Asia Jade
Editor★ 4.980 customer ratings129editing orders completed
Home / Book editing / Developmental Editing
Whole book feedbackDevelopmental Editing before you polish
Developmental editing reviews your book's structure, focus and fit for its intended audience before sentence polishing. TUW provides comments throughout your manuscript and a written assessment of the whole book.
Essential EditingI need someone to catch the errors.$2.30per 100 wordsLine EditingMy sentences don't read as clearly as I'd like.$2.70per 100 words
Post your project, then review the profiles of editors who request it. You choose who edits your manuscript.
Developmental EditingI'm not sure my book holds together.$3.10per 100 words
Post your project, then review the profiles of editors who request it. You choose who edits your manuscript.4.9/5Average customer rating for developmental editors
42,000+Completed orders involving our editors
24,000+Books written by TUW
What customers say about their feedback
Developmental editors average 4.9 out of 5 across 80 ratings from customers.
★★★★★
Excellent feedback/comments of my project! Gianna explained the steps between the writer and editor. Also, explained additional reviews if I wanted. Great to work with and would work with again for any of my future projects!
Steven P.Developmental Editing customer★★★★★
JM delivered exactly what we needed in a developmental edit—thorough, insightful, and unapologetically direct feedback that will absolutely strengthen the flow and value of this filmmaking career guide for readers. My client was impressed, and I really appreciated JM’s clear communication and punctual delivery. A total pro.
Darnah M.Developmental Editing customer★★★★★
Wonderful process! We're digesting all the feedback you gave us, and we're looking forward to working you in the future.
Katherine K.Developmental Editing customer★★★★★
Mabel was quick to look over my chart and give me constructive feedback. I will be continuing for the line edit with her. Thank you so much
MayBritt S.Developmental Editing customer★★★★★
Darby did excellent work. She provided very thoughtful feedback which will improve the quality of my manuscript. She was cooperative, timely, and pleasant. I have no complaints or reservations about using her services again in the future.
Meleney S.Developmental Editing customer★★★★★
Incredible work. Such an excellent communicator and talented developmental editor. Erin helped me restructure a mess of a book and provided terrific tips and guidance on making changes. I will be back again for sure!
Magen H.Developmental Editing customerFrom your draft to a clear assessment
Post a ProjectPost your project for free. Editors request to work with you, and you choose from their profiles. You'll see your price before paying.
1
Share your manuscript details
Add your word count, intended audience and themes so editors can understand your project.
Word count52,000
Standard price per 100 words$3.10
PostingFree
2
Choose your developmental editor
Editors request your project. Review their profiles, ratings and completed orders, then choose your editor.
3
Follow the manuscript comments
Your editor works in TUW's online document. You can chat with your editor on the platform.
This chapter will help you choose one commitment to remove from your week.
EditorConsider moving this promise earlier so readers understand the chapter's purpose.
4
Read your written assessment
Receive your commented manuscript and an assessment of the whole book to guide your next draft.
Structure
Audience fit
Suggested improvements
Choose who reads your whole book
Browse editorsBrowse editor profiles with ratings and completed orders before choosing your editor.
Mabel Gray
Editor★ 4.9147 customer ratings244editing orders completed
J Laz
Editor★ 4.988 customer ratings194editing orders completed
Erin Robertson
Editor★ 4.857 customer ratings92editing orders completed
Nathaniel Jarrow
Editor★ 4.957 customer ratings80editing orders completed
Gianna Francis
Editor★ 4.993 customer ratings169editing orders completed
Clementine Webb
Editor★ 4.9156 customer ratings424editing orders completed
Helen Harper
Editor★ 4.950 customer ratings78editing orders completed
Hilma Shaw
Editor★ 4.947 customer ratings226editing orders completed
Genevieve Wilcox
Editor★ 4.9394 customer ratings721editing orders completed
See what developmental feedback covers
Read the opening below, then follow the comments and assessment to see how an editor identifies larger issues.
Sample chapterThis excerpt, its comments and assessment were created for this page to show developmental editing coverage.
Chapter 4: Make Room in Your Week
The notebook I bought for planning had a green cover and thick pages. I chose it after comparing several others at the shop.1 At home, I cleared my desk, sharpened a pencil and wrote the days across the top. I liked how orderly the page looked before anything went on it.
As we discussed in the previous chapter2, writing down your commitments helps you see where your time goes. List your appointments, regular tasks and personal plans. Include the things you tend to forget until someone reminds you. Removing one commitment always makes the rest of your week manageable.3
If you manage a department, ask each team leader to submit a capacity report4 before your next planning meeting.
This chapter will help you choose one commitment to remove from your week.5 Start by looking for something you agreed to do without considering whether you had time.
Sample assessment
Lead with purpose
In this opening, the chapter's promise arrives after the notebook setup and a recap. Bring that promise forward, then keep the setup that helps readers understand how to choose a commitment to remove.
Keep readers consistent
The excerpt moves from personal planning to departmental reporting. Decide whether this chapter serves individuals or managers. If both belong, explain the connection and give each audience a clear place in the structure.
Develop the decision
The opening gives more space to preparing and listing than to choosing. Reduce repeated setup and develop the criteria for removing a commitment. Qualify the claim that one change always makes a week manageable.
