You've read a thousand books. You know, in your gut, when a scene isn't working, even if you can't always say why. That instinct is the raw material of a developmental editor. What you're missing isn't taste, it's a method.
Not a sampler.
One real manuscript, start to finish.
Most challenges give you a new exercise every day, on a different piece of writing, so by day five you've dabbled in five things and mastered none of them. This one doesn't work that way.
Every participant works on the same manuscript excerpt, all week.
A real, authentic excerpt written by a real author who wants real feedback. You're not sampling developmental editing. You're doing it.
The Five Days
Read Like an Editor
LIVE ON ZOOM · 9AM PT · 30 MIN
Read the excerpt and write down three things that aren't working. That's it, you're not allowed to fix them yet. You'll feel the difference between reading the book that exists and reading the book that's trying to get out, the shift that separates an editor's eye from a reader's eye.
Find the Structure
LIVE ON ZOOM · 9AM PT · 30 MIN
Map out what this scene is actually doing in the story: not what happens in it, but what job it's doing for the book as a whole. Connects straight to our newsletter series on plot vs. structure.
The Diagnosis
LIVE ON ZOOM · 9AM PT · 30 MIN
Put the real problem into one sentence. This is the moment most people describe as the click, where scattered observations resolve into a clear editorial diagnosis.
The Editorial Letter
LIVE ON ZOOM · 9AM PT · 30 MIN
Write three lines of feedback, addressed to the author. Your first real editorial deliverable, the exact kind of thing a developmental editor gets paid to produce.
The Profession
LIVE WITH ANN & HELENA · 9AM PT · 30 MIN
We unpack what happened in the manuscript, then open the business side: what an editor charges per manuscript, how many projects a year builds a real income, and a real story of someone who went from teacher to paid developmental editor. Plus: where this week fits inside DEEC's full curriculum, and an honest look at time, cost, and what happens if life gets in the way.
Why This Week Is Different
You'll leave with proof
Your Day 4 letter is real evidence: you did what a developmental editor does, without training. Imagine what eight months of it could make possible.
You won't do this alone
Around Day 2 and 3, you'll pair up with another participant to compare reads and diagnoses. The people who go furthest in this field don't just learn the craft, they find their people.
You'll see the money, not just the dream
On Day 5 we put real numbers on the table: what a developmental edit pays, how many manuscripts a year adds up to real income, and one editor's actual path from career changer to working professional.
You'll recognize exactly what you did
Read. Map. Diagnose. Write the letter. On Friday we show you DEEC's curriculum and point straight at what you did on Wednesday: that's Module 2, the same skill, applied to a full manuscript.
We lower the risk before you decide
Eight months is a real commitment for anyone with a full-time job. On Day 5 we talk about it directly: hours per week, what happens if things get busy, how payment plans work.
Meet Your Hosts
Ann Ljungberg
Author coach, editor & co-founder of DEEC
Helena Hansen
Author coach, editor & co-founder of DEEC
Questions Before You Save Your Spot
Do I need any editing experience?
None. If you've ever finished a book and thought "the ending didn't earn itself" or "I lost interest around chapter six," you already have the instinct. This week gives you the method.
How much time does this take?
Every day is a live 30-minute session on Zoom at 9am PT, Monday through Friday.
What if I miss a day?
All sessions will be recorded and delivered to everyone who has secured a spot.
Is this really free?
Yes. Day 5 shows you what comes next if you want to go further, but the challenge itself costs nothing but your time.
What's DEEC?
DEEC is our certification program for developmental editors: the professional path this challenge gives you a real taste of.