Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
What does a developmental editor actually do — and how do you know when you're ready to work with one?
In this video, Reedsy editor Hannah VanVels Ausbury walks us through the full developmental editing process: what it is, where it sits in the broader editorial journey, and what authors actually receive when the work is done.
We cover character arcs, plot, setting, voice, and marketability — the five areas a great developmental edit addresses — and what to expect from the collaboration before, during, and after.
Whether you're finishing your first draft or preparing for submission, this is the edit that answers the most important question: Does your book work?
🔗 Find a developmental editor on Reedsy → reedsy.com/editing/developmental-editing
🔗 Work with Hannah on Reedsy → reedsy.com/hannah-vanvels
CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
0:50 Where developmental editing fits in the process
2:12 Looking for a developmental editor
5:27 What you get back: the annotated manuscript & editorial letter
11:28 What it's like for first-time authors?
What does a developmental editor actually do — and how do you know when you're ready to work with one?
In this video, Reedsy editor Hannah VanVels Ausbury walks us through the full developmental editing process: what it is, where it sits in the broader editorial journey, and what authors actually receive when the work is done.
We cover character arcs, plot, setting, voice, and marketability — the five areas a great developmental edit addresses — and what to expect from the collaboration before, during, and after.
Whether you're finishing your first draft or preparing for submission, this is the edit that answers the most important question: Does your book work?
🔗 Find a developmental editor on Reedsy → reedsy.com/editing/developmental-editing
🔗 Work with Hannah on Reedsy → reedsy.com/hannah-vanvels
CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
0:50 Where developmental editing fits in the process
2:12 Looking for a developmental editor
5:27 What you get back: the annotated manuscript & editorial letter
11:28 What it's like for first-time authors?
