"Editing" covers several different jobs, and paying for the wrong one is one of the most common and expensive mistakes a new author makes. Here is what each stage does, and how to work out where your manuscript is.
The four stages
Developmental editing looks at the big picture: structure, pacing, character, argument, and whether the book delivers what it promises its reader. It may suggest moving, cutting or rewriting whole sections.
Line editing works on the style of the sentences: rhythm, tone, clarity and flow. Some editors combine this with copy-editing.
Copy-editing is a careful line-by-line pass for grammar, spelling, punctuation, consistency and repetition. A good copy-editor keeps a style sheet recording your decisions (spellings, names, hyphenation) so that every later change stays consistent.
Proofreading is the final check on the typeset pages, to catch the typos, gaps and layout slips that have got through every earlier stage. It is not a chance to rewrite.
The order matters
Do the stages in this order, and do not skip ahead. There is no point polishing sentences that a developmental edit will remove. And a proofread should only happen once the pages are laid out, because that is when the layout errors appear.
How to tell what you need
| If this sounds like your book... | You probably need |
|---|---|
| "I'm not sure the structure works" or "readers might get lost" | Developmental editing |
| "The ideas are right but the writing feels heavy" | Line editing |
| "It's a finished draft I'm happy with, and I want it clean" | Copy-editing |
| "It's already laid out and ready to print" | Proofreading |
| "I don't know" | A free book review first |
Three honest points
- A first draft is not ready for a copy-edit. If you have not revised it yourself at least once, a developmental stage will usually come first.
- Some books need less. A short, carefully written book may need only a copy-edit and a proofread. A good editor will tell you so.
- A sample helps. Ask any editor you are considering for a short sample edit of a few pages, so you can see how they work.
Budget and timing
Editing is usually priced by length and by how much work the manuscript needs, so ask each editor what is included before you compare prices. Useful questions are: how many passes will you make, will you review my changes, and what happens if I need a second round?
Book the stages in order and leave time between them for your own revisions. A developmental edit often leads to a substantial rewrite, so do not book the copy-edit until the rewrite is done. For more on the first stage, see developmental editing explained. For the last two, see copy-editing vs proofreading.
Before you send anything to an editor, prepare your manuscript, so that their time goes on the book and not on tidying the file.
A worked example
Here is an illustration of how the stages fit together. Imagine a memoirist with a complete first draft. Her first step is a developmental edit, which tells her the second half repeats the first and the ending arrives too late. She spends a few weeks restructuring. The revised draft then goes to a copy-editor, who fixes the language and builds a style sheet. The book is laid out, and a proofreader checks the pages for any last slips.
Notice what did not happen: nobody polished sentences in chapters that were later cut, and the proofreader was not asked to rewrite. Each stage did its own job, in order.
Signs you are ready for the next stage
- For a copy-edit: you have revised the whole manuscript at least twice, and you no longer want to move chapters around.
- For a proofread: the book is laid out as it will be printed, and every change since the copy-edit has been approved.
Where Fable Studio comes in
Every book we work on starts with a free book review of the manuscript, and part of its job is to give you an honest view of what it needs. Our book editing service covers all four stages, and we would rather you pay for the edit that helps than for all four.
Want to know where your book stands?
Submit your manuscript for a free book review: the whole book, or at least the first three chapters. We'll read it and send you our feedback. There's no obligation.