Developmental editing is the first — and most strategic — type of editing. It focuses on the big picture.
For non-fiction: it strengthens your ideas, flow, chapter order, and clarity.
For fiction: it sharpens plot, character arcs, pacing, and structure.
A developmental editor doesn’t fix grammar. They guide your book’s vision, helping you shape it into a clear, powerful experience for readers.
Think of it as the “architect” phase — building a solid foundation before refining the surface.