If you’re a a writer who’s just finished your draft manuscript, you’ve probably heard that you should find an editor to review your work.
As you’ve started searching, you’ve run into different terminology and types of edits. And, unless you’re in the writing and publishing business, you might not be sure what these terms mean.
Doesn’t “editing” just mean “proofreading”?
No, my dear writer, it does not.
Here’s a quick and dirty guide to the different types of edits, for both nonfiction and fiction authors.
1) Developmental Edit
People in the publishing business generally agree that developmental editing is the most important stage of the editorial process. It’s also the first stage of a formal edit.
Developmental editors read for the “big picture” elements of your manuscript, giving advice on the larger, structural elements.
For fiction, those elements include plot, pacing, characters, setting, and dialog. Developmental editors make sure the story makes logical sense (even in the most fantastical worlds), the characters’ motivations and emotions feel real, and the settings feel full and lived in.
For nonfiction, those elements include organization, argument, evidence, and clarity. A developmental editor will give feedback on the strength of the evidence presented, give suggestions for any additional material that might be needed, and suggest deletion of any tangents or material that might go off topic.
2) Line Edit
A line edit involves refining a manuscript’s language line-by-line (as the name implies).
For both fiction and nonfiction, this includes deleting extraneous words and repetition, tightening sentences, eliminating fluff or filler words, and splitting up long paragraphs or sentences. It may also involve moving around sentences or paragraphs to improve flow, organization, and readability.
A line edit also ensures that the tone of the book is not only consistent throughout, but also is appropriate for the genre and target reader.
3) Copy Edit
A copy edit ensures that your manuscript is in one cohesive style, usually using a style guide such as the Chicago Manual of Style or the Modern Language Association.
This style will include things like spelling, grammar, punctuation, and tone. A copy editor also looks for factual errors and continuity goofs.
In fiction, they’ll make sure your character names are spelled consistently throughout and that your main character’s eye color doesn’t change from blue to green halfway through the book. For nonfiction, they’ll make sure your citations follow your preferred style guide.
A copy editor will provide you with a style sheet that can include spellings, formatting (italics, bold face), and spellings. If your copy editor doesn’t give you a style sheet as a deliverable, then they likely are not qualified to be copy editing; style sheets are an industry standard.
4) Proofreading
Proofreaders make sure that everything is in its place: punctuation, spelling, spacing and formatting, and those other little errors that somehow make it through all previous rounds of editing.
They make sure that the proof (ha!) is error-free before it goes on to be printed or published.
Basically, proofreaders are our last line of defense against typos.
What type of editing do you need?
Generally, most people in the publishing industry believe that if you are self-publishing and can only afford one kind of edit, invest in a developmental editor.
I don’t say that because I am a developmental editor. I say that because readers will forgive a book with a few spelling errors and typos. They won’t forgive a book with a weak story, cardboard cut-out characters, or an argument that doesn’t hold water.
If you’ve received feedback from beta readers on your manuscript and feel that you’ve resolved most of the big picture issues in your book, then you’re probably ready for a line edit. Some line editors do work that overlaps with copy editing, so just make sure you ask them what they’ll be reading for and revising.
I offer free 2000-word developmental and line edits so you can see how I give feedback and suggestions.
Send me a message or schedule a 30-minute free call with me to discuss your needs and your publishing goals.
