My developmental editing services for non-fiction book manuscripts (human or AI-written) are intensive reviews for big-picture elements, including the following:

  • Structure/order of content
  • Whether the book achieves what it sets out to (e.g., persuading the reader to purchase your product or establishing yourself as a thought leader in the industry)
  • Clarity, focus, flow and development of purpose or argument
  • Relevance, completeness and consistency of content/information
  • Suitability for the target audience
  • Voice and tone
  • Transitions between sections
  • Effective use of examples, evidence, case studies, insights and other supplementary material
  • Presentation of information (e.g. use of bullet points, tables, headings, paragraph structure)

Developmental editing is feedback-based. I won’t make changes directly to your manuscript. These services are designed to encourage you to develop and rework the manuscript where needed to produce the best possible version and give your readers a great experience.

Developmental editing packages

The Deep Dive

A comprehensive developmental editing service for non-fiction manuscripts.

I’ll assess your work as a whole, looking at structure, flow, coherence, clarity, tone and logic, to ensure your ideas are presented clearly and effectively.

You will receive in-text comments as well as a detailed editorial report summarising the manuscript’s strengths and weaknesses and offering practical suggestions for improvement.

BEST FOR: authors who want in-depth, big-picture feedback on early or developing drafts – especially those writing their first non-fiction book or aiming to self-publish with confidence.

WHEN SHOULD IT HAPPEN? The Deep Dive should take place before line editing, copyediting and proofreading.

INVESTMENT: £0.02 per word (£200 per 10,000 words).

Side Notes

A light, optional add-on to my hybrid line and copyediting services.

As I work through your manuscript, I’ll leave quick developmental comments where relevant – pointing out things like structural inconsistencies, unclear arguments or sections that could benefit from expansion or reorganisation. This isn’t a full developmental edit but rather a set of thoughtful nudges to help strengthen your content as I go.

BEST FOR: writers who want light-touch developmental insight alongside editing. This service is ideal if you’re mostly happy with your draft, but you have a feeling something isn’t quite right. I’ll give you the structural pointers you need to get the book over the finish line.

WHEN SHOULD IT HAPPEN? Purchase the Side Notes developmental feedback package as an add-on to my hybrid line editing and copyediting package.

INVESTMENT: £0.09 per word (£90 per 10,000 words). If your editing package does not include revisions, editing rewritten or new text is complimentary up to 1,000 words.

Developmental editing for AI-generated books

More and more writers are using AI to produce book manuscripts. The technology is a great solution for businesses, entrepreneurs and thought leaders who perhaps aren’t the best writers. What was once a skill gatekept – mostly to native English speakers – by education, experience and confidence is now available to everyone.

However, there’s a drawback. While AI can help get words on the page, the end result won’t necessarily do what you want it to or work the way you intended. Using AI doesn’t even guarantee that your readers will enjoy reading it or get anything from it.

Many AI-generated book manuscripts fall flat. Common issues include an inconsistent, poorly executed structure, inconsistent voice (or a voice that’s not your own), lack of persuasive flow, poor pacing, contradiction, repetition, over-exaggeration and underdeveloped ideas. When these problems litter your AI-generated manuscript, you could deter readers and harm your credibility as a company or individual.

If you’re not a writer, how can you be sure your book is actually working – building trust, making an argument or sparking action – rather than just filling space with grammatically correct sentences?

This is where getting a second, third and even fourth (as many as possible) opinion helps. Ask your colleagues, friends and family members to read the book and provide feedback. AI book generation isn’t a one-and-done kind of situation; it’s a collaborative, incremental process.

When you have gathered as many opinions as possible and have developed the book, it’s time for a developmental edit to take place.

FREE GUIDE:

Things to consider before publishing an AI-generated book

Get in touch

We’re a good fit if you care about your three Rs:

  • Reader
  • Reputation
  • Results

I can provide the insight and perspective you need to take your book from mediocre to extraordinary simply by unlocking the value that lies within you. My developmental feedback nudges you in the right direction, enabling you to take your manuscript to the next level.

Send me a message telling me your name, your book’s subject and title, what you hope the book will achieve, and some insight about your audience. Let’s get the ball rolling!