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Developmental Editing: A Handbook for Freelancers, Authors, and Publishers (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing) Paperback – November 30, 2011

by Scott Norton (Author)

Editing is a tricky business. It requires analytical flair and creative panache, the patience of a saint and the vision of a writer. Transforming a manuscript into a book that edifies, inspires, and sells? That’s the job of the developmental editor, whose desk is the first stop for many manuscripts on the road to bookdom—a route ably mapped out in the pages of Developmental Editing.

Author Scott Norton has worked with a diverse range of authors, editors, and publishers, and his handbook provides an approach to developmental editing that is logical, collaborative, humorous, and realistic. He starts with the core tasks of shaping the proposal, finding the hook, and building the narrative or argument, and then turns to the hard work of executing the plan and establishing a style.

Developmental Editing includes detailed case studies featuring a variety of nonfiction books—election-year polemic, popular science, memoir, travel guide—and authors ranging from first-timer to veteran, journalist to scholar. Handy sidebars offer advice on how to become a developmental editor, create effective illustration programs, and adapt sophisticated fiction techniques (such as point of view, suspense, plotting, character, and setting) to nonfiction writing.  

Norton’s book also provides freelance copyeditors with a way to earn higher fees while introducing more creativity into their work lives. It gives acquisitions, marketing, and production staff a vocabulary for diagnosing a manuscript’s flaws and techniques for transforming it into a bestseller. And perhaps most importantly, Developmental Editing equips authors with the concrete tools they need to reach their audiences.


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  1. Print length
    256 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    University of Chicago Press
  4. Publication date
    November 30, 2011
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 0.7 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0226595153
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0226595153
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About the Author

Scott Norton was formerly a developmental editor at the University of California Press, where he eventually served as the director of editing, design, and production before retiring in 2020.

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
137 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find this developmental editing handbook instructive for both writers and editors, serving as a wonderful introduction to the field. The book is well-written and comprehensive, with one customer noting how it helps authors form a vision for their books. They appreciate its detailed content and narrative structure, with one review highlighting how it helps locate all narrative threads. While the book receives positive feedback for its readability and editing style, customers have mixed opinions about its formatting and value for money.

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Educational valueReadabilityWriting qualityEditing styleContentNarrative structureFormatting
16 customers mention "Educational value"14 positive2 negative

Customers find the book instructive for both writers and editors, serving as a wonderful place to start understanding developmental editing. One customer notes how it helps authors form a vision for their book.

"...It is very helpful for understanding what other parts of the publishing team need from their writers and DEs to make the book successful." Read more

"...But the book is well-written and would be immensely helpful for anyone desiring to learn how to work with non-fiction...." Read more

"...Most are simply about copyediting or style. This book was really practical. It's something I refer back to whenever I need a bit of insight or help." Read more

"helpful for my work" Read more

13 customers mention "Readability"11 positive2 negative

Customers find the book readable and brilliant, with one customer noting it's a genuine pleasure to read.

"Brilliant!..." Read more

"...It’s detailed and rigorous but also a genuine pleasure to read." Read more

"I know there are gems in this book, but I found the "layering" very confusing and had to send it back...." Read more

"Don't let my 3 sway you. It's a good book but more so for fiction or creative writing, not for academic or educational manuscripts." Read more

10 customers mention "Writing quality"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-written, with one customer noting that it serves as an excellent introduction to developmental editing, while another mentions that it includes suggested rewrites.

"...But the book is well-written and would be immensely helpful for anyone desiring to learn how to work with non-fiction...." Read more

"This book is gracefully written and generous in both its scope and approach...." Read more

"Brilliant! Writers who really want to know how to recognize a fantastic editor will gain from reading this--along with a good number of tips for how..." Read more

"If you want a comprehensive and extremely well written introduction to developmental editing, this is the book for you!" Read more

7 customers mention "Editing style"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the editing style of the book, describing it as a definitive guide to developmental editing, with one customer highlighting its balanced approach to pacing and restructuring.

"Excellent and comprehensive guide to the developmental editing process, incorporating illustrative examples carefully woven into the main text...." Read more

"...plan and all other needed documents; create a balanced rhythm by editing for pace; design opening and closing transitions according to the main..." Read more

"...Chapter equality with editing for pace with restructuring and transitions are used...." Read more

"Editors are teachers. Writing will be made better by a good editor...." Read more

5 customers mention "Content"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book detailed and comprehensive.

"If you want a comprehensive and extremely well written introduction to developmental editing, this is the book for you!" Read more

"This was a very good, detailed book about being a developmental editor for non-fiction work...." Read more

"...This isn’t just a book with some nifty ideas and reflections. It’s detailed and rigorous but also a genuine pleasure to read." Read more

"Good content, but needs a sensitivity reader..." Read more

3 customers mention "Narrative structure"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the narrative structure of the book, with one review highlighting how it helps form a coherent story structure, while another mentions its helpful chapter on book proposals.

"...; create a working title that will reflect the main thesis; locate all narrative threads (yes, even nonfiction does have narrative threads) and comb..." Read more

"...Narrative to form a coherent story structure to choose between telling a story and making an argument is discussed...." Read more

"...I especially liked the chapter on book proposals." Read more

3 customers mention "Formatting"0 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's formatting, with some finding it confusing.

"...For an expensive book, this just screams CHEAP! This needs to be in electronic format so editors can change to a font and size that doesn't give us..." Read more

"...It had minor troubles in the formatting of the Tables - but I have faith that these will be fixed, esp...." Read more

"Format is confusing..." Read more

A Must Read!
5 out of 5 stars
A Must Read!
This book is an absolute must have for writers as well as editors. I especially liked the chapter on book proposals.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • cerebralauthor
    5.0 out of 5 stars Textbook Quality
    Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This is a comprehensive, complex, subtle and humorous manual on all aspects of developmental editing. It should be on the shelf of every author, publisher and editor. I can testify that my thinking, writing and editing have already improved! Simply brilliant.

