Developmental Editing

Developmental editing and you

A book needing developmental editing has more direct input from the author of record than does a ghostwritten book, but the line between ghostwriting and developmental editing can be blurry.

For developmental editing you, the author, have expressed the points for your book and have backed them up with illustrations, evidence, or whatever support tools you have chosen. Now you may see that your book is too long or too short. You may be troubled by a writing style that you know needs to be modified so that your text reads strong and clear, but you just don't have the time or know-how to do that. Your book may be a bit confusing, even to you, and you need someone to organize it chapter by chapter, even paragraph by paragraph, and restructure or rewrite sentences and paragraphs throughout the manuscript. Any of these situations calls for developmental editing.

Rates are lower for developmental editing than for ghostwriting, although the range of prices that editors charge for their services is so wide that it's easy to find a writer who will ghost a book for considerably less than you would pay to hire another writer for developmental editing. Think of it this way: A good developmental editor can cost more than a bad ghost. There are bargains, like finding a highly skilled editor who is semi-retired and getting choosy about projects or a talented younger writer starting out and eager to build an impressive resume.

Nevertheless, keep in mind that you are buying an abstract service that is difficult to evaluate before you're deep into the project. Your best protection from disappointment when choosing a developmental editor is to obtain references from at least one satisfied author and to be sure your written agreement contains an escape clause in case things don't work out.

If you'd like to know more about our developmental editing services, our information packet is available online as a pdf file. Study this information and when you're ready for a proposal, complete the pdf request for proposal form available online and included in the packet. Send it to Griffith Publishing, PO Box 247, Caldwell, ID 83606, or call us at 208 454-9553 with the required information.

Here's what we we need to start work on your book:

A signed written agreement we will send you
Your manuscript, preferably in Word
Any illustrations you want in your book, with instructions about where they should be placed
Initial payment as required by the written agreement

We'd like to talk to you before you send us your book so that we can talk about your plans for the book and let you know if we can meet your production schedule and other requirements. We cannot accept the book if we feel the content is too raw or our schedule is too tight for us to handle, and we'd like to let you know that before you send the manuscript to us. Be sure to call us at 800 359-9503 to discuss your book.

For more information online, click on the link below that will take you to pages explaining other levels of service or find out more about self-publishing from the topics on the right and left sides of this page.

Ready to go. Your book has been written but needs editing and design support as well as printing and binding. Go to Production.
Developmental editing needed. Your book needs heavy (developmental) editing as well as design and production services. Go to Developmental Editing.
Need a ghost. You have plenty of information but don't have the time or writing skills you need to put the book together. Go to Ghostwriting.
Idea only. You have an idea but need an expert to help you formulate it, back it up with information, and ready it for publication. Go to Book Development.
Need a coach. You want to put the book together yourself but need professional coaching to get you through the process. Go to Book Coaching.
Graphic Design. Your book needs heavy input from a graphic designer. Go to Graphic Design.
Other publishing projects. Newsletters, technical manuals, CD or DVD, book reproduction, online publishing. Go to Other Publishing Projects.

Are you a learner? If you want to learn all you can about self publishing, go to the links on the left or right columns of this page.

Let us hear from you. Everything we've learned about self-publishing we've learned from you, the energetic authors who make our work so interesting and rewarding. Call us at
800 359-9503 or 208 454-9553. Send us email at hodi@mindspring.com. Let's talk.

With Griffith Publishing it's a better book. Call us today!
800 359-9503.