Before this blog post was published, it was reviewed by Margaret Banin of Banin Services, who served as alpha reader; Carly Catt of Catt Editing, LLC, who served as beta reader; and Amelia Roth of Proofed It For You, who served as line and copy editor.
If you find errors within this blog post, please keep in mind the
acceptable accuracy rate mentioned in one of the sections below.
Are you overwhelmed by the book editing process?
For years I’ve immersed myself in online book editing and writing communities. One area of concern consistently pops up: navigating the book editing process. Many first-time authors struggle to understand the four crucial editing stages, let alone find reliable editors for each. Traversing the plains of the publishing journey is intimidating enough for writers without worrying about being misled by sketchy book editors and shady self-publishing companies claiming to be experts in the US publishing industry. If they don’t possess accurate industry knowledge, their claims fall short, as do their skills.
Here, you’ll learn all about the four stages of the book editing process, including when each step is needed, if there’s any overlap between them, acceptable accuracy rates, and how to know if you’ve found an editor you can trust.
The four crucial phases of the American English book editing process are listed below in sequential order.
1. Developmental/Structural Editing
2. Line Editing
3. Copy Editing
4. Proofreading
Developmental Editing
When alpha reading, beta reading, and/or sensitivity/authenticity reading is complete, when the author has made changes with the readers’ feedback in mind, and when self-editing has gone as far as it can, the book editing process can begin. Developmental editing is the first step in this process, which includes structural revisions and assessments. The editors who perform this service are called developmental, substantive, content, or structural editors. This is a broad-spectrum review of a manuscript, where the developmental editor provides feedback on character development, plot, setting, point of view, head-hopping, and theme within the manuscript via comments (usually in Microsoft Word); they also provide a separate document with an assessment of their feedback. Suggestions for moving chapters around, deleting chapters, and adding chapters or other content are among the many duties of this type of editor. Once developmental editing has been completed, an author usually has a lot of work to do, including rewrites. This can sometimes take months.
Please note that an author may elect to have a manuscript evaluation instead of developmental editing to save money. According to Editor, Story Consultant, and Writing Coach Sarah Chauncey, who uses a real estate analogy to compare the two, developmental editing “is where we make sure you have the right blueprint, materials and tools for the house you want to build,” and a manuscript evaluation is “akin to having someone tell you how to stage your home for sale.” For more information on manuscript evaluations, click here.
Line Editing
Line editing is the next stage in the book editing process, with an emphasis on improving clarity, readability, precision, and accuracy. Line editors focus on tone, word choice, active vs. passive voice, continuity, and revising sentence structure. Correcting misspellings and punctuation errors are not within a line editor's scope of practice, unless . . . well, we’ll get to that later.
Copy Editing
This process involves identifying misspellings, punctuation errors, poor word choice, and grammatical typos and mishaps, as well as suggesting corrections for each with the helpful guidance of a style guide. Whether it's fiction or nonfiction, the Chicago Manual of Style is the American English book editor's go-to guide. A copy editor will also create a style sheet, tailored specifically to each novel they edit. A style sheet includes, but is not limited to, a list of characters and their physical and personality traits and an alphabetized list of word preferences, such as alright vs. all right, and homey vs. homie, in an effort to ensure continuity throughout a manuscript.
Proofreading
You may think that the proofreading stage is not part of the editing process because it includes the word reading. However, I can assure you that proofreading—or proofing, as some call it—is a vital step in the book editing journey. Since this is also the final stage of the editing process, it is the last line of defense against errors, hence its importance. A manuscript must be formatted for print before proofreading can begin. Only then will a proofreader painstakingly read through a manuscript, checking for typos, as well as misspellings and punctuation errors that a copy editor may have missed, all while referencing the style sheet created by the copy editor.
Something many writers do not know is that proofreaders also ensure accuracy of page formatting and typography, and they correct line spacing issues. Changes at this stage can be quite costly, requiring more work for the book designer when the time comes, which is why thorough developmental, line, and copy editing are so important before this stage in the editing process.
Is there any overlap between the different book editing stages?
Sure, there can be overlap between a couple of editing stages, but writers should first know which stages should not overlap.
Copy editing and proofreading should never be a combined service.