    You will learn to: choose the main concept of the book according to the author's vision and the needs of his market; rework the TOC accordingly; navigate the intricacies of collaboration between author, DE and publisher; extract the main thesis out of the main concept; tell the difference between theses and topics; create a working title that will reflect the main thesis; locate all narrative threads (yes, even nonfiction does have narrative threads) and comb them into an organized whole - choosing which are main, which subordinate, and how will they be ordered in the text; choose from different kinds of argument, and learn how to find and structure the main line of argument; write a developmental plan and all other needed documents; create a balanced rhythm by editing for pace; design opening and closing transitions according to the main thesis of each chapter; organize the conclusions, from smaller ones to more fundamental ones, and decide on their placement; improve stylistic elements like voice, tone, and diction, as well as all aspects of visual book design.

    I am so happy I read this book! It feels as if I've taken a class in DE. Bravo Scott!

    Note to the author if he is reading this: sorry to see the Kindle version currently discontinued - hoping that this is because it is being improved. It had minor troubles in the formatting of the Tables - but I have faith that these will be fixed, esp. now, when automatic book updating is possible. Also, please update your Further Reading section - some books you recommend have newer editions, some are OOP, etc.

    Thanks for reading my review and, if it was helpful for you to get a feel for this book, I'd really appreciate a click on the "yes" button.
    54 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Planetary A.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Unique and Worthwhile
    Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2023
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Editors are teachers. Writing will be made better by a good editor. Consider what Scott Norton says and covers here to be instructive for both writers and editors. Type is tiny. If you spend your life at a computer, you'll want good lighting and a magnifying sheet. Worth what was charged on Amazon to get hold of a clean used HC copy. BookBiz did a thoughtful job of packaging. Greatly appreciated.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Buttercup
    5.0 out of 5 stars So impressed
    Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2019
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    This book is gracefully written and generous in both its scope and approach. Norton uses a variety of different developmental editing scenarios to really teach the reader to begin thinking like a DE. This isn’t just a book with some nifty ideas and reflections. It’s detailed and rigorous but also a genuine pleasure to read.
    Helpful
     Report
  • jlw
    4.0 out of 5 stars Clear Sequence Of Valuable Instruction
    Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2013
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    University of California Press in Berkeley guides developmental editing in this book, for authors and publishers. This book denotes significant structuring or restructuring of a manuscripts discourse. It helps the author form a vision for the book and coaches chapter by chapter to ensure the vision is successfully executed. With use of line editing, chapter, section, paragraph and sentence levels, suggested rewrites are given. Authors should find practical advice to improve their writing skills; and maximize the appeal of their own manuscripts to prospective publishers. Concept focusing the authors vision, thesis and creating a winning title that reflects the winning choice is covered. Narrative to form a coherent story structure to choose between telling a story and making an argument is discussed. Detail to name a few topics includes, brainstorming to fine-tune a timeline to a revised table of contents is included. In exposition they fine-tune the main argument. A blueprint is created that will serve as a touchstone for the author and publisher throughout the editing process. It provides interventions when schedule or budget does not allow for a full developmental edit. Chapter equality with editing for pace with restructuring and transitions are used. How moving a conclusion from one place to another can lead to entirely different effects. With structure in place, ways of prose is used to help authors achieve their unique voice in prose. Opportunities to illustrate concepts and to express data visually, and extra touches to add luster, web pages are discussed. The sequences of stages may occur simultaneously or frequently and others may be inapplicable to specific projects. Techniques presented can be adapted to personal styles and advice discarded if it does not resonate. There is no one way to perform a developmental edit but first learn to master the rules. The tools given in this book are clear and in sequence with much more valuable instruction to read. I highly recommend this book. I own a copy.
    9 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Mr. Kenneth G. Davies
    5.0 out of 5 stars A rare and extremely useful handbook
    Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2017
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Excellent and comprehensive guide to the developmental editing process, incorporating illustrative examples carefully woven into the main text. This is a book worth reading with a highlight pen and/or bookmark strips ready to hand. An essential companion for every developmental editing assignment.
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Evelyn
    5.0 out of 5 stars I actually enjoyed this handbook more than most fiction books I've read--it's ...
    Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2016
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I actually enjoyed this handbook more than most fiction books I've read--it's like a utopian novel for editors. The text is perfectly drafted at the word level, and for me, vicariously solving the puzzles presented in each case study was almost as satisfying as doing so on real developmental projects. If your reading experience is anything like mine, you will constantly recognize elements of your own editorial intuition and gain a more dynamic ability to explore, understand, and justify them. Absolutely excellent
    13 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Susan at Truly Novel Reviews
    3.0 out of 5 stars Good content, but needs a sensitivity reader
    Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2021
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    The principles of developmental editing in this book were rock solid. However, there are some fictional "case studies" included for examples that I found potentially offensive.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • LadyDestinyRose
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read for editing
    Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2015
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    This book really helped me as an editor to improve my skills. The advice and instructions are easy to understand and have made a big difference to my clients. I refer back to it all the time. It is also good for authors who self-edit their books.
    4 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Developmental Editor and Writer's Great Guide
    Reviewed in Canada on December 25, 2018
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    A great book for Developmental editors and writers alike. Focuses on Non-fiction developmental work, but applicable to fiction works as well. A good guide for those wanting to improve their editing skills or their structural writing.
    Report