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Potential developments
What’s going on in a development editor’s mind when they read your manuscript? Cornerstones’ Monica Chakraverty explains what the editor will be looking for, and the benefits of applying those insights to your self-editing process
We all develop a toolkit as editors, a skillset that allows us to view a submission and swiftly understand which elements work and which need addressing.
Core, of course, to this is what is the key concept that piques interest in the reader, that starts the heart of the book beating? Next comes the question: how is the pacing as this unfolds – is there too much too soon or is the reader twiddling their thumbs waiting for something to take place? As for the text, and the use of language, does is flow intuitively or is there a self-conscious element of overwriting that attracts attention to itself rather than assisting the build of tension?