What kind of edit
do you need?
Before I became an editor, I had no idea that there were different types of editing.
Like many writers, I thought of an editor as someone who moved commas, corrected spelling, and lectured on verb tenses. Their fingers were stained with red ink, their lips puckered from the sourness of dangling modifiers. They cringed at the misuse of colons and raged at the overabundance of ellipses. They read the dictionary before bed, then tossed in the sheets all night in a never-ending battle of changing it’s to its and their to they’re.
Essentially, I thought of all editors as copy editors. Developmental editor? Line editor? Never heard of them. Proofreader? Wasn’t that just the colloquial term for copy editor?
I was wrong.
It turned out that an editor wore many hats and was more than a human spell-check. There were layers of editing and different focuses. To help others, like myself, who didn’t know the difference, I thought I would share a quick summary.
From big picture to final polish, typical order and cost:
Developmental Editing
A developmental edit evaluates the big picture of how a manuscript works as a story. It analyzes story structure, plot, pacing, character arcs, themes, and more. The feedback from a developmental editor often results in large-scale revision. The goal is to create a compelling, immersive, and marketable book.
A developmental edit doesn’t address how a story is told on the sentence level. It isn’t the time to correct minor issues with spelling, punctuation, and grammar as the text is still in flux and large sections may change.
What should I expect with this edit?
Don’t expect a sample edit
Once you start looking for an editor, you’ll be told to ask for a sample edit. This is a great approach for finding a copy or line editor, but it may not be offered by a developmental editor and for good reason. A developmental edit addresses the story as a whole, and 1,000-word sample won’t offer that big picture.
Instead, I recommend communicating with the editor and discussing your story. See if they’re receptive and insightful in a way that fits your style. Some editors will offer a discovery call on Zoom, and others will correspond by email or with an in-depth questionnaire. Make sure the editor is asking about your intentions for the manuscript and involving your interests as the author.
Expect your manuscript to be returned with comments and a comprehensive editorial letter
Marginal comments will dig into the tiny details of the story and may include ideas to consider. In a developmental edit, it’s the editorial letter that does the heavy lifting. It delves into all the important components of a novel.
In the letter, a developmental editor should identify the problem, explain why it’s a problem, and help you solve it. Unless an editor is combining their developmental edit with a line edit, the manuscript’s text will not usually be changed. Examples of how to improve a passage may be modeled in the letter or left as a comment in the manuscript’s margins.
Example of Feedback:
2. Line Editing
A line editor improves the prose in a manuscript. Sentences may be rearranged, and word choice improved. Changes help build tension and make the story feel more impactful and immediate for readers.
The feedback from a line editor will be a combination of tracked changes to the text and comments on the side. Comments may explain the editor’s reasons for making a correction the first time it happens, or it may be to offer a suggestion.
A line editor should not introduce any ideas or meaning that isn’t in the text. They can improve and refine it, but they shouldn’t be creating it. They respect the author’s vision and voice by staying true to what’s on the page. However, they may suggest ways to tweak or enhance the content in comments.
What should I expect with this edit?
Expect a sample edit
Most reputable line editors will offer a 1,000-word sample. This gives you the chance to see their work firsthand and decide if you’re creatively compatible.
Expect your manuscript to be returned with track changes and comments
Changes will be made using Word’s track changes. This will allow you to review the editor’s changes and either approve or reject those suggestions.
Often, the line editor will leave comments in the margins with questions or explaining their creative choices. There is a level of subjectivity to a line edit. Improving a section of text may receive a different approach depending on the editor. Make sure their style and decisions align with your vision.
Example of Feedback:
3. Copy Editing
A copy editor is probably what most people think of when they hear editor. A copy editor corrects grammar, spelling, and punctuation. They improve readability by adjusting awkward or confusing sentences. Clarity and correctness are their top priorities.
An important role of the copy editor is to create consistency throughout the manuscript. They ensure that a character’s hair color stays the same and that you always use—or always avoid—the Oxford comma. They track of the nitty gritty details in the story and apply internal rules across the whole text.
Feedback from a copy editor will mostly include direct corrections in the text using Word’s track changes. They may leave comments explaining their correction. If something is confusing and requires an author’s decision, they may include a question in the margins.
What should I expect with this edit?
Expect a sample edit
Most reputable copy editors will offer a 1,000-word sample. As with a line editor, this gives you the chance to see their work firsthand and decide if you’re creatively compatible.Expect your manuscript to be returned with track changes
Changes will be made to the text and recorded on Word’s track changes. This will allow you to review the editor’s changes and either approve or reject those suggestions. Make sure you agree with their decisions.Expect a style sheet
A style sheet is a small report that records all the style decisions specific to your manuscript.
Not all grammar/spelling/punctuation rules are right or wrong. “Grey” and “gray” are both correct, but only one form should be used throughout the manuscript. Typography choices, like italicizing a constructed language or capitalizing a made-up species, are noted. When are numbers written as a numeral versus spelled out? How are text messages or internal telepathy formatted?
A style sheet for fiction will also record storytelling aspects. It will include worldbuilding terms, including a made up word is spelled when used as a verb versus functioning as a noun. Timelines, character profiles, and locations may be listed and detailed in the style sheet.
This can be a useful document for future reference, especially if the book is part of a series.
Example of Feedback:
4. Proofreading
Proofreading is often confused with copy editing. Because proofreading costs less, it is often mistaken as a substitute for copy editing, but they’re actually two different steps in the process.
Proofreading is meant to be a safety net that catches last-minute mistakes in the final file. It shouldn’t be the frontline or primary way of catching mechanical errors. To prevent this, many proofreaders will refuse a manuscript that hasn’t been been professionally copy edited.
Proofreading should be the final step before the author publishes. The file formatted for ebook or print. In addition to checking missed errors, a proofreader ensures that the page numbers are correct, chapter headings are consistent, and front and back matter is properly arranged. They make sure the book is truly ready for publication.
Summary
Editing can be as extensive as an author needs. Knowing the different types of editing can help you determine what your story needs from an editor.
Do you want feedback on the antagonist’s redemption arc? Developmental editing.
Feel like the prose is choppy and slow? Line editing.
Are readers complaining of punctuation mistakes? Copy editing.
Is the book already edited but needs a final once-over? Proofreading.
Which ever route you take, communicate with your editor and make sure they’re a good fit. The editing process isn’t just about “fixing” the manuscript but should be a relationship that elevates you as a writer.
Being a writer can be lonely at times, and a good editor is your partner in the publishing journey, a powerful source of support and encouragement.
Can more questions about editing? Just reach out!