Once you have written the first draft of your novel manuscript, you may find during the evaluation stage that there are elements of your story that could use some fact-checking.
Novel research may be conducted in a library, from your home computer, or even on your smart phone. (On a side note, why does Microsoft Designer keep giving me images of thin people, even when I ask for an image of an average-sized — size 12 — woman? Artificial Intelligence has some diversity and inclusion issues to solve!
While I advise against conducting any detailed research during the drafting stage of the novel writing process, I heartily encourage it during the evaluation stage. Research is an important part of writing a novel, as it can provide the necessary information and inspiration to create a rich and believable world for your story.
Mark Twain once wrote that, “Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn’t” (Twain, 1897). When writing fiction, you may wonder why you have to worry about making your work believable. Since it’s fiction, everyone knows it’s fake, right? So why worry about making it “believable?”
No matter how unreal your story world may be, the events within your story must still be believable within the framework of the story world you have created.
It is true that fiction doesn’t necessarily need to be believable in the sense that it aligns with reality or factual accuracy. In fact, fiction often explores imaginative and fantastical elements that are deliberately implausible or impossible in the real world. However, believability does play an important role in fiction, particularly in terms of engaging the audience and creating a sense of immersion.
While we’re discussing the developmental edit, let’s also touch for a moment on the process of providing a developmental edit to another writer. Not only can offering your services to other writers in your writing community help them save money (and then save you money later when they return the favor,) but it can also help you improve your own writing skills. You may see issues in a writing partner’s work that you hadn’t previously considered in your own. This in turn will lead you to spot similar issues in your own work.
I don’t know about you, but my novels wouldn’t be anywhere near as good as they are without the input of my writing workshop group!
Here are the steps to take when conducting a developmental edit on another writer’s novel manuscript:
Hiring an editor to complete a developmental edit of your novel can be expensive. If you can afford it, an effective editor will give you the outside perspective you need to take your manuscript to the next level. However, many emerging writers simply cannot afford the expense and do not have an established writing community to lean on. They may wonder if they can do a developmental edit of their own work. The answer is yes, you can do a developmental edit on your own novel, but it can be challenging to do so objectively.
Can you do it yourself (DIY) when it comes to obtaining a developmental edit for your novel manuscript? Image generated using artificial intelligence.
When evaluating your work, it can be difficult to separate yourself from your own writing and see it objectively. You may overlook certain issues or be too close to the story to recognize where significant changes are needed to improve the story. This is one reason why I encourage writers to let a new draft simmer for a while before jumping into the evaluation stage of the novel writing process. That break from the work can help you return to the manuscript with the eyes of a reader rather than those of a writer. Details you never noticed before will suddenly begin to jump off the page at you. You’ll notice gaps that you would never have noticed otherwise.
A developmental edit is a type of editing that focuses on the big-picture elements of a novel manuscript such as its structure, plot, character development, and theme. Developmental editors help authors identify and fix problems with manuscripts such as weak plot points, underdeveloped characters, or an unclear story arc. They may also offer suggestions for improving the manuscript’s overall readability and impact.
Obtaining feedback from a professional developmental editor can help you take your novel manuscript to a whole new level! Contact me today to inquire about hiring me to provide a developmental edit of your novel draft!
Developmental editing is typically done before a manuscript is submitted to an agent or publisher. However, I like to get at least one developmental edit during the evaluation phase so I can start fixing my issues early in the writing process. The developmental edit can be a valuable service for authors who want to make sure their manuscripts are as strong as possible either way.
Here are some of the elements that a developmental editor might review in a novel manuscript:
Obtaining feedback on your manuscript during the evaluation step of the writing process shouldn’t be the same experience as getting your mom’s proud stamp of approval on your published novel. The last thing any writer needs or wants at this stage of the writing process is for anyone to stroke your ego and tell you how awesome you are. During the evaluation stage, it’s important to seek out targeted feedback that will help you improve your writing.
The best writing feedback is constructive. It helps you determine how to make your novel draft better rather than falsely convincing you that your writing is perfect!
While it may be nice to hear that you are doing a great job, it’s not particularly helpful when what you really want is constructive criticism. Here are some tips for getting productive feedback on your writing:
Obtaining outside feedback is an essential piece of the evaluation step of the novel writing process. A reader who has no previous experience with your novel can bring a fresh set of eyes and new perspective to your writing to help you close the gap between what you think you’ve put on the page and what you have actually put on the page. When asking others to review a draft of your novel, it is important to be specific about the type of feedback you are looking for.
Be sure to let your feedback source know exactly what type of feedback you do — and do NOT — want on your novel draft before you share it with them.
Ultimately, clear communication with your reader helps streamline the feedback process, making it a more productive and valuable experience for improving your novel. Here are some examples of specific feedback that you can ask for:
When you’re writing a novel, there are many benefits to both evaluating your own writing and getting feedback from others. Evaluating your own writing can help you identify any potential problems with your story, such as plot holes, inconsistencies, or underdeveloped characters. It can also help you improve your writing style and make sure that your novel is as engaging as possible. However, there is often a gap between what you think you’ve put on the page and what you have actually put on the page. Seeking outside assistance can help you identify gaps that you might miss on your own.
It may be a scary proposition at first, but rest assured that getting outside feedback on your novel manuscript will provide valuable insight into your story.
Getting feedback from others can provide you with a new perspective on your writing and help you identify any areas that need improvement. It can also be helpful to get feedback from people who are not familiar with your work, as they may be able to identify problems that you have overlooked. Here are some specific reasons why it is important to obtain feedback from others in addition to evaluating your own novel draft:
The M.I.C.E. Quotient is a method of categorizing stories based on the four core narrative elements of Milieu, Idea, Character, and Event. This method was developed by science fiction writer Orson Scott Card and is used by many writers and editors to help identify and refine the central focus of a story.
Image generated using artificial intelligence (which, for some reason, left out “idea” and gave me “emausle.” Playing with A.I. is so much fun!
The M.I.C.E. Quotient is an excellent place to start when evaluating the focal point of a novel manuscript. It helps the writer determine whether the first draft concentrates on the appropriate element or elements that will most effectively achieve their creative vision. The following is a breakdown of each element:
Once you’ve completed an initial evaluation of your manuscript, it’s time to set it on a back burner for a while and let it simmer. Taking a break after writing and completing an initial review of your novel draft is crucial for several reasons. First, it gives you the opportunity to gain a fresh perspective on your work. When you’ve been working on a manuscript for a long time, it can be challenging to see it objectively.
Like a complex and hearty soup, your novel draft may get better the longer you let it simmer on a back burner!
Taking a break allows you to come back to the manuscript with fresh eyes, making it easier to spot areas that need improvement. This can also increase your objectivity when evaluating your own work. During the drafting process, you’re likely to become attached to certain ideas or phrases. Taking a break can help you become more objective about your work, allowing you to make changes that improve the story without getting bogged down by your initial attachment to certain ideas.
Write on the World 