For starters, the word proof-edit is an amalgamation of the two terms copy edit and proofread, and these two stages in the editing process should never be performed simultaneously, nor by the same person (even at separate points during the publishing process). Fresh eyes are always best when it comes to end stages of book editing. That way, you ensure your book has as few errors as possible and a better chance of succeeding in the marketplace. So, if a publishing company advertises that they offer “proof-editing,” find out exactly what they mean first; sometimes this term is used instead of proofreading. It shouldn’t be, but it happens. But, if they mean that a copy edit and a proofread are provided at the same time by the same editor, my advice is to politely decline.
Developmental/structural editing is a standalone service.
If someone tells you they can provide developmental and line editing simultaneously, note that their focus will be divided. Earlier in this article, you learned that structural editing is a big-picture assessment of a manuscript, and that line editing occurs at the sentence-level. Though some editors provide these services as a package, it is not advised. If you decide to go this route, you’ll need another line edit by a different editor when you’re finished with rewrites, and this is why:
• Focus Shift and Missed Issues: Jumping back and forth between structure and sentence flow causes an editor’s attention to be divided. They might miss critical points at either level. A dedicated edit for each stage allows for a deeper dive.
• Redundancy: Since rewrites are often needed after the developmental editing stage, line and copy editing will still be needed to catch errors in new text introduced by the author.
• Author Confusion: Receiving a barrage of feedback on plot, character, and sentence structure at once might overwhelm an author. Separating the edits allows for a more manageable revision process.
Line and copy editing can, and often do, overlap.
Are you ready for good news? Line editing and copy editing are commonly provided simultaneously in the UK. So, why not here in the US too? The description of each of these editing services already have some overlap, such as word redundancies, common errors in word usage, subject-verb disagreements, verb tense shift, and errors in sentence structure. It’s why these two services are suited to be delivered at the same time. Though, not all line editors and copy editors can or will provide both services at once.
What is the acceptable accuracy rate for book editing?
Please keep in mind that editors are human beings, just like authors. They strive for perfection but very rarely achieve it when it comes to catching errors in text. A seasoned, professional editor will catch a large majority of errors, over 90%! “Most professions work within accepted accuracy rates, and editing is no different,” says Lisa Poisso, story coach and editor. The consensus among a large population of publishing-industry professionals is that a 95% accuracy rate is a sufficient standard for editing, and this high benchmark is more likely to be achieved with fresh eyes at every stage of the editing process. The fewer editorial professionals you have reviewing your novel, the lower that accuracy rate will be.
How can I identify a trustworthy editor?
There are many ways to find a professional book editor. You can do a search online for a developmental editor, line editor, copy editor, or proofreader and browse the results, or you can search for one on Upwork, LinkedIn, or in specialized groups on social media. Lots of editors have social media accounts, but be cautious when going this route. I Need a Book Editor is a reputable Facebook group that caters to authors in need of editors. Ruth E. Thaler-Carter, an expert in the US publishing industry, is an admin and moderator of the group.
Many qualified editors are also affiliated with the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA), the Northwest Editors Guild, the San Diego Professional Editors Network, and the Society for Editing (ACES). Each of these editorial organizations has a dedicated page on its website for authors looking to hire editorial freelancers.
Once a writer has contacted an editor, an email exchange with lots of information will take place. My advice is to follow your gut and be wary of red flags.
Red Flags:
• Misspellings and punctuation errors within correspondence from an editor
• When an editor charges too little or too much (median rate ranges can be found here)
• If an editor doesn’t ask to see a manuscript before deciding to take you on as a client (a lot of editors also offer sample edits, and this helps determine author-editor compatibility)
• No contract is initiated before editing begins
• When an author is asked for the total editing fee up front (typically it’s half down, half upon completion of edits)
• If an editor does not have at least one or two of the following items: a CV/résumé, a portfolio, a LinkedIn profile, or a website
A qualified, professional editor will be knowledgeable and skilled without being condescending or demeaning. They will answer all of your questions without making you feel like a burden. Ultimately, the editor you choose should become a reliable collaborator. Once a strong working relationship is established, they can refer you to an experienced colleague for the next stage in the editing process.
Make sure your manuscript achieves its maximum potential.
Navigating the book editing process can seem daunting at first, but by understanding the distinct roles of developmental editing, line editing, copy editing, and proofreading, you can ensure your manuscript reaches its full potential. Remember, some overlap exists, particularly between line and copy editing. For the most thorough book edit, a step-by-step approach with fresh eyes at each stage of the process by trusted editorial professionals is recommended. Keep in mind that when an editor’s focus is split, quality can suffer. With a clear understanding of these services and the right editorial team by your side, your book will be well positioned to shine in the marketplace.
Comments