Writers often think of “editing” as one giant, exhausting mountain to climb — but in truth, it’s a range of smaller, conquerable peaks. We usually break the process into three phases: developmental, line, and proof.
But here’s the thing: developmental editing isn’t one peak — it’s a landscape all its own. It’s where the heart and bones of your story take shape, and where everything begins to weave together into something whole and intentional.
Let’s flesh out a complete framework so that the Developmental stage becomes a structured, creative process rather than an overwhelming blur.
But first, what are developmental edits?
It’s the “big picture” pass — structure, logic, emotion, and intent
It can be further subdivided into the 8 phases below.
1. Research Points & Integration
- Factual verification
- Filling in your
[research]placeholders - Checking world logic (for fantasy/sci-fi)
- Ensuring realism or plausibility (for contemporary settings)
- Integrating researched details for texture and accuracy
Think: Does the world make sense? Could this happen within the rules I’ve created?
2. Connection Weaving
Story cohesion and emotional resonance:
- Recurring motifs, dialogue echoes, and callbacks
- Foreshadowing and payoff
- Reappearance of settings or symbols
- Emotional mirroring and parallel arcs
- Thematic threading
Think: Does the story feel intentional and interconnected?
3. Structural & Pacing Analysis
Zoom out to act-level and scene-level balance:
- Does each act escalate stakes logically?
- Are any scenes redundant or slow?
- Does the midpoint shift something major?
- Are tension and relief spaced well?
This is where you trim, condense, or move scenes around to improve rhythm.
Think: Does the story breathe in the right places?
4. Character Arc & Motivation
Deepen character logic and emotional believability:
- Do goals evolve naturally?
- Are motivations clear and consistent?
- Does emotional payoff match the setup?
- Are relationships developing believably?
- Is there internal change by the end?
Think: Would this character act this way given what’s happened?
5. Thematic & Emotional Consistency
This overlaps with connection weaving but zooms in on tone and message:
- Are the story’s emotional beats aligned with the core theme?
- Do subplots reflect or contrast the main theme?
- Is tone consistent scene to scene?
- Does the ending resolve the emotional question you set up in the beginning?
Think: Does this story feel like it’s saying one coherent thing?
6. Worldbuilding & Setting Depth
If you’re writing speculative or fantasy fiction, this can be its own sub-phase:
- Are setting details consistent? (e.g., geography, climate, magic rules)
- Do sensory and cultural elements feel distinct and lived-in?
- Are locations used more than once to create resonance?
- Does the world feel like it continues off the page?
Think: Would readers believe this place could exist?
7. Continuity & Logic Audit
Once you’ve made structural changes, this pass ensures:
- Timeline consistency
- Object permanence (who’s holding what, where it is later)
- Character ages, distances, injuries, etc. remain logical
- Causality: every major event has a believable trigger
Think: Would an attentive reader catch inconsistencies here?
8. Scene Purpose Check
Every scene should either:
- Advance plot
- Reveal character
- Build tension
- Reinforce theme
If it does none of those, it may need to merge with another or be cut.
Think: What is this scene doing for the story?
Note: Though this section sounds similar to the Structural & Pacing Analysis section above, it is in fact very distinct. Whereas in the Structural & Pacing Analysis section above you’re both zooming out to act level & in to scene level and analyzing how the scenes contribute to pacing, this is focusing on the scene itself, in isolation. Does each scene stand up to the cut? What is its purpose? Can it be merged with another to create a bigger impact? Is there too much going on? Should it instead be parsed out?
Summary of Developmental Sub-Phases
| Sub-Phase | Core Focus |
|---|---|
| Research Integration | Accuracy & realism |
| Connection Weaving | Cohesion & callbacks |
| Structural & Pacing | Flow & escalation |
| Character Arc | Motivation & transformation |
| Thematic Consistency | Tone & emotional through-line |
| Worldbuilding Depth | Believability of setting |
| Continuity Audit | Logic & timeline consistency |
| Scene Purpose Check | Story economy & intent |
Bringing It All Together
By dividing your developmental edits into these eight phases, you transform what once might’ve felt like an endless fog into a series of meaningful stages—where each pass sharpens a different facet of your story.
Instead of wrestling with everything at once, you move through clear, focused phases: from research and logic to emotion and theme, from the wide lens of structure to the intimacy of a scene’s purpose.
The result? A story that not only makes sense — but feels alive, intentional, and whole.
Treat this framework as both a roadmap and a permission slip: to slow down, zoom in, and rediscover the wonder that made you write the story in the first place.
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