The Author’s Playbook: Developmental Edit

See the hidden mechanics bestsellers use. Then, apply them to your manuscript. 

Bestselling genre fiction novels keep readers glued to the page through invisible mechanics that control reader experience. The Playbook makes those forces visible and then helps you use them to create a story that makes readers cancel plans to finish.

The Infographic Guide to Standout Plots, included with your purchase, condenses those mechanics into three one-page story diagrams. One per plot type. It’s nearly a decade of developmental editing and insights from 1,000+ novels on what separates a good read from a fandom. The infographics let you see how the elements important in your genre fit together and shift over story time. They give you a picture you can hold in your mind while you draft, so you know exactly which levers to pull when pacing drags or conflict needs to build.

The text of the Playbook unpacks these diagrams. The AI prompts analyze your outline and return developmental feedback structured just like a developmental editor would give you: what's working, what could be strengthened, and specific suggestions incorporating your story elements.

The prompts close the gap between knowing something could be stronger and pinpointing exactly what to do about it. It's specific, actionable feedback applied to your specific story so you can get more readers who finish your novel and immediately want the next one.

What the Playbook Prompts Cover

• Story Foundation. Evaluate whether the key ingredients for your genre are conveying mixed messages or making it easy for readers to get hooked.

• Cast. Surface opportunities for hero and genre-specific side characters to create more organic complications, increase emotional stakes, and help you strengthen your cast so more readers wish they could meet them.

• Plot Rhythm. Diagnose how well your genre-specific forces are working across the full manuscript, then go deeper with targeted assessments such as these for:

• Villain-driven plots (stories where a hero confronts a villain) -  stakes visibility, danger and escalation, hero skills and response patterns, and hero-villain power differential 

• Romance plots - romantic tension, emotional intimacy vs. internal resistance, physical intimacy vs. internal resistance, heroes’ vulnerabilities and unique offers

• Investigation plots - misdirection and plot twist potency, revelation pacing, investigation aides and distractions 

So more readers finish your novel breathless and begging for the next one. 

What's Available

Part 1: Villain-Driven Plot. Available now. For any story where a hero must defeat a villain and protect victims, from realistic thrillers to fantasy quests to space opera. Think The Hunger Games, The Martian, Jack Reacher.

The Infographic Guide to Standout Plots. Available now.

Story Foundation Diagnostic for Romance. Available now as early access for all buyers.

Part 2: Romance Plots. July 2026.

Part 3: Mystery Plots. September 2026.

All parts are included in your purchase. No additional payment at release.

Live Sprint Sessions

Every other month, Playbook owners are invited to a live 90-minute sprint session. Bring your manuscript and your Playbook. Two work sprints per session, with time for questions about the Playbook, your novel, AI, or to just chat about fiction.

Watch for session announcements in your email after purchase.