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Not a Developmental Editor gives you clear, big picture feedback on your manuscript so you can fix story, structure, and pacing before you waste time polishing sentences.
Get Useful Feedback Rather Than Empty Flattery
Get honest, big picture feedback on your manuscript so you can revise with confidence.
As Jim Rubart says, it is difficult to read the label when you are standing inside the bottle. That makes it hard to spot structural problems, flat character arcs, confusing timelines, or chapters that lose readers. Not a Developmental Editor helps you step back and see your book like an experienced editor would, so you can fix the right problems in the right order inside the Patron Toolbox.
When you upload your manuscript, the tool generates:
- A clear summary of what is working and what is not at the big picture level
- Specific, actionable suggestions for plot, structure, pacing, and reader engagement
- Optional outlines and example fixes that show you how a stronger version could work
- Focused guidance that respects your genre, age category, and goals for the book
Authors revise faster when they know which changes will have the biggest impact on readers. This tool reflects back how your story or argument lands for a fresh, expert eye and it focuses on structure instead of tinkering with commas. You save energy by making high leverage changes first, which means your later line edits and copy edits actually polish a solid foundation.
Use It To
- Diagnose why a manuscript is not getting requests, offers, or reviews you expected
- Tighten plot, character arcs, or chapter flow before you hire an editor
- Check age appropriateness and category fit for childrens, middle grade, or young adult books
- Improve engagement and clarity for nonfiction, memoir, and teaching focused books
You will walk away with a practical revision roadmap that lets you work through developmental issues chapter by chapter without guessing what to fix next.
Related Tools
- Structure Analyzer - Evaluate your manuscript based on one of the popular structure formulations.
- Not A Copy Editor - Catch typos with a copy edit of your manuscript.
- Plot Synopsizer - Turn your draft into a clear, compelling story synopsis
- Book Splitter - Split a long manuscript into multiple shorter books.
- Not a Literary Agent - Review contracts, ask advice, and get a second opinion.
FAQ
- What is Not a Developmental Editor? Not a Developmental Editor is a big picture feedback tool that looks at structure, story, argument, pacing, and reader engagement instead of grammar or spelling. It gives you the kind of notes you would expect from a seasoned developmental editor in a condensed, easy to use format.
- Who should use this tool? - Fiction and nonfiction authors who have a draft in hand and want serious feedback before they pay for editing or design will benefit the most. It works well for novelists, memoirists, children's authors, and nonfiction experts who want to make sure the book actually works for readers.
- How does it help authors? - It helps you stop revising in circles and start revising with a plan. You see where readers are likely to get confused or bored and you learn which changes will move the needle most for your book.
- What happens with my data or file? - Your manuscript is used to generate feedback for you and is not shared as content for anyone else. Use it with the same level of caution you would use when sending your file to a freelance editor or beta reader.
- Is it free to use? - Not a Developmental Editor is part of the Patron Toolbox for Author Media patrons. Check your Patron level for access details and pricing.
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