What Type of Editing Do You Need?

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Getting your book professionally edited is important not only for authors who are self-publishing, but doing a round or two will help authors who are seeking to have their book traditionally published. But a lot of new authors aren't sure where to start or what services apply to their book. Here I'll break down each type of editing, the general order they happen in, and how to find an editor.

Editorial Assessment

Not every author needs to do an editorial assessment. An editorial assessment is going to be for authors who haven't finished drafting their book. If an author isn't sure how to end their book, about the conflict, or is in need of broader advice about plot or the narrative. This type of edit won't be as detailed as a development edit, it's generally not going to point out smaller details or give examples for rewriting.  

Developmental Editing

Developmental is sometimes called structural or content editing. Structural editing usually focuses specifically on structural elements, but it is still under the umbrella of a developmental edit. A developmental edit will focus on the big picture elements of a story: the narrative, structure, language, characterization, etc. This is the stage where major revisions take place. You might add or cut content, characters, or rewrite some content. A developmental edit is generally the most expensive type of editing, and the editor you choose should have some experience in your genre. New authors are often unsure of what genre their book fits into, and a good developmental editor will help define the story's genre or help the author tweak their story to fall within a genre's scope. 

Line Editing

A line edit looks closely at the language of a manuscript. It is heavier than a copy edit, and closely examines the content and flow of a manuscript. It focuses more on craft than technical details, unlike a copy edit. Not every manuscript goes through a line edit, nor does it need to. Line editing is helpful for new authors who have not developed their voice or style yet. An author with no creative writing experience will benefit from an intense edit like this. This edit will give the writer a lot of feedback, but it will usually be feedback that they can take and apply to all of their writing. More experienced authors can still benefit from a line edit, but it is not often necessary. 

Copy Editing

This is generally what people think of when they think of editing. This edit looks at language, consistency, and accuracy. A copy editor will point out details like a character's name being spelled two ways or switching tenses within a sentence. Copy editors usually generate a style sheet, which specifies how certain words are handled within a manuscript. It will specify if a book uses US or UK English, the style guide, the dictionary, or how to spell a word with multiple accepted spellings. For example, nightlight, night-light, and night light are all accepted spellings of the word. So a style sheet will specify that this book will use nightlight as the spelling. 

A copy editor will often do fact checking, unless it's a work that has more complex facts to check. A copy editor will usually check to make sure there is a city named Manchester in California, or that Hermès makes ashtrays. But any facts that require specific knowledge on a subject usually need someone who has a background in the subject. Fiction manuscripts don't often require a separate fact checker, it's usually nonfiction books with very specific topics. 

Proofreading

The final stage of editing, proofreading, happens after all other editing takes place. A proofread fixes errors, and generally does not include a lot of edits. A proofreader will also make sure the formatting is consistent. They'll make sure that all chapter headings have the same font, size, and have the same spacing. Ideally, most of these errors are caught by the copy editor or author during revisions. It's normal at this stage to have multiple pages in a row without any edits. 

How do I Find an Editor?

There are a few ways you can find an editor—you can search online, through websites with a database of freelancers, or by asking other authors for recommendations. But whatever editors you consider should have portfolios or examples of their work that you can review. A lot of editors will offer sample edits, though not all do. There are websites that have databases of editors who you can request quotes from, though be careful when selecting the editor you work with on sites where they directly compete for projects. 

A new editor will probably be less expensive than an experienced one, but that doesn't always mean you won't get good advice. Ask for a sample edit or examples of previous work. Look at their portfolio of published books they've edited. Ask for client references and review their qualifications. There are a variety of qualifications an editor could have, so if you don't recognize one, look it up. You should be able to get a sense of how much training or education a certificate adds. An editor might also belong to professional societies, associations, or networks, which can add credibility. 

Before agreeing to work with an editor, make sure the project is clearly defined. Editors might charge by page, word, hour, but their rate should be clearly stated along with the scope of the project, type of edit, and deadlines. Editors usually require a contract, so read everything before signing. Find out their cancellation policies and payment expectations. Editors may require a deposit to secure a slot, and make sure you understand the payment schedule. Most editors take payments online. 

Not every book needs to go through every type of editing. Fiction books usually go through at least developmental editing, copy editing, and proofreading. An editor is important because they will help authors develop their stories and skills, and improve the reader's experience. Still not sure what you need? Take this handy quiz below!