Manuscript Evaluation versus Developmental Edit

A story only works if certain fundamental principles are in play. Stories always start off as an idea, but a reader can only enjoy a story if that idea has been transformed into a concept. From there, major storytelling elements have to work together in such a way that your reader is hooked from beginning to the end.

How do you know if your story passes muster? How do you know which storytelling elements need strengthening and how do you know what areas of your story are rockin’-and-rollin’?

A Manuscript Evaluation or a Developmental Edit can provide you valuable answers and guidance on where your story stands currently, and what you need to do to take it to the next level.

While the two services cover much of the same territory, the difference lies in comprehensiveness, time, and cost. This blog post will go through the similarities and the differences between a Manuscript Evaluation and a Developmental Edit and how you’ll be able to decide which service is right for you.

Let’s hop to it!

FROM STORY IDEA TO STORY CONCEPT

Ideas are the seed of your story. They can range anywhere from simple to complex, from generic to concrete. All ideas have the potential to becomes stories, but ideas must be transformed into concepts to be sure you have “enough story” to tell.

For example, you might be interested in writing a story about a young man who fights in the Civil War. That’s an idea that has potential, but there isn’t enough in those nine words to grab the reader by the shoulders and pull them in. Until you add some dramatic tension and give us a reason to care about your character, all you have is a writing prompt.

An effective story is about a protagonist with a problem and a quest to solve that problem. The quest is not easy, and there is something dear at stake. A reader is drawn into this quest, rooting on the protagonist, because of the emotional connection they feel toward the protagonist. Once you add all that juice, you are beginning the transformation of an idea into a concept.

Here’s one way to turn the above story idea into a concept:

My story concept is about a Confederate soldier who fights in the Civil War and falls in love with a girl who is a spy for the Underground Railroad.

In this example, you have dramatic tension with a promise for some interpersonal, emotional conflict. Now you have a strong enough foundation to develop an engaging and compelling story.

An examination of your concept is one of the first steps taken in a Manuscript Evaluation and a Developmental Edit.

The Similarities Between a Manuscript Evaluation and a Developmental Edit

Both services involve reading the entire manuscript, and both services focus on the big-picture storytelling elements such as concept, structure, voice, character development, organization of story events, showing versus telling, among others.

Both services include comments in the margins (I use MS Word track changes feature), an editorial letter summarizing my findings, and a follow-up Zoom call.

Note: I follow the principles of three-act structure for commercial fiction in all of my coaching and editing services. You can expect suggestions for improvement, including feedback on genre conventions, audience expectations, and general storytelling standards, based on these principles.

WHAT IS A MANUSCRIPT EVALUATION?

This service is the best fit for writers who might ask: I just finished the first draft of my story. Now what?

A Manuscript Evaluation is intended to provide generalized feedback on big-picture areas to help you understand what shape your story is in, what aspects work, and what you need to improve upon. This is more of a broad overview of your story, although I usually ask a few specific questions to help underscore the big-picture feedback. I’ll provide illustrative examples from key areas of your manuscript to highlight the bigger issues in your manuscript.

TIP: If you’re still working on your story and you haven’t quite completed a full draft, then it’s too early for a Manuscript Evaluation. However, if one of the reasons you haven’t finished is because you’re stuck, then you may benefit from personalized coaching. You can read about that service HERE.

The Evaluation covers big-picture areas by asking fundamental questions:

-What is your story premise? Can you distill it to a single sentence?

-What is your genre and are you following genre conventions?

-Does the writing fit the chosen genre?

-Do you have a clear beginning, middle, and end?

-Is your main character obvious and do we understand their story goal?

-Are your transitions between time and place clear?

-Does the reader care about your main character?

-…and the list goes on!

WHAT IS A DEVELOPMENTAL EDIT?

This service is the best fit for writers who might ask: Do I have a story in play?

All stories are worth telling, but the tricky part is whether you have a story unfolding upon your 300 or so pages that keeps your readers turning the page and wanting to know what happens next.

I apply the same questions from a Manuscript Evaluation, but I dig deeper in those questions in a Developmental Edit and get very specific in my questions, suggestions, and overall notes:

-What is the story hook and is it strong enough to engage me in the bigger story that’s about to unfold? Why or why not?

-Is your genre evident throughout the story? Anytime I see a scene where I feel pulled out of the story, I’ll flag it.

-Is the story question plausible? Why or why not?

-Are the characters’ motivations relatable? Why or why not?

-Where can emotion be injected? I’ll flag the areas where I feel disconnected emotionally.

-Does the narrative voice remain consistent across the story? I’ll flag the areas that slip.

-Does the story conflict escalate? I’ll flag the areas that could use more oomph and explain why.

-Are the problems and solutions too easy or predictable? I’ll flag all areas that could be made more complicated or where twists/surprises could be added.

-Are the stakes high enough to make me worry about the characters? If I start feeling too comfortable with what’s happening on the page, I’ll mark it.

-Why is the main character pursuing their story goal? If I start losing track of what this story is about, I’ll make notes accordingly.

-How does the pacing align with the story events? Where are there mismatches?

-Are story events told in scene or exposition? I’ll note any place where I feel there’s more telling than showing.

-Are the characters original or plastic? Do we care about what happens to them? Where are the disconnects?

-Are there troubling shifts in POV, and is the POV used the best choice?

-How do the settings add to the conflict and emotion?

-…and the list goes on, including plenty of questions that are specific to your particular story world.

Note: I do not reshape or change your manuscript in a developmental edit. I will make concrete suggestions about moving chapters around or cutting certain scenes or adding various elements, and explain my reasonings, but I will not actively cut or change anything.

The reason for this is because YOU are the author. You have final say on anything that I suggest. For me to go ahead and move, cut, change anything without your permission would be disrespectful to the fact you’re the owner. You should have the opportunity to review my feedback, decide how and what to revise based on my feedback, and make the final decision.

There is an option to have me re-read the document after changes are made, and I offer a discount on the standard DE price.

WHAT SERVICE IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

A Manuscript Evaluation is less expensive than a Developmental Edit, takes less time to turn-around, but it’s also less thorough.

Maybe you’re more curious about how your manuscript reads? Maybe you’re still making decisions about how to end your story? Perhaps you haven’t quite nailed down your antagonist? A Manuscript Evaluation is your best bet if you’re still exploring big-picture aspects of your story and some important decisions still need to be fleshed out. It’s also a great service to choose if you aren’t worried about a significant deadline and you want to take the extra steps to get your story-ducks in a row.

If you’re ready to make significant changes to your draft and you’re ready to collaborate with someone who wants to help you turn out the best story possible, then choose the Developmental Edit. This service assumes the author has finalized all the big-picture decisions such as character development, structure, tone, narrative tense, etc, and is ready to see if those decisions are rockin’-and-rollin’. Often, a Developmental Edit will require some back-and-forth emails throughout the process, especially if, in the midst of the project, significant issues emerge.

Check out my Work With Me Page to get more information, including which services might be unavailable, and guidelines for submitting your work to me.

If you’re unsure about which service is right for you, then hop on a free consultation call with me, and we can figure out the best service for you. It’s also possible that you aren’t ready for an editing service at all, and that you may benefit from coaching. All of this can be determined on a consultation call.

Note: If an author signs up for a Developmental Edit, and it becomes clear to me that the manuscript isn’t quite ready for such an in-depth job, I’ll notify the author and suggest we make the switch to a Manuscript Evaluation. The vice-versa scenario is also true; if an author requests a M.E, and it’s clear the draft is beyond that stage, I’ll contact the author and point them toward the service that would best fit their needs.