| Manuscript critique | Developmental edit | |
|---|---|---|
| Depth | Diagnostic overview | Deep structural collaboration |
| Typical deliverable | Editorial letter | Letter + more granular guidance / comments |
| Cost | Lower | Higher |
| Best for | Direction, triage, fit test | Major revision with professional partner |
Choose a critique when
- You need a professional read before committing to a full developmental budget
- You want prioritized issues, not full markup
- You are between drafts and deciding what to tackle next
Choose developmental when
- You already know the book needs structural work
- Betas conflict and you need authoritative prioritization
- The manuscript is close but not launch-ready at the story level
Service pages: critique · developmental editing.