Developmental Editors vs. Editorial Assessments

[Laura]

In trying to hire a new DE (my last DE took a FT job), I'm confused about the difference between editorial assessments & developmental edits. Perhaps my expectations are out of wack with the current market, because I'm asking for a DE, and editors are pitching me what I thought of as an Editorial Assessment. This is my understanding of the two types of services:

Editorial Assessment: 1x read of the manuscript with a detailed cover letter containing feedback on structure, pacing, plotting, characterization, etc. Sometimes with suggestions about how to fix identified problems. Some in-text comments on the manuscript. Limited Q&A follow-up (some will price in a 1/2 hr or 1 hr simultaneous discussion, others allow only asynchronous (i.e. email) Q&A).

Developmental Edit: 2-3x read of the manuscript. Some editors will include a cover page with high-level comments, others forgo the letter. Some will read the manuscript before having a Q&A with the author & doing the edit. All will provide detailed in-line comments, reading the original manuscript, then the revised manuscript. So two rounds of in-line comments. Most editors limit the amount of simultaneous Q&A, & some limit the time frame for both asynchronous and simultaneous Q&A for a period after comments are given.

Is my expectation of a DE off-base? If what I thought was an editorial assessment is a DE, then what's an editorial assessment?

Thanks!
Laura

[Christie]

Hi there! I'm an editor, and I'd say your description of an EA is what I'd recognize as a DE. The DE description, however, looks to me like a package of multiple services. For example, it sounds like it might be a mix of critique, followed by developmental edit, and then a final copyedit or proofread. I couldn't tell you what an editorial assessment is—I haven't personally seen that service around on freelance editor's business sites, but that's just my experience of looking at other editors' sites over the years. Maybe someone else will know.

[B.A.]

I've had the editorial assessment which ran $900. It gave me a good overview of what I needed to correct.

The Developmental edits would have cost $3500 for that book which would have given me the in line comments and two rounds, the initial issues and then the revision with any issues noted., No copy editing. I would have had 2 half hour sessions to ask questions on issues I noted.

[Samantha]

It can differ widely, so the best thing to do is ask. Lay out your expectations and see what they quote. It's a sensible question so they should be happy to answer.

Generally, an assessment will tell you what you need to fix without fixing it, while a developmental edit will help you fix the issues. Any type of edit should include the opportunity to clarify the comments made.

A developmental edit will usually include a detailed report and possibly extra comments annotating the text. It won't usually include editing of the text itself - this is a copyedit or line edit.

I'm also a freelance editor.