Developmental Editing for World-Building

Developmental editor and anthropologist Andrew Hodges shares his view of the editor’s role in shaping fictional worlds—especially in speculative fiction. He brings a unique perspective to the craft, blending editorial expertise with a background in cultural anthropology. We discuss:

• How editors can guide world-building without taking over the creative vision
• Common mistakes writers make when creating new worlds
• Approaches to handling culture and social structures with nuance
• Tools and frameworks that make complex worlds easier to manage
• Why developmental editing for world-building is really about strengthening the story’s core

If you’re a developmental editor working with fantasy, sci-fi, or even historical fiction, this episode is full of ideas for making world-building more intentional, inclusive, and story-driven.

Andrew Hodges is a developmental editor and the founder of The Narrative Craft (TheNarrativeCraft.com), where he works with speculative fiction authors to bring their stories to life. With a PhD in social anthropology, Andrew offers deep insight into how culture, structure, and meaning shape the worlds we build.

Here’s a detailed list of the resources mentioned in this episode:

• Andy’s podcast: https://www.thenarrativecraft.com/the-free-lancer-podcast
• Andy’s webinar https://payhip.com/b/UTCN9
• Sophie Playle Guiding Principles for Developmental Fiction Editing (Webinar) https://www.liminalpages.com/
• Jennifer Lawler Developmental Editing Courses https://www.clubedfreelancers.com/jennifer-lawler-editor/
• Beth Hill’s book, “The Magic of Fiction” https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29510704-the-magic-of-fiction
• Janice Hardy’s “Revising Your Novel: First Draft to Finished Draft: A step-by-step guide to revising your novel”: https://a.co/d/f5y6PQu
• Wonderbook: https://a.co/d/3YCnoWJ
• Blog, podcast, discord: https://mythcreants.com/

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