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Developmental Editing

Editing services for completed manuscripts, providing comprehensive feedback on structure, plot, character development, pacing, and marketability with an editorial letter and in-document notes.

Manuscript Feedback

For a limited time, Book Pipeline is offering a special editorial service to evaluate your full manuscript. This developmental edit will examine big-picture elements of your manuscript. You’ll receive feedback on all facets, including:

  • Structure
  • Plot
  • Character Development
  • Point of View
  • Pacing
  • Theme
  • Concept Strength & Marketability

Editorial Assessment

The feedback will include an in-depth editorial letter and in-document notes that will highlight what’s working, what isn’t, and suggestions on potential solutions—a comprehensive, multi-page assessment addressing strengths, weaknesses, and revision priorities, with concrete examples and actionable next steps.

A developmental edit is best suited for writers with a completed (or near-completed) manuscript who are seeking big-picture guidance before querying, submitting, or entering revisions. *This service may not be the right fit if you’re looking for sentence-level edits, proofreading, or feedback on early fragments or outlines.

We’re featuring an ongoing and revolving group of professional editors for fiction and non-fiction across all genres.

Featured Editor

As the daughter of a religious studies professor and a New York Times–bestselling mystery author, Zoe Quinton was born with stories in her blood. After over a decade working in the traditional publishing industry alongside her mother, Zoe launched her own editing and publishing consultancy in 2017. She is now Editor in Chief at Fringe Press, the independent publishing house she co-founded to spotlight bold, original voices in fiction. When she’s not reading for work or pleasure—which is rare—she’s probably doing CrossFit, drinking good coffee or whiskey, and/or spending time with her two boys and three cats at their lovely home in Santa Cruz, California.

Request a Quote

To request a quote, email our Workshop coordinator at workshop@bookpipeline.com.

Please include your book’s pitch/synopsis, total word count, genre, and a brief sample (first chapter or up to 5,000 words). You can also ask any questions you may have.

Turnaround time will vary, this service is available until the end of April.

*Submissions are strictly confidential. Editors do not retain rights to your work.

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Upcoming Deadlines

2026 Adaptation Contest

Special Entry Deadline: March 20, 2026

Seeking published books, graphic novels, and short stories for film and TV adaptation. Winner receives extensive development with execs and circulation to producers.

2026 Unpublished Contest

Special Entry Deadline: March 20, 2026

Reviewing unpublished manuscripts across multiple categories of fiction and nonfiction. Select publishers and literary agents get first look at the winner.

Latest Success Stories

Runner-up Author Published by Running Wild Press

May 19, 2025

The Indispensable Lottie Hot by Mark Connelly will be published by Running Wild Press. Due for a 2026 release. Mark placed in the 2024 Unpublished competition with his literary novel Newman's Choice.

Nonfiction Finalist "Ditch Your Sh*T" Author Signed

May 6, 2025

Unpublished finalist (Nonfiction) Kate Evans was introduced by Pipeline to agent Cindy Bullard of Birch Literary in 2023, who soon after signed her. Ditch Your Sh*t!: How to Declutter the Crap Out of Your Life and Home is slated for publication in October 2025 through Turner Books.

Script Pipeline TV Finalist Signed by Stonesong

May 1, 2025

This one is best-expressed through a timeline ... A totally easy process spanning a breezy … nine years. From Laura: "The Pipeline team has been amazingly helpful since The Mother was a finalist in the Script Pipeline TV competition years ago. It's a story that has stayed close to my heart so I ended up […]

Book Pipeline connects writers to publishers, agents, and the film industry through competitions and workshops, providing hands-on support to bridge the gap between emerging authors and the industry since 2014.
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