A book on developmental editing
There is no definitive book on developmental editing for prescriptive nonfiction — and certainly no book on what editing should look like in the age of AI.
So I think I ought to write one.
Where I start from on this is similar to where I started when I conceived Writing Without Bullshit. That is, I think after 75 book projects that I’m experienced at the topic, but I don’t know why or how I work. I don’t think there are a set of steps to follow — it’s more of a mindset.
Not only that, in my experience, there are many excellent developmental editors and they often take widely different methods in their work. It’s fascinating to me.
When it comes to writing, I thought I could describe a systematic way to approach it. When it comes to editing, I’m not sure there is. Maybe there is, and I don’t know it. And maybe there needs to be a different approach.
That’s what makes it fascinating.
Some big questions
As I set out on this path, I have three big questions. And I want you, my reader, to help me best answer them.
- Who is good at this? Who are the best developmental editors that you know. Who is inspired and insightful? I want to interview them and quote them. This is not about what I know. It’s about what we, taken together as a writing community, know.
- What are the main questions I should answer? I have ideas on this, but I’m going to leave it wide open for now. What questions do you have? What questions should a developmental editor answer?
- How has AI changed the work of the editor? In 2026, the work of an editor is perhaps more essential than it has ever been, because of the need to elevate and preserve the human voice in world flooded with AI slop. Even so, only an editor stuck in the past would ignore the potential that AI has to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the editing process. A modern book on developmental editing must address how AI tools are changing the work.
Here’s the truth: I don’t know the answers to any of these questions. Oh, I certainly have ideas, but I’m ready to learn from the intelligence of all the other smart editors out there.
Here is my charge to you. If you have ideas on any of these three topics, please add a comment here so I can learn from your insights.
Josh, this is a GREAT idea! A couple of quick thoughts to answer your questions in order. 1.) In the past, the best developmental editors were often employed by the big publishing houses. One such is Robert Gottlieb, who edited Robert Caro’s books. Nowadays, great developmental editors often work independently and how to find them is word-of-mouth. For example, I work with an extraordinarily good editor, Erin Shetron, for my [B]old Age substack https://www.erinshetron.com/ She’s worth talking to. 2.) The best developmental editors ask the writer the most important questions that are in the reader’s mind… they are the smart reader’s advocate. What is alluded to, but not explained? What could be better organized so that it’s easier for the reader to grasp? What is the writer leaving out? What is the writer REALLY trying to say, and so on. The best DE get to know the writer intimately; as in Gottlieb and Caro. The best DE fully earn the writer’s trust. 3.) AI… THE BIGGEST QUESTION. AI is useful to writers in so many ways: brainstorming, organizing information, suggesting key points. But AI is NOT a good editor; I speak from experience. It / they makes assumptions about your draft based on its LLM’s. The assumptions can be incorrect, misleading, and confusing… because AI does not actually know how YOUR unique mind as a writer works. So… a DO’s and DON’T’s list on how to use AI, with specific examples, will be invaluable. Anyway, go for it! I love your two books and look forward to another.