In this blog post, we will be considering the different levels of editing available and which one is most appropriate for you. This will depend on what stage your book is at and what editing it has already had, as you will need multiple rounds of editing before your book is ready for publication. We will look at some of the earlier stages in the editing process in this blog post, with another to follow on the later stages.
Beta Reading
The very first step is to get some beta readers for your work. This is not exactly editing; instead, it gives you the opportunity to get some feedback on your book and how it reads. They should be able to give you feedback on your plot, how your book is paced and the overall structure. You will also get an analysis of your characters and their arcs. A beta reader can tell you how engaging your story is and how well your writing style works.
Sometimes, you may be able to get a beta reader for free, possibly from a writing forum or as an exchange if you agree to beta read their book. Alternatively, you could hire a professional beta reader. Some editors offer this service, where it may be called an early review. The purpose of a beta read is to give you the chance to assess your work and make any necessary changes before you have it edited.
Developmental Editing
Developmental editing is the big picture work that focuses on plot, structure, pacing, your characters and your writing style, such as the narration and points of view used. The editor will give you detailed feedback about how well what you have done works, what could be better and how you would achieve this. This is normally the first step in the actual editing process; there’s no point having a proofreader if you are still making changes.
One of the main focuses of developmental editing is the plot of your book. Your editor should consider how engaging this is, whether it will keep people reading and how it could be improved. They will also check for any inconsistencies or plot holes so that you can correct these.
Your editor will also look at the characters in your book and their plot arcs. They should be able to tell you whether they are good or need some more fleshing out. Alternatively, your editor might recommend that you cut some of the character’s backstory. In addition, they should be able to tell you how well they fit into the story and help you to make them realistic and well-balanced, as well as making sure their motivations make sense in the context of your plot.
Manuscript Evaluation
A manuscript evaluation is very similar to developmental editing and may be used instead of or as well as it. You may have this before or after the developmental edit. Essentially, an editor will look at your work and determine what stage you are at. They should tell you exactly what types of editing you need and what to do to get your work ready for publication. This is invaluable for you to assess your work, especially if this is your first book.
Line Editing
Line editing looks at your manuscript in a narrower way than developmental editing. As the name suggests, it focuses on your work line-by-line, looking at the content and how well your book flows. A line edit looks at the creative side of your work, considering word choice, points of view and the tone you have used. They will also look for and point out any inconsistencies you might have, such as using the wrong name or changing location.
The line edit also checks for pacing and sentence structure; for example, ones that go on for too long or having too many short sentences and needing to combine or expand some of these. However, a line editor is not particularly checking for spelling, grammar or punctuation. They may point these out if they notice them, but don’t rely on the line editor to do this – it is more the role of the copyeditor and the proofreader.
Copy Editing
Copy editors also look at the content, pacing and word choices in your book, but in less detail than a line edit would. Unlike a line editor, however, a copy editor will also check the mechanical details such as spelling, grammar and punctuation.
Copy editors use a style guide to ensure that everything is consistent – not just names and places, but also the style of spelling you use, such as UK or US English. This helps to ensure that your work looks professional and is easy for your readers to follow. Nevertheless, it is still advisable to also have a proofreader, which we will be looking at in my next blog post.
Wrapping Up
I hope that this helps you understand the different levels of editing available. Next time, we will be looking at some of the other types, so come back in two weeks for that!
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