Developmental Editing Services
Have you completed a manuscript, but it’s not quite working?
Maybe you’ve shared it with readers, and they’ve complained about plot holes, pacing, unclear character motivations, or have come away confused.
Or maybe it doesn’t match the vision you had for it. You know it could be better, but you’re not sure how to take it to the next level.
I’m thorough, detailed, and I’ve spent the last 15+ years honing my writing and editing skills. I’ve put my own work through multiple rigorous rounds of beta reading and developmental edits, so I know what it feels like to be on the receiving end of critique. I also continue to develop my craft through courses, practice, and extensive reading.
My goal is to give writers the tools and information they need to strengthen their stories and make them the best they can be.
If you’ve hit snags, don’t know how to move forward, or are getting less-than-stellar feedback on your work-in-progress, it could be time to hire a developmental editor.
What Sets me Apart
I’m a writer with 15+ years of hard-won experience writing novels, short stories, and articles. I’ve developmentally edited a large range of work from fantasy and sci-fi novels to short story collections and nonfiction books. I’m passionate about story structure, dialogue, and character-driven narratives.
Thanks to my own novel-writing journey, I have on-the-ground knowledge of what kind of feedback is most helpful, practical, and constructive for writers.
I lead with curiosity and professionalism and focus on giving kind, honest, and on-point feedback.
Yvonne helped me take my book not to the next level, but to several levels above where I started! Thanks to the thoughtful feedback I received from her developmental edit, the story is more nuanced, the characters behave more realistically and display real emotion, the themes are clearer, and the action moves from start to finish in a more logical and appealing way. I learned writing and story structure skills that will help me throughout the rest of my writing career. From the start, I felt like Yvonne believed in me and my story, and that alone was worth a million bucks. Plus, she loves dogs. Thank you, Yvonne. (And please add me to your 2028 schedule for an edit on my next book!)
P. J. Rich, author of Dog on Course: A Tori & Nick Adventure, upper middle grade fiction (2026)
51 Orders
34 Clients
5-Star Rating
The first time I paid for a developmental edit on my work was eye-opening in the extreme, but it made a huge difference in my novel’s quality and the quality of the writing I’ve done since. My one wish was that I’d done it way sooner.
If you’re looking for someone to help you make sure your story pivots perfectly, catch inconsistencies, and make sure everything is clear, bright, and POPS off the page, you’ve come to the right place. But don’t just take my word for it! Check out my client testimonials and see what other writers have said about working with me.
Choosing an editor who gets your work is crucial. I can’t stress that enough. However, I’d love for you to consider me for the role.
Developmental Editing is for you if…
* You’re open to constructive feedback
* You are willing to edit your work
* You understand that editing is a subjective process and can evaluate the feedback to determine what fits your vision and what does not
* You know why you write and will persevere
Developmental Editing is NOT for you if…
* You’re looking for someone to tell you your work is perfect
* You’re not open to feedback
* You’re not willing to put in the effort to edit your work and implement feedback
* You want someone else to do the editing for you
What’s included
I will read your book, adding in-line comments to your document (with tracked-changes enabled) and write a detailed editor letter when finished.
My in-line comments:
* Include my reactions as a reader
* Identify what you do well
* Suggest improvements for clarity
* Offer examples of how to tighten your prose
* Comment on the story, plot, flow, point-of-view, pacing, tone, inconsistencies, characters, clichés, etc.
* Catch grammar mistakes/light proofreading
My editor letter may include:
* Story structure recommendations
* Pointing out plot holes and inconsistencies
* Suggestions to improve the readability, tone, point-of-view, and pacing.
* Suggestions to improve clarity, impact, and flow of prose
* Identification of character inconsistencies, on-the-nose dialogue, etc.
* Suggestions to correct clichés and other issues
* Advice, support, links, resources, & recommendations
Initial Process: Free Sample Edit and Discovery Call
Want to explore working together? Reach out to tell me about your book, including information about the genre and subgenres, wordcount, what you’re looking for in the process, and your goals for the book (self-publishing, traditional publishing, family project, etc). Include any questions you have for me.
Since it’s important to make sure we’re a good fit for each other, I offer a free sample edit on three pages of your manuscript. This will give you a little taste of my editing style, the kinds of comments I leave, and my bookside manner.
I’m also happy to hop on a discovery call so we can get to know each other, talk about your book, hear what you’re looking for, let you know how I might be able to help, and answer any questions you may have.
Costs and Turnaround Time
My base developmental editing rate for manuscripts is $0.025 per word (short projects have a different cost). Half the payment must be made in advance, the remainder upon receipt of the order. I prefer to receive payment through PayPal, but if that is a problem for you, let me know and we can come up with an alternative.
Turnaround time is typically two to six weeks depending on my availability and the length of your manuscript.
Estimate Your Developmental Edit Cost
Testimonials
Yvonne was incredibly thoughtful, detailed, and helpful in her feedback and suggestions. She delivered ahead of time on a tight timeline and exceeded my expectations with tailored recommendations and many brilliant considerations I hadn't yet thought of. My work is much better off for going through her careful review.
Jason D.
Travel/Sports Nonfiction, October 2025, Fiverr Review
It was such a pleasure getting to work with Yvonne! As a first-time author, she was incredibly helpful, patient, understanding, and so much more! I got amazing feedback from her, and her advice was nothing less than eye-opening. I would for sure recommend working with Yvonne, and I hope to do so again in the future!
