A developmental editor reads the whole manuscript as a reader and as a professional. They look at whether the opening hooks, whether the middle sustains momentum, whether characters change believably, and whether the ending pays off what the book promised. In nonfiction, they test whether the argument is clear and each chapter advances it.
You receive an editorial report that explains the main issues in order of importance and suggests how to solve them, plus margin notes that point to the exact places in the text. The goal is a revision plan you can act on.
Read the full overview on our Developmental Editing services page.
Nothing moves to the next stage without your approval, and the work remains yours.
A full read of the manuscript
An editorial report prioritising structural issues
Margin notes linked to specific passages
A revision plan and follow-up questions
Send the draft, your genre and your goals.
An editor reviews a sample and we send a written quote.
Your editor works through the manuscript with tracked changes and comments.
You review the changes and raise questions with your editor.
Here is what you gain when your book is handled by a specialist editing team at Potter Publishers, working alongside editors, designers and publishing specialists under one roof.
LIVE CHATClear structure, consistent characters or arguments and clean sentences keep readers turning pages instead of putting the book down.
Errors and confusing passages are among the most common complaints in reader reviews. Editing removes them before publication.
We recommend the editing stage your manuscript needs now, so you never pay to polish text that will later be cut.
Every change is tracked and explained. You accept, reject or discuss each suggestion, and the final decisions are always yours.
We edit and proofread in Australian English by default for Australian authors (colour, organise, travelled), and can switch to US or UK spelling if your book targets those readers.
In Australia, ISBNs are issued by Thorpe-Bowker. We help you buy and register them in your own name or your imprint's, so you are the publisher of record.
Australian legal deposit generally requires published books to be deposited with the National Library of Australia and the relevant state library. We include this in your publishing checklist. For Tasmania authors, the state library is Libraries Tasmania.
Quotes for Australian authors are confirmed in writing, including the currency, before any work begins. The main price factors are:
We are a full-service publishing team for independent authors in Australia and the United States. Writers, editors, designers and marketers work together on your book, so every stage connects and nothing is lost between suppliers.
Tell us about your manuscript and we will send a written plan and quote within 48 hours.
Ready to talk about your book? Contact us or request a quote above.
A full read, an editorial report on structure, pacing and story or argument, margin notes, and a revision plan.
No. They diagnose and advise; you revise. If you want the rewriting done for you, see our book rewriting services.
Yes. Our listed address is Level 4 Part, 116 Bathurst Street, Hobart TAS 7000, and we also work with authors by video call, phone and email, scheduled in AEST/AEDT (Tasmanian time).
We edit and proofread in Australian English by default for Australian authors (colour, organise, travelled), and can switch to US or UK spelling if your book targets those readers.
