Developmental Editing 

The term “Developmental Editing” can be nebulous, and there are as many scopes of that practice as there are practitioners of it. In my practice, it means stewardship of your craft as a writer and storyteller, and midwifing the project upon which you are laboring. That analogy is no accident: Writing can be as gruesome and painful and rewarding as childbirth. Often, there is bodily fluid involved. And yes, we sometimes need breathing exercises.

In collaboration with a client (you), we work on the structure, architecture, and arc of your stories or larger project. We develop characters you’ve introduced, cultivate that which connects, and discern between that which was important to you, and that which is important to the story. We mine the heart of your purpose, and the emotion of your experiences, to drive the authenticity of your story, ensuring it has the impact you intend. We collaborate to create a body of work that is in integrity with you and your values.

Beyond that, we work on the craft of writing itself: What makes dialogue powerful? How do we speed up or slow down? How do we draw a reader into a scene? What’s the difference between offering them the protagonist’s experience or the experience? How does intentionally changing tense or perspective impact the work?

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Do you need a Developmental Editor?

That’s a good question. And I cannot answer it for you, but I can share with you what kind of writers have benefited from our collaboration, and what some of them have to say about it.

The Not-Really-A-Writer Writer

A personal favorite of mine are the creatives that primarily send witty texts and ranting emails. Both are valid genres, as are the journal-writers, the wish-I-could-write-better-letters-writers, and those who have a story to tell, but don’t know how or where or when to tell it. The “Should I have a Substack” writers and the “I want to publish an article someday” writers and the “I want my children to have a book of memories” writers. They are all writers of promise.

The I-Write-Stuff-Writer

These are writers who may already have a presence in the published world, and want to expand that presence, or improve the quality of that presence. Perhaps they have a Substack or a column, maybe they write for magazines or newsletters, or their profession requires effective written communication skills. Sometimes it is someone with an essay to prepare for publication, or a collection they want to turn into a book. These writers tend to have or want clear goals.

The I-Have-A-Book-Writer

Also known as the Can-I-Write-A-Manuscript-in-3-Months-Writer, (the short answer is: Yes, but it is funner if you give it more time). The project writers are a blast, because watching a creative process manifest something of size, and being a part of that journey, is deeply rewarding for everyone involved. Witnessing a book come to fruition is like watching a story unfold in real-time, and seeing inside a creative mind. It is humbling, inspiring, and exciting.

*** A note on what Developmental Editing is not: It is not line editing, though occasionally that happens as well. It is not spell-check or grammar, albeit such things are mentioned and many learning opportunities arise. It is not a connection to an agent or publisher or a guarantee that a body of work will be published, but it sure as hell will make your work worthy of both.

  • "I gave myself a wonderful gift when I hired Ammi to be my Developmental Editor. Our collaborative sessions shine a light on my writing strengths and blind spots. As a result, I am writing deeper, more relevant pieces. I feel very fortunate to have such a badass writer and teacher as my mentor."

    Liz M.

  • "As my developmental editor, Ammi drills my manuscripts with critical, actionable, feedback. Good writing requires ruthlessness— breaking sentences, ripping out paragraphs, cauterizing rambling passages and the occasional mercy killing (RIP Goop the Cat). Ammi makes my stories tight and lets me know when I'm writing stupid."

    Brian E.

  • "Working with Ammi has been transformative to my writing. I've shared time with her both as a writing client and a retreat attendee, and my work has grown in depth, maturity and readability. She is helpful in wrangling my vision for my work, as well as encouraging me to get out from behind doubt and put it out there. She pushes me and stretches me with a gentle but firm style, and I will forever be grateful for her making me a more brave and bold writer!"

    Lori A.

  • "Before working with Ammi, I considered myself as Not-Really-A-Writer. A wanna-be with thoughts and ramblings in my head that I occasionally let fly from my fingertips. After beginning to work with Ammi, I now feel like I’m moving toward being a I-Write-Stuff-Writer. She consistently provides thought provoking guidance. Sometimes she coaxes improvements out of me and sometimes she is direct. No matter which communication style she uses, I’ve always felt she was providing me options, allowing me to stay true to my voice, even when I didn’t initially know I was straying."

    Chad F.