Skill | Stakeholder Interviewing

Developmental editing and entering the client mindset,

or how I went from UXing books to UXing digital products

For six years before my UX career officially began, I consulted with academic authors to identify the key messages and pain points in their manuscripts. As a developmental editor, I help authors work through their research findings and drafts to produce books that deliver clear, structured arguments.

Getting to know an author’s vision is like interviewing any new client: it requires asking a lot of questions, probing for detail, and investigating the nooks and crannies of an idea that has been evolving for two to ten years.

My intake process begins with a questionnaire and a consultation call, and takes shape to reflect the client’s needs and personality. I ask lots of clarifying questions, then mirror answers back to be sure the author and I are on the same page.

By the time I audit a book draft in detail, I am prepared to offer focused, actionable recommendations and to query points that don’t match the author’s intentions.

The result? Clients who feel heard, understood, and satisfied with a polished manuscript that publishers want to print.