Peggy Arthur

By Peggy Arthur

Greetings!

When writers talk about editing, it’s often reduced to a single, intimidating word, editing, as if it’s one sweeping process where your book is either “fixed” or “broken.” The reality is far more layered, intentional, and, when done well, deeply collaborative.

Right now, The Pretender’s Game is undergoing both developmental editing and line editing. Whereby, each phase takes four weeks, and between those phases, I’m given two weeks to complete my own revisions. That timeline is deliberate. It protects the story while giving it room to evolve.

So today, I want to pull back the curtain on what developmental editing really looks like, what isn’t being changed, and why good editing, especially for a first novel, isn’t about chasing perfection.

What Developmental Editing Actually Focuses On

Developmental editing looks at the big picture. It asks questions like:

• Does the story structure support the emotional journey?
• Are character arcs clear, earned, and consistent?
• Does the pacing serve the tension and themes?
• Are the stakes escalating in a way that feels organic?

For The Pretender’s Game, this means examining how the mythic framework, ancestral magic, and heroine’s journey weave together across the full arc of Book One. It’s about ensuring the story delivers what it promises emotionally, spiritually, and narratively.

This phase is not about commas, word choice, or polishing sentences. It’s about alignment.

What I’m Not Changing (and Why That Matters)

One of the biggest fears writers have, especially first-time authors, is that an editor will “rewrite the book” or erase the author’s voice. A good developmental editor doesn’t do that.

What’s not up for change:

• The core themes of ancestral memory, identity, and spiritual inheritance
• The cultural and mythic foundations of the story
• The emotional truth of the characters
• The authorial voice and tone

Those elements are the soul of the book. Developmental editing is about clarifying and strengthening them, not replacing them.

What Is Fair Game

That said, some things are open for revision and they should be.

Fair game includes:

• Scene order and placement
• Character motivation clarity
• Where information is revealed (and where it’s held back)
• Sections that may repeat the same emotional beat
• Places where the story hesitates instead of moving forward

None of these changes mean the story was “wrong.” They mean the story is being listened to carefully. 

Why Good Editing Isn’t About Perfection

Perfection is static. Stories are alive.

A polished novel isn’t one that’s been scrubbed clean of every rough edge, it’s one that knows where to linger, where to cut, and where to trust the reader.

Good editing doesn’t flatten a story. It sharpens it.

It helps ensure that when readers step into the world, they’re guided, not rushed, not confused, and not held at arm’s length by unnecessary noise.

Common Myths About Editing a First Novel

Let’s clear a few things up:

Myth #1: Your first novel is supposed to be perfect. 

Truth: Your first novel is supposed to be honest and complete. Editing helps it become readable and resonant.

Myth #2: Heavy edits mean the book is bad. 

Truth: Thoughtful edits mean the book is taken seriously.

Myth #3: Editing kills creativity. 

Truth: Editing creates space for creativity to land.

Why the Timeline Matters

The editing schedule matters because it respects the work.

• 4 weeks for developmental editing
• 2 weeks for author revisions
• 4 weeks for line editing
• 2 weeks for final author revisions

This rhythm allows reflection instead of reaction. It gives the story time to settle before moving into the next layer of refinement.

Where We Are Now

This phase is less about fixing and more about listening, listening to what the story is asking to become before it’s introduced to the world.

And that, in many ways, is the quiet work behind every book that lasts.

If you’ve ever wondered what really happens between “The End” and publication, this is it.

The circle is still forming.

Stay Inside the Circle

If you’d like to follow The Pretender’s Game beyond the surface, through the real decisions, revisions, and revelations that happen between draft and publication, I invite you to subscribe.

Subscribers receive behind-the-scenes insights into the editing process, story craft, mythic structure, and the quieter moments of becoming a published author. Some reflections are shared publicly. Others are reserved for those walking the path a little closer.

📬 Join the circle. Subscribe to the newsletter and stay connected as the story takes its final shape. 

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