Book Editing Developmental Editing 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary focus of a developmental editor?
- Big-picture structure, plot, and character development (Correct answer)
- Correcting grammar and punctuation
- Formatting the manuscript for publication
- Verifying factual accuracy of citations
Correct answer: Big-picture structure, plot, and character development
Developmental editors focus on big-picture elements like structure, pacing, plot, and character arcs rather than line-level corrections.
Question 2: Which document does a developmental editor typically produce to summarize major revision needs?
- Style sheet
- Editorial letter (Correct answer)
- Proofreading marks list
- Author bio
Correct answer: Editorial letter
An editorial letter outlines the major structural and content concerns a developmental editor identifies for the author to address.
Question 3: At what stage of the publishing process does developmental editing typically occur?
- After final proofreading
- Before copy editing (Correct answer)
- During typesetting
- After the index is created
Correct answer: Before copy editing
Developmental editing occurs early in the process, before copy editing, because it may result in significant content changes.
Question 4: What is 'scene-by-scene analysis' used for in developmental editing?
- Checking punctuation within dialogue
- Assessing pacing, purpose, and dramatic tension in each scene (Correct answer)
- Counting word frequency per chapter
- Verifying chapter headings are consistent
Correct answer: Assessing pacing, purpose, and dramatic tension in each scene
Scene-by-scene analysis helps a developmental editor evaluate whether each scene advances plot, character, or theme and maintains appropriate pacing.
Question 5: Which of the following is a red flag a developmental editor would flag in a novel?
- A misplaced comma in dialogue
- A plot hole where a character knows information they couldn't have (Correct answer)
- An em dash used instead of an en dash
- A chapter title in bold font
Correct answer: A plot hole where a character knows information they couldn't have
Plot holes—such as characters possessing impossible knowledge—are structural issues that developmental editors identify and flag for revision.
Question 6: What does 'character arc' refer to in developmental editing?
- The physical description of a character
- The transformation a character undergoes throughout the story (Correct answer)
- The number of scenes a character appears in
- The dialogue style a character uses
Correct answer: The transformation a character undergoes throughout the story
A character arc describes the internal journey and change a character experiences from the beginning to the end of the narrative.
Book Editing Developmental Editing 1
What is the primary focus of a developmental editor?