The different types of editing
I wrote a blog post for Book Machine giving an overview about the different types of editing and how they fit within the publishing work flow.
For a more in-depth discussion of the different types of editing I offer, please keep reading!
For a more in-depth discussion of the different types of editing I offer, please keep reading!
Looking at the big picture: beta reads, manuscript critiques and developmental editing
Do you want a general assessment of your novel? Would you like feedback on the biggest issues impacting your manuscript?
A beta read provides you with a reader’s response to your manuscript. The feedback is what your target reader thinks: does it meet the expectations of the genre, the type of writing, and the blurb?
A beta read provides you with a reader’s response to your manuscript. The feedback is what your target reader thinks: does it meet the expectations of the genre, the type of writing, and the blurb?
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Manuscript critiques and developmental editing break down the major issues in your manuscript and provide suggestions and ideas about how to make changes to fix what isn't working.
For fiction, these cover topics such as plot holes, character development, or issues with the writing craft. It looks to see where the story isn’t working, if characters are unmotivated, or how the world-building isn’t coming across as planned.
For non-fiction, it covers topics like structure, organization, flow and transitions.
For non-fiction, it covers topics like structure, organization, flow and transitions.
The fine print: line and copyediting, and proofreading
Have you sent your story to several beta readers and revised according to their feedback? Has your story been developmentally edited and have all the plot twists been sorted out?
If the answer to all of these questions is yes, your story is ready for line and copyediting.
If the answer to all of these questions is yes, your story is ready for line and copyediting.
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What are the differences between line and copyediting?
- Line editing is more about the meaning, the feeling, the nuance of words.
- Copyediting is making the text consistent in language, grammar, and punctuation.
As I line edit, I check if the text has been told using the most effective, gripping, meaningful words. What words have been repeated and could be substituted with something else, something fresher, something more sensory? Are there any words that don't belong the in the manuscript? Over time, the meaning of words can, and nuance is important. Has one word been confused for another?
Copyediting gets down to the nitty-gritty details and ensures the text of the manuscript is correct, consistent, clear, and coherent. That means looking very closely at the grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Are quote marks missing from dialogue? Is it Jones' or Jones's? Are thoughts in italic? Copyediting addresses details that most people don't think about, and the beauty is that when done well, nothing sticks out. The changes are invisible.
Copyediting gets down to the nitty-gritty details and ensures the text of the manuscript is correct, consistent, clear, and coherent. That means looking very closely at the grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Are quote marks missing from dialogue? Is it Jones' or Jones's? Are thoughts in italic? Copyediting addresses details that most people don't think about, and the beauty is that when done well, nothing sticks out. The changes are invisible.
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What is proofreading?
Proofreading is the final, last step of editing a book before it goes to print.
The manuscript has to be completly finished, and it must have undergone a copyedit. Changes made at the proofreading stage can be costly, so it's better to get the majority of them done before this point.
A proofread is about catching typos, pointing out formatting errors, and taking care of very minor changes.
The manuscript has to be completly finished, and it must have undergone a copyedit. Changes made at the proofreading stage can be costly, so it's better to get the majority of them done before this point.
A proofread is about catching typos, pointing out formatting errors, and taking care of very minor changes.