10 Mistakes I See as a Developmental Editor

And how to fix them.

Every writer hits a moment in revision where something feels off. Maybe the pacing drags, the protagonist’s motivation isn’t quite landing, or the opening just isn’t gripping enough.

As a developmental editor, I see the same struggles come up again and again, and I want to tell you this: these are not signs that your book isn’t good. They’re simply guideposts, showing you where your story needs more shaping.

I also have nonfiction and memoir pens somewhere around here…

So, let’s talk about the ten most common manuscript issues I see—and, more importantly, how to fix them.

OPENING: Where Many Stories Stumble

1). Too Much Gearing Up in the Beginning

It’s tempting to frontload your novel with everything the reader needs to know, but too much setup stalls momentum. Readers don’t need to know everything right away. They need to be intrigued.

The Fix: Drop readers into an active scene. Let them absorb backstory naturally through action, dialogue, and small moments of reflection, rather than an exposition dump. I always like to say, “Start late and end early!”