Types of Editing

How do you know what you need?

I am a developmental editor, but there are all different kinds of editors. How do you know what type of editor does what? And what type of editing do you need? Here’s a quick primer.

Photo by Nick Morrison on Unsplash

Like a doctor diagnosing a patient, a developmental editor looks at your manuscript and tries to figure out exactly what is and isn’t working. This is a big picture edit. We’re not looking at commas or sentence fragments yet. Instead, we’re looking at overall items like plot, pace and character development. We’re also considering how your novel fits into the marketplace and what we can do to make it even more commercial. These notes are extensive. I mark everything up with track changes inside a manuscript now and only include a smaller overall note, but once upon a time I wrote 50 (!) page edit letters. I catch everything writers are worried about and everything they never even thought to worry about. A developmental edit is a master class in writing. Once you see how an editor like me sees your book, it will transform the way you write going forward.

A line edit is the next step after this “big picture” edit. This is where an editor focuses line by line on your manuscript, just like the name suggests. They’re checking for readability and flow as opposed to errors, which will happen in the copy editing phase.

Copy editing is what almost every single author who comes to me thinks they need. They’re wrong. This should only come after a more substantive edit. A copy editor checks for errors in punctuation and grammar, but there’s no point in doing this if you need to do more revising. In fact, there is very rarely a point in paying for a copy edit if you’re planning to traditionally publish because your agent and your editor will have even more notes. Everyone has their own vision for a manuscript. I would only pay for a copy edit and a proofread if you’re indie publishing and know you’re absolutely not going to make any more changes to the story.

And finally, a proofread! This involves making sure your final document is free of any mistakes before it is published and should be the very last step.

I like to think of a developmental edit as building the house, a line edit as adding furniture, a copy edit as cleaning and a proofread as adding a final coat of paint.

What should you expect to pay for all of this? It varies depending on the level of editing and the editor’s experience. A good place to check for an estimate on your project is the Editorial Freelancers Association. They also have a rate chart. Make sure you know what you’re getting, check reviews, and confirm your chosen editor has edited real books out in the world similar to your own. And don’t only consider price! It isn’t a bargain if you end up having to pay several “cheaper” editors when you could have just used one really good one.

Any questions, let me know!

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