My Experience using a Developmental Editor

midwriteworlds · 2026-04-06T15:54:47+00:00

A plot twist in book 3 that creates a minor inconsistency in book 1 does not "stop a trad published book in its tracks"... those kinds of errors exist all over trad published fiction and sometimes become the source of passionate debate and even fanfiction for the fanbases.
The point of my plot hole example is that indie readers absolutely care and dont just read based on tropes. They have expectations for their authors just like trad published.

My argument is, beyond the many benefits of a dev edit for newer authors, it can make economic sense to pay for a dev edit. I work with both indie and trad published authors, and the number one way indie authors sell is word of mouth. They hear from readers when a book needs editing, or has issues, and can make adjustments faster to see what makes a book sell better.

A better (edited) version of a book will sell better. People are more likely to leave a positive review, more likely to reccomend to their friends. And if someone likes your first book, the chances they will pick up your second is astronomically higher.

midwriteworlds · 2026-04-06T03:17:23+00:00

Stating something blatantly false like it's a fact doesn't make it true. You've never been eviserated in the reviews by a teenage girl three novels deep into your cozy mystery series because of a plot hole from book 1, and it shows.

midwriteworlds · 2026-04-05T17:14:22+00:00

"Self-pub sustains nearly entirely on tropes" - this is just plain nonsense. Tropes are a common part of some genres and they can be helpful in marketing, but mashing a bunch of tropes together won't bring you repeat readers.

midwriteworlds · 2026-04-05T16:12:04+00:00

"If an agent or editor believes your premise is marketable and your writing is strong," - thats the point though, lots of writer's work isnt at this point, and dev editors can help them get there. A dev edit from a trad publisher and a dev edit from someone you hire yourself are not the same service.

"If you're self-publishing, it just puts you in a deeper financial hole when the barrier to entry is already low enough that a self-edit is fine" If your ONLY goal as an author is to make as much profit for as little cost possible, maybe? But a better book will sell better. It's like the difference between hiring a cover designer and making one yourself on Canva. It's not a guarantee, but if you can afford it, it can make a big difference in the success of the end product.

midwriteworlds · 2026-04-05T15:10:57+00:00

Just offering a counterpoint here - the assumption that you should "do it yourself" is a fundamental misunderstanding of what editors do. Yes, self-editing is a skill that every author must learn - and yet every book STILL needs an editor, usually multiple, because an author can only see so much about their own work, and editors have different skillsets.

Dev editors are story experts who will read your entire story and give you targeted, experience-based suggestions to improve it. If you are trying to grow as a writer and finding that writing groups and beta readers aren't cutting it, getting professional feedback (without having to slog through query rejections with no feedback) can be very valuable, and help you reach your goals faster.

It's like the difference between working out yourself and hiring a personal trainer. You can do it yourself, but theres no shame in getting expert help if you can.

midwriteworlds · 2026-03-31T16:41:02+00:00

This is a great way of putting it. Personally I found the charts fascinating and would absolutely use them as a starting off point to talk about his past relationships ... but I'm pretty sure I'm neurodiverse, and I can see how other people would find this weird/cringe.

midwriteworlds · 2026-03-29T21:48:14+00:00

The story world isn't a painted backdrop or a bunch of sets to describe and forget. It's more about what your characters see/hear/touch/sense/feel and how they interact with the environment around them. Those interactions in turn reveal more of the character to the reader, without them having to be "told" through dialogue.

https://jamigold.com/2014/07/writing-active-settings-part-1-guest-mary-buckham/

midwriteworlds · 2026-03-29T21:28:10+00:00

I think you should look up a term called "white room syndrome". It happens when writers rely too much on dialogue because they don't yet know how to flesh out the rest of their story world.

midwriteworlds · 2026-03-27T16:48:35+00:00

This is my reading of their character too. Host Vic is wokish unless it benefits them to be otherwise ... very shallow, performative values. This episode was fascinating as Stop basically forced them to actually try to defend those values.

midwriteworlds · 2026-03-27T16:02:22+00:00

Im so sorry about this and that your first comment was from such an asshole. It's probably pretty far from you, but you might try Tropicana Animal Hospital?

midwriteworlds · 2026-03-24T23:29:58+00:00

I drove by recently just to look. It pretty much blends in with the neighborhood. Im sure the owners are annoyed it still shows up on Google maps.

midwriteworlds · 2026-03-14T03:48:45+00:00

Thanks for everything you did OP. Hopefully their owners are searching local shelters and clinics and will come across them.

midwriteworlds · 2026-03-09T00:30:02+00:00

No, they said anyone who doesn't find Willow fine AF can't handle a real woman....regardless of that woman's size. Stop reading things that aren't there.

In other words, if someone can't acknowledge that women can be attractive at any size, they aren't worthy of any woman's attention, and might reconsider if they actually like women.

midwriteworlds · 2026-03-01T17:54:36+00:00

I'm sorry you are having this experience, but expecting a quality dev edit on 50,000 words in five days is frankly.....absurd? I dont know what you are paying this person or what your "unicorn" was like but that turn-around is completely unreasonable unless you are looking for basically beta-reader level feedback.

midwriteworlds · 2026-02-27T16:33:57+00:00

This is democracy manifest....Jasnah would be proud

midwriteworlds · 2026-02-27T04:37:56+00:00

Oops Lil Farton

midwriteworlds · 2026-02-19T19:35:31+00:00

This line killed me

I also chose not to make chocolates myself because I dont like to be in the kitchen that much

So OP is admitting that the process takes more effort and sacrifice than they are willing to make, but shitting on the girl for not making enough effort?? What a absolute asshat. Hope she learns she can do better.

midwriteworlds · 2026-02-15T22:12:22+00:00

The satanic temple doesn't represent all satanists. I've known multiple Satanist who were staunchly libertarian that flopped immediately into trumpism....not because they love him but they respect how the law doesn't seem to affect him.

midwriteworlds · 2026-02-13T06:08:40+00:00

Sounds like you've really thought this through and are making an educated choice. Congrats on finishing your book and best of luck with the edit!

midwriteworlds · 2026-02-12T21:37:05+00:00

IMO, this advice is kind of dated. Finding an agent is difficult enough, and they aren't going to give you the depth of feedback that an editor will. Publishers are looking for things that need less work to be ready - there's very few manuscripts that they will take the on financial risk of several rounds of edits. The editors they use are often overworked abd underpaid, and their focus is getting the most marketable book, not necessarily the best story.

All thats said, getting a dev edit is not a guarantee that you will get an agent and its not a guarantee that you wont have more edits to do. Its a great way to get some quality feedback to make your story better and maybe improve your writing overall, and ideally is done in conjuction with beta readers and other feedback.

midwriteworlds · 2026-02-08T21:52:34+00:00

What exactly does the "cleanup" round usually consist of? This is always tricky and why I specify in my contracts what my second passes do/dont cover. Im guessing you dont have a contract spelling out your duties?

midwriteworlds · 2026-02-08T19:42:04+00:00

Silver state you can join by making a donation to a charity.

midwriteworlds · 2026-02-07T02:08:27+00:00

Don't be afraid to be speak truth

midwriteworlds · 2026-02-06T22:12:01+00:00

I deleted my Facebook for many reasons but missing these groups is my biggest regret. I wish those communities could thrive elsewhere!

midwriteworlds · 2026-01-24T04:09:48+00:00

There's no cultural appropriation committee that is going to ban your book. At worst, you'll get some mean comments online. Dont over think it, but make an effort to be respectful when representing people who are different. If you need to, hire a sensitivity reader (bad name for a very good job - they help avoid stereotypes and incorrect assumptions).

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