---
title: "Developmental Self-Edit: Diagnose Your Draft | Journzy"
description: "A developmental editing read of your own draft: Journzy points to passages, explains why and ranks a revision plan. It never rewrites. Part of Author."
url: "https://journzy.com/en/features/developmental-diagnosis"
language: "en"
---

# A developmental diagnosis of your draft, with a revision plan

Journzy's developmental diagnosis gives you a developmental editing read of your own draft. It points to the passages where structure, pacing or tension slip, explains why, and ranks a revision plan. It never rewrites. It is part of the Author plan.

## Developmental editing for your own draft: what it reads and what you get

Before you polish line by line, it helps to know whether the book holds up. The diagnosis reads the whole draft and returns three things.

- **Developmental diagnosis (Author).** A read of the structure of your complete draft, so you see what works and what does not before the revision starts.
- **Prioritized revision plan (Author).** An ordered list of what to fix first, so you revise the big things before the small ones.
- **Pacing, tension arcs, dialogue and theme (Author).** Four analyses that show how the pace is spread, how tension rises and falls, how the dialogue sounds and which theme runs through the book.

## A diagnosis that points and explains, and never rewrites

Every finding names the manuscript passage or story bible entry behind it and explains why it was flagged. You accept, edit or dismiss each point. Journzy does not rewrite, expand or describe your text, and it does not write scenes or chapters.

## Start your revision with a map

You start on the Free plan and move to Author when you want the diagnosis: $19/month or $180/year, plus tax.

[Try Author](https://write.journzy.com/onboarding?step=1)

## From diagnosis to revision

The revision plan tells you where to start, and the rest of Journzy helps you follow it. In the [outline view](https://journzy.com/en/features/outline) you reorder scenes and check each one's point of view, goal and conflict. The [continuity checker](https://journzy.com/en/features/continuity-checker) watches the facts in your bible while you rewrite on your own. It is a self-edit that you control from start to finish.

## How it works

1. Write your draft in Journzy, or import it.
2. Run the developmental diagnosis with Author.
3. Read the findings: each one points to a passage and explains why.
4. Follow the prioritized revision plan, from the big things to the small ones.
5. Accept, edit or dismiss each point, and rewrite the text yourself.

## Know what to revise first

Try Author and get a diagnosis with a prioritized revision plan. You start on the Free plan and upgrade whenever you like.

[Try Author](https://write.journzy.com/onboarding?step=1)

## Frequently asked questions

Does the AI rewrite my text?

No. The diagnosis points to passages and explains why. It never rewrites, expands or describes your text, and it never writes scenes or chapters. You do the revising.

Is the diagnosis free?

No. The diagnosis and the revision plan are part of Author: $19/month or $180/year, plus tax. You start on Free and switch plans whenever you like.

Does it replace a professional editor?

It does not try to. It is a first read so that you revise your draft with a plan. A human editor offers another perspective, and you can share your manuscript with one from Journzy.

What does it analyze?

The structure of your draft, the pacing, the tension arcs, the dialogue and the theme. Each finding cites the passage it rests on.

Does it work in Spanish?

Yes. Journzy is native in Spanish and English, and the diagnosis reads your manuscript in whichever language you write.

## Related

- ### [Plan, outline and track your story's timeline](https://journzy.com/en/features/outline)
  [Novel planning software with point of view, goal, conflict and status for every scene, plot lanes and an outline revision mode. Free never expires.](https://journzy.com/en/features/outline)
- ### [Find plot holes and continuity errors before your readers do](https://journzy.com/en/features/continuity-checker)
  [A continuity checker that reads each scene against your story bible and shows the quote behind every flag. Part of the Author plan, never rewrites your text.](https://journzy.com/en/features/continuity-checker)
- ### [Grammar and style checks made for fiction](https://journzy.com/en/features/grammar-and-style)
  [A readability checker and style checker for fiction: grammar, typography, repetition and rhythm in English and Spanish. You decide on every flag.](https://journzy.com/en/features/grammar-and-style)
- ### [Share one version with beta readers and editors](https://journzy.com/en/features/beta-readers)
  [Share your manuscript with beta readers and editors: one exact version, comments on the exact passage, and 7, 30 or 90 days of revocable access.](https://journzy.com/en/features/beta-readers)