Cihaiyura
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
- Best for
- Finished drafts where the story is not yet working as it should
- Book at
- Once your first draft is complete and you have revised it yourself
- You receive
- Your manuscript with in-line comments, and a detailed editorial letter
- Turnaround
- 3 weeks to 3 months, depending on length and scope
Make sure your story works before you polish a single sentence.
Many manuscripts struggle not because of the writing, but because of the story underneath it: a plot that loses momentum, a middle that sags, or an ending the book has not quite earned. These problems are hard to see from the inside.
A developmental edit looks at the big picture of your manuscript: plot, structure, pacing, characters and world-building. Our editor reads your complete draft and shows you what is holding the story back, and how to fix it.
Indicative pricing
| Up to 30,000 words | ₹20,000 |
| Up to 50,000 words | ₹30,000 |
| Up to 80,000 words | ₹55,000 |
| Up to 1,20,000 words | ₹77,000 |
Inclusive of GST. Your final quote and timeline are confirmed in writing after your consultation.
Indicative pricing
| Up to 30,000 words | US$315 |
| Up to 50,000 words | US$400 |
| Up to 80,000 words | US$870 |
| Up to 1,20,000 words | US$1,220 |
Invoiced in US dollars. Your final quote and timeline are confirmed in writing after your consultation.
A free call with our editorial team. We read your sample, recommend the right service, and confirm your quote and timeline before any work begins. No commitment.
What's included
What's included
- A full read of your complete manuscript
- Notes on plot, structure and story arc
- Pacing and tension, scene by scene
- Character motivation, arcs and relationships, including romantic arcs
- World-building, internal logic and the consistency of your story's rules
- Point of view, theme and stakes
- Your opening chapters and hook
- In-line comments and tracked suggestions throughout
- An editorial letter explaining the reasoning behind each note
- A prioritised revision plan
- A second read of your revised draft, with follow-up notes
- Answers to your questions on the edit
What's not included
What's not included
- Sentence-level edits to your prose (see Line Editing)
- Grammar, spelling and punctuation corrections (see Copyediting)
- Rewriting your manuscript on your behalf
How it works
How it works
- Book a consultation. Tell us about your book using the consultation form.
- Share a sample. Email up to 10 pages in .doc or .docx format to cihaiyura@gmail.com.
- Consultation and quote. We discuss your goals, confirm that a developmental edit is right for your book, and confirm your price and delivery date in writing.
- Confirmation. Once you approve, we send an invoice. Your slot is reserved on receipt of payment.
- The edit. Your editor reads the full manuscript and returns it with comments and an editorial letter.
- Follow-up. Once you have reviewed the edit, send your questions and your editor will respond to each one.
FAQs
FAQs
How is this different from other edits?
A developmental edit works on the story, not the sentences. Your editor may suggest moving, cutting or reshaping scenes and chapters so that the pieces fit together and hold the reader's attention.
When should I book it?
Once your first draft is complete and you have revised it yourself at least once, and before any line editing or copyediting.
Will the editor change my story?
No. Every note is a suggestion. You make the final call on what to change.