Elah M.
Contemporary Young Adult Fiction, September 2025, Fiverr Review
I am unbelievably grateful for the help Yvonne provided me with. I am currently 16 years old and have been writing for as long as I can remember. I've wanted to publish my book for a while, but was scared to reach out to an editor. However, Yvonne has provided me with more than I could ever ask for. Kindness, graciousness, patience, and an unbelievable amount of help. This has taken my manuscript to another level, and I thank her so much! If you're in doubt, trust me, this is the place to go!
Pooja S.
Contemporary Young Adult Fiction, July 2025, Fiverr Review
Yvonne is a marvelous editor! This is the first book I’ve written, and I believe Yvonne’s editing will be very helpful to me in my journey to completion. She can point out issues and easily explain why and how they could be better, including suggestions! It’s hard to explain but Yvonne critiqued my book with such professionalism and caring that I felt she really wanted to help me improve my writing and my book. She was never harsh, always informative. I never once wanted to trash her comments, instead I was compelled to read them and learn from them. I thought she was masterful in her criticisms! Exactly what and how I wanted to hear from my editor. And she is my editor now! Give Yvonne a try you won’t be disappointed!
Dana F.
Author of The Secret of Sutter Island, a middle-grade dual timeline novel, January 2025, Fiverr Review
Yvonne’s attention to detail and her insightful feedback were invaluable. She not only provided detailed notes for each story but also offered suggestions that were both practical and enhancing. Her ability to understand and appreciate the essence of my writing while guiding me on how to refine it was impressive. As an advertising writer used to quick story resolutions, her advice on pacing and not overexplaining was particularly enlightening. I’m thrilled to have had her expertise and am excited to credit her as one of the editors in my book. Highly recommend Yvonne for anyone looking for a thoughtful and skilled editor who genuinely cares about your work!
Aníbal Q.
Author of Sin Preludio, a collection of love stories in Spanish, April 2024, Fiverr Review
Top-shelf work from a top-shelf editor. I couldn't be happier about Yvonne's superb suggested edits on a line level, and her developmental suggestions on a macro level. She's clearly a wizard at the craft of dramatic storytelling. Highly recommended!
Charles
Magical Realism, January 2024, Fiverr Review
Yvonne is the English Professor, Novelist, Grammar Guru, Editor, Writing Coach and Diplomat that any author would want on their side. Thank you so much for the in-line edits and suggestions and the developmental report telling me things I don't really want to hear . . . I'm going to undertake a rewrite and implement the changes you've suggested. I couldn't have reached the decision without your help.
Chris L.
Author of A Perfect Finish, a fiction novel, November 2022, Fiverr Review
I can't say enough about Yvonne! I could not have completed my memoir without her heart, her inspiration, and her encouragement to keep pushing through my emotions to make my story stronger each time. In my final task to complete and publish my memoir, I asked Yvonne to write my book blurb for Amazon and her words brought me to tears! Yvonne, thank you from the bottom of my heart for pouring into my story and treating it as if it were your own.
Crystal T.
Author of Faith Rewrote My Story, a memoir, August 2022, Fiverr Review
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if we're a good fit?
Please get in touch to tell me about your book, start the conversation, and explore working together. I offer a free sample edit to those writers seriously interested in working with me, and am happy to hop on a discovery call.
What genres do you read?
I read all age groups, from middle grade to young adult to adult including general fiction, fantasy, science fiction, self-help, and the occasional memoir or travelogue. I enjoy tales of friendship, adventure, and bravery. In non-fiction, I enjoy books that incorporate storytelling and narrative techniques, or teach me something new and fascinating about the world or myself.
Are there any genres you don't accept?
Horror, erotica, romance, and LGBTQ novels aren't my thing. Since I don't enjoy reading these genres, you'll be much better off finding an editor who loves them. Romance, mystery, and thrillers have very genre-specific beats, and while I enjoy these, I'm not an expert.
Why is developmental editing so expensive?
Developmental editing is a very time-consuming process. Every manuscript is different and requires an intelligent, thoughtful, and comprehensive approach. Not only do developmental editors leave in-line and embedded comments, they also write a report outlining key problems and recommending solutions. This takes time and thought!
How is developmental editing different from beta reading?
Beta readers can often tell when something isn't working in your book. Maybe they lost interest, they were confused, or a character didn't capture their interest. But they can't always say why they feel the way they do. Most can't say how to fix it, while a developmental editor aims to offer solutions.
Is my manuscript ready for a developmental edit?
Although I accept manuscripts at almost any stage, the more polished your work, the higher-level feedback I can give you. Unless you're completely stuck, I recommend doing at least 1 round of beta-reading and subsequent self-editing first. The better your manuscript, the better feedback a dev editor can offer (and the less $s you'll spend overall). Check out my developmental editing blog post series for more information on how to prepare, self-edit, find the right editor, and evaluate and implement feedback.
Explore Working with Me
Send an email to [contact at yvonnemcarthur dot com] to get the conversation started. When you reach out, please tell me about yourself and your book.
- What is the genre, subgenres, and word count?
- What is it about?
- Where are you at in the writing/editing process?
- What are you looking for in the editing process?
- What are your goals for your manuscript? (For example: traditional publishing, self-publishing, personal/family project.)
- Are there any trigger or content warnings I should know about?
- Did you use AI? How much and in what way?
- Are you interested in a sample edit and/or a discovery call?
- Any other questions you have for me!