midwife, helping the writer give birth to their story. They guide the writer through their chosen story field, ensuring that the global movement of the story is compelling and abides by the conventions and obligatory scenes of the genre. The editor focuses on the big picture and the micro level, checking scenes and the overall story for coherence, structure, and adherence to storytelling principles. The goal is to help the writer achieve a working first draft that has a clear beginning, middle, and end, and meets the requirements of the chosen genre. The editor's role is to provide guidance, offer suggestions, and help the writer find their true story while respecting the writer's creative autonomy.