Turn Your Rough Draft Into a Professional, Publishable Book

Developmental and substantive book editing that turns a rough draft into a polished, professional, reader-ready book.

Most manuscripts that come to me need more than a proofread—they need a transformation.

You don’t hire me to correct punctuation. You hire me to strengthen your ideas, your structure, and your impact.

My editing work lives one level below ghostwriting: I take the book you’ve already written and develop it into the book you actually meant to write.

Developmental and Substantive Editing

If you already have a draft—whether it’s 10,000 words or 100,000—I’ll evaluate the entire manuscript from the top down.

I look at what works, what doesn’t, and what’s missing. Together we identify what needs to stay, what needs to go, and what needs to move.

Developmental editing focuses on:

  • Structure: How chapters flow and how ideas build on each other.

  • Clarity: Making complex ideas clear, logical, and engaging.

  • Voice: Tightening tone and consistency so it reads like one strong authorial voice.

  • Focus: Eliminating repetition, tangents, and filler that weaken the message.

Substantive editing adds depth and polish to every page. This means reworking sentences, tightening transitions, clarifying arguments, and shaping the narrative so it reads with precision and authority.

The end result: a book that’s shorter, sharper, and far more powerful.

What That Looks Like in Practice

I’ve worked on manuscripts that arrived fully drafted at 70,000–80,000 words and left at 50,000–55,000—lean, organized, and publishable.

Most authors are too close to their material to see where it drags, repeats, or confuses.

I bring an experienced outside perspective to shape and refine it without losing your voice.

When we’re done, you’ll have:

  • A complete, restructured manuscript that flows logically and reads clearly.

  • All redundancies removed and ideas strengthened.

  • Line edits that elevate tone and rhythm.

  • A professional-level manuscript ready for copyediting and proofreading.

How It Works

Assessment

I review your manuscript and provide a detailed proposal with a scope of work, timeline, and estimated investment.

Deep Dive

I mark up and revise the manuscript directly, with comments explaining reasoning behind changes, and pass it back to you.

Review

We go through as many rounds collaborative rounds of feedback as it takes to make you thrilled with your book.

Final Pass

You receive a fully restructured, edited manuscript ready for copyediting, proofreading, and design.

Typical timeline: 2-4 months, depending on length and complexity.

Who This Is For

Authors who have a draft but know it's not ready.

Writers who need structural, not surface, feedback.

Entrepreneurs or experts who wrote their own book but want it elevated to professional quality.

Anyone who wants their book to read like it came from a seasoned professional, not a first-timer.

Why Work With Me

I've ghostwritten and edited more than forty books, including New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers. That experience gives me a deep understanding of what makes a book publishable and commercially viable.

I don't just fix writing—I rebuild ideas.

When I edit your manuscript, I’m thinking like a reader, an author, and a strategist. The goal isn’t simply a cleaner book. The goal is a book that builds your credibility, grows your audience, and strengthens your brand.

Ready to Transform Your Manuscript?

Let’s talk about your project and see whether developmental editing or a full ghostwriting engagement is the right fit.

© Copyright by Stephen Palmer