By: RATHIDEVI THEVADAS, HEAD OF BRANDING & CORPORATE PUBLISHING SECTION

 

 

Developmental or structural editing is a crucial phase in the book publishing process. The process of developmental editing begins with an in-depth review conducted by developmental editors. Their goal is to provide constructive feedback to authors, helping them enhance their written work. Key aspects focused on during developmental editing include content and structure enhancement, writing style, audience and purpose, pacing and flow, length and redundancy, as well as ideas for marketing.

 

Content and structure enhancement: During content and structure enhancement, the developmental editor analyses the manuscript's content and organisation. They offer feedback on the overall structure and may suggest necessary revisions, including rewriting, to improve the manuscript.

 

Writing style: In terms of writing style, developmental editing concentrates on refining voice and tone through constructive suggestions.

 

Audience and purpose: Good developmental editing involves considering the target audience and the text's aims, whether it's solving a problem or conveying a specific purpose. Without a firm understanding of the specific readership and their motivations for selecting and engaging with the publication, the text may lack a distinct focus. For instance, a book on mental health care may aim to understand mental health and address related issues.

 

Pacing and flow: Pacing and flow are crucial elements. The speed at which the story develops is related to thoughtful progression, ensuring readers do not lose engagement and focus while reading.

 

Length and redundancy: A developmental edit addresses issues related to unnecessary and unwanted redundant information, striving to achieve the appropriate length.

 

Marketing: Developmental editing also involves enhancing the book’s marketing potential by devising strategies to make it appealing to a specific target audience. In this process, authors receive advice on refining the book to ensure it is well-presented before reaching the market.

 

To sum up, despite being the initial stage of the editing process, developmental editing stands out as the most crucial phase before progressing into subsequent editing stages.

Tarikh Input: 08/12/2023 | Kemaskini: 08/12/2023 | hairul_nizam