Choose the editing your manuscript needs
| Copy editing and proofreadingEssential Editing | Line Editing | Developmental Editing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it fixes | Spelling, grammar, punctuation, typos and consistency | Flow, clarity, wording, copy editing and proofreading. | Comments throughout your manuscript plus a written assessment. |
| When to choose | Your manuscript needs cleanup | Your sentences need work | Your structure needs work |
| Per 100 words | $2.30 | $2.70 | $3.10 |
| 50,000 words | $1,150 | $1,350 | $1,550 |
Copy editing and proofreadingEssential Editing
- What it fixes
- Spelling, grammar, punctuation, typos and consistency
- When to choose
- Your manuscript needs cleanup
- Per 100 words
- $2.30
- 50,000 words
- $1,150
Line Editing
- What it fixes
- Flow, clarity, wording, copy editing and proofreading.
- When to choose
- Your sentences need work
- Per 100 words
- $2.70
- 50,000 words
- $1,350
Developmental Editing
- What it fixes
- Comments throughout your manuscript plus a written assessment.
- When to choose
- Your structure needs work
- Per 100 words
- $3.10
- 50,000 words
- $1,550
Compare developmental editing services
Compare the price, deliverables and typical timing together. Check each freelance offer to see exactly what it includes.
Freelance developmental editorTUW Developmental Editing
Price per wordFiction 3.0¢ to 3.5¢, nonfiction 4.0¢ to 5.0¢Standard 3.1¢ for fiction and nonfiction
What you getAssessment alone or assessment with manuscript commentsComments throughout your manuscript and a written assessment
Typical turnaroundTypically 4 to 8 weeksTypically about 11 days from order to assessment
Revision roundsCheck the individual offerNo revision round included
Rates: EFA 2026 rate chart. Freelance timing: industry guides. TUW timing: median of recent orders. Individual projects vary.
Get feedback before sentence polishing
Your fiction draft is complete
Get a developmental editor's view of your manuscript's organization, coherence and focus before you invest in sentence editing.
Your nonfiction needs a clearer structure
Find out where the order, section lengths or missing information could make your book harder for its intended audience to follow.
You need direction for another draft
Use comments throughout your manuscript and a whole book assessment to decide where to focus your own changes.
Move to sentence editing after your changes
Explore copy editing and proofreading →After a developmental edit and your manuscript changes, customers usually move to line or copy editing. TUW offers both, depending on how much sentence work your draft needs.
Choose the service for the work
- Choose a writing package for rewriting or adding material.
- Choose Line Editing for sentence flow, clarity and wording.
- Choose Essential Editing for copy editing and proofreading.
- Choose the formatting service for book formatting.
Choose your next step
Get developmental feedback
Post your manuscript details for free. Review the editors who request your project and choose who you'll work with.
Post a Project
Compare editing services
See how Developmental Editing, Line Editing and Essential Editing fit different stages of your manuscript.
Compare editingDevelopmental Editing$3.10
Line Editing$2.70
Essential Editing$2.30
Check the final details
Explore copy editing and proofreading for spelling, grammar, punctuation, typos and consistency.
Explore proofreadingEssential Editing
Common questions
What is developmental editing?
Developmental editing examines a book's larger structure, organization and coherence before sentence polishing. A developmental editor considers the intended audience, focus, completeness and balance between sections. The feedback helps you decide what to change in your next draft.
How much does a developmental edit cost?
TUW Developmental Editing costs $3.10 per 100 words at the standard rate or $2.80 per 100 words for Insider members. At the standard rate, a 50,000-word manuscript costs $1,550. Pricing follows your word count, and you'll see your price before paying.
What is the difference between developmental, line and copy editing?
Developmental editing reviews the whole book's structure, organization and focus. Line Editing improves sentence flow, clarity and wording, and includes copy editing and proofreading. Essential Editing covers copy editing and proofreading, including spelling, grammar, punctuation, typos and consistency. TUW Book Writing includes Essential Editing, while Developmental Editing is separate.
How long does developmental editing take?
TUW Developmental Editing typically takes about 11 days from order to assessment, based on the median of recent orders. Half of those orders took between 7 and 18 days. These figures describe past orders and do not promise a delivery date for your project.
What do I receive with developmental editing?
You receive comments throughout your manuscript and a written assessment of the whole book with feedback, improvements and suggestions. One developmental editor works on your manuscript in TUW's online document. You can chat with your editor on the platform.
Does developmental editing include revisions or tracked changes?
TUW Developmental Editing does not include tracked changes or a revision round. Your editor provides manuscript comments and a written assessment to guide the changes you make. Rewriting, adding material and sentence editing require separate services.
How does TUW's developmental editing price compare with freelance rates?
TUW's standard rate is 3.1 cents per word for fiction and nonfiction. The EFA 2026 rate chart lists typical freelance developmental editing rates of 3.0 to 3.5 cents per word for fiction and 4.0 to 5.0 cents for nonfiction. Compare deliverables alongside price, since freelance offers vary. TUW includes manuscript comments and a written assessment.
Give your next draft a clear direction
Post your project for free, choose your developmental editor and see your price before paying.