Types of Editing

What kind of editing do you need? Is the first question you ask yourself when thinking of getting an editor. The skill level you are at in your writing will be one of the biggest determinants in deciding on what type of editing you need. You must consider that anything you write could take up to several levels of editing. It can be a long process sometimes. But don’t feel discouraged because it is worth it in the end.

Manuscript Evaluation

During an evaluation, the manuscript will become assessed with careful attention to detail and a critique of what is evaluated. The evaluation will include punctuation, spelling, grammar, syntax, flow, style, and structure. With fiction, plot structure, dialogue, characterization, handling point of view, pacing, and many other elements of fiction will be evaluated. The evaluation would not be all bad if some of you were wondering. Encouragement will be given, and the positives to your writing will also be addressed.

Developmental/Project Editing

Developmental editing includes coordinating and supervising your entire project from rough concept to market-ready product, incorporating input from consultants, designers, and marketing experts to reviewers and other writers, where necessary.

Substantive and Structural Editing

Ideally, your written work should capture your reader’s imagination and engage his or her mindfully, without causing frustration or unnecessary backtracking for clarification. Substantive editing means heavy editing, whether structural, stylistic, or copy editing, and is usually a combination of all three. Structural editing focuses on the logical organization and flow of content to render your document clear, concise, and easy to read at the sentence, paragraph, and chapter levels. A structural edit will make sure your arguments make sense, your plot develops nicely, and your information is presented accurately and logically.

Stylistic Editing

Every writer has their own unique voice, and every book has an individual tone; a good editor will respect and enhance that uniqueness. During stylistic editing, without disregarding the conventions of English, it assists in clarifying meaning, eliminating jargon and clichés, smoothing language, and polishing your distinct style. Stylistic editing may include checking or correcting reading level or, in the case of fiction, adjusting tone and formality of language, including dialogue. Often, stylistic editing occurs at the sentence level, adjusting syntax for better flow, smoothness, and how the sentence “sounds” in the reader’s mind.

Copy Editing/Line Editing

Copy editing is the level of editing most commonly called for. It checks and standardizes grammar, spelling, punctuation, and other mechanics of style. It is critical at this level to do a thorough check for consistency of style choices, mechanics, and facts. It may include fact-checking, marking heading levels, and approximating placement of art. It also may include providing or editing cover copy and front and back matter, and spot-checking references.

Proofreading

Proofreading is sometimes mistaken for copy editing, but it’s not. Proofing is done after editing and layout after the page proofs have been prepared by the designer. While copy editing errors may still be found, a proofreader is concerned with other elements. All design elements of accuracy and consistency, including headers, level heads, page numbering, word breaks, end-of-line breaks, page breaks, cross-references, and appropriate placement of tables and artwork are being checked for. May include the completion of a table of contents and index and numbering of cross-references.

Rewriting

This occurs when you feel that your previous work just was not good enough to be seen by the public, and you feel that maybe your work has significant problems with logic, clarity, or style. Or maybe you feel your characters’ conversations seem stilted and wooden, your descriptive passages dull and flat? It all depends on the prior steps and what the product is looking like at this stage.

Indexing

A thoughtfully prepared index can improve sales of your book. Your indexer will create an alphabetical list of names, places, subjects, and concepts that appear in your work.

Fact-Checking/Reference Checking

The accuracy of facts and quotations is important. It can be done by referencing your original sources and/or checking other sources, usually using the Internet. Fact-checking is an important editorial task in both nonfiction and fiction, requiring an editor who instinctively knows when facts may be amiss.

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