In my experience, most editors get their start in the profession through copyediting. This is the final stage in the editing process, and it focuses on polishing the manuscript (MS) at the word and sentence levels, prior to layout (typesetting). Commissioning and developmental editing are two higher-level (but not necessarily better) stages of editing that seek to guide the MS’s discourse and approach. And before these comes manuscript assessment (MA).
Some editors who are keen to get experience in developmental editing – otherwise also known as ‘structural editing’ and ‘substantive editing’ – say they aren’t interested in assessing manuscripts. In this post I highlight the value of the MA, for both author and editor, and explain why it is essential not to skip this stage of development for any MS.
A manuscript assessment is the first and most important step
in the development of a manuscript from the author’s draft.
It starts with your assessment of the manuscript
Regardless of your knowledge of the industry and genre, or your editing experience and expertise, if you’re going to provide an author with a critique of their work, the least you can do is to read the manuscript in its entirety to assess whether it is indeed ready for editing.
Editors who don’t want to undertake MAs tend to fall into one of two camps: (1) they are inexperienced or lack the confidence that they can do a good job, or (2) they prefer, for whatever reason, to get stuck into the MS.
In the case of the latter, the editor may be of the fix-it type of personality; someone who wants to get in there and make things ‘right’. This approach goes counter to the philosophy (and reality) that the role of the editor is to act in service, rather than instead of, the MS’s creator. Highly skilled editors know that there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ – there is only what works best for this author and this particular MS.
In the case of the former, well, there are ways to remedy that. Highly skilled editors were once novices, too. We have taken years and decades to hone our craft, often through long hours of sweat and tears, and with the support of mentors, coaches and supervisors.
What exactly is a manuscript assessment?
The MA is a report, usually 1000–3000 words, commissioned by the author/client to determine the readiness of a MS for publication (or editing). It provides an overview of the strengths and weaknesses of the MS, its readability and suitability for the target readership, discussion of major themes and messages in the narrative, and recommendations for improvement and next steps.
In a work of fiction, the MA might include discussion of narrative flow and pacing, and the effectiveness of dialogue, plot and character development, while the focus in assessment of non-fiction works might be on the structure and organisation of the MS, the author’s use of research and different options for presentation of complex information. The MA also considers the author’s writing style and their engagement with the subject matter. It may highlight specific areas for improvement, or it may recommend structural editing or copyediting to prepare the manuscript for submission or publication. Further editing or developmental work may be undertaken by the same editor or by a different editor.
Value and benefits – for the author
For the author or client, a MA is a strategic investment in the development of a work. Using the construction of a building as an analogy, the MA is like the client/architect (your author) commissioning a draftsperson to provide a detailed plan before they even set foot on the building site. Like the MA, such a plan sets out the technical and material designs, dimensions and procedures, and enables careful project planning, including the resources that will be needed to complete the building.
A MA can help the author envision their desired outcome for the MS, and to decide which of the editor’s recommendations they want to deal with themselves, and which they will outsource. The service is usually provided at a fixed price, so costs are clear and contained.
A MA is often the best first step for a novice author, but many experienced authors find it an excellent way to engage an expert in the early development of their work and, in the long term, in their writing skill/career.
Value and benefits – for the editor
It’s no fun receiving a MS to edit before it’s ready. Let’s face it: such MSs can be a true mess of words and ideas. There may be structural issues, or problems so entrenched in the narrative or plotlines that fixing one issue could result in myriad others down the line. Or there may be recurring problems that the author can – and should – fix prior to editing.
Of course, many editors are skilled in helping authors to unravel deep-seated problems in a developmental edit, but it does take considerable experience to do this well, and to do it straight off the bat. Costs cannot always be determined upfront because it’s impossible for the editor to anticipate the problems before they are knee-deep in the work.
Conducting a MA enables the editor to read and absorb the work before – and without – touching the MS. It encourages the editor’s creative engagement at an appropriate distance. By this I mean that the editor can remain at arm’s length from the work while offering advice and recommendations that empower the author to choose, and to implement, their own solutions.
Over the decades, among the most intellectually satisfying and rewarding projects for me have been those involving a MA first, in a process that enabled the author (or client) to consider and take on board my recommendations and then return with a much more polished revision for developmental editing or copyediting. In my view, this process results in a win–win: highly cost-effective for the author/client, and professionally rewarding for the editor.
How to become an adept DE
It takes time (years, decades) and effort to become proficient in developmental editing, particularly in the fiction genres. Starting with MA is an efficient, cost-effective, tried and true method to help you get there. Supportive training, coaching, mentoring and supervision can give you the edge.
