Kinds of Editing |
I specialize in the first two kinds of editing listed below, but this page gives you an overview of the different stages of editing that take a piece of writing from an unpublished manuscript to a published book. Sometimes writers ask for "proofreading" or "editing" as a generic term, when what they actually need is something else, depending on how far along they are in the writing and publishing process. Once you're past the developmental editing stage, I can advise you on next steps.
Note: Editing terminology is slippery. Editors working in various fields and industries — and even editors within the same industry — will often mean different things by "developmental," "substantive," or "line" editing. It's always a good idea to ask specifically what an editor means by such terms and what they will provide for you.
1. Manuscript Assessment is an optional first step in the publishing process. The assessment gives the author professional, “high-level suggestions or opinions about the manuscript’s possibilities” (EFA Hiring an Editor: A Guide for New Authors, page 2). This feedback is given to the writer through what's called an "editorial" or "assessment" letter. Some editors, like myself, include in this letter selected examples from the text and discuss how these elements in the text could be revised.
2. Developmental editing can immediately follow a manuscript assessment, or it can be a writer's first step in the editing process. Substantive developmental editing requires very deep and close reading of the manuscript, focusing on elements such as plot/structure, character motivation and development, dialogue, setting, and pacing: is everything working together to draw readers in and keep them engaged? Developmental editing also addresses the effectiveness of the language on the sentence level, especially on the ways that smaller issues of language affect the work as a whole. More detailed than a manuscript assessment, developmental editing addresses the manuscript page by page and helps a writer feel confident that the revised manuscript will be ready to seen by publishers or agents.
3. Line editing and substantive editing are alternative terms used to describe editing on the sentence level as well as on the level of overall structure.
4. Copyediting is the next step, focusing on grammar, syntax, diction, spelling, and consistent use of publishing conventions, such as the formatting of numbers, abbreviations, capitalization, and hyphenation. Often copyediting is done by the staff of a publishing house once a manuscript has been accepted for publication. Only after copyediting is a manuscript ready to be sent to the book designer.
5. Proofreading takes place after the book designer has laid out the text in book form. The proofreader makes sure the pages about to be published are formatted correctly and weeds out any remaining errors. Often proofreading is done by the staff of a publishing house.
In terms of editing, you want to focus on large, literary issues first — so that you don't end up paying for the copyediting of a passage that you ultimately delete from the manuscript in revision. So issues concerning plot, structure, pacing, and character development need to be addressed before problems with spelling or punctuation or the design of the book. Do you have questions? See the FAQ page or contact me.
Contact me to discuss your editing needs. I'd be happy to talk with you.
Note: Editing terminology is slippery. Editors working in various fields and industries — and even editors within the same industry — will often mean different things by "developmental," "substantive," or "line" editing. It's always a good idea to ask specifically what an editor means by such terms and what they will provide for you.
1. Manuscript Assessment is an optional first step in the publishing process. The assessment gives the author professional, “high-level suggestions or opinions about the manuscript’s possibilities” (EFA Hiring an Editor: A Guide for New Authors, page 2). This feedback is given to the writer through what's called an "editorial" or "assessment" letter. Some editors, like myself, include in this letter selected examples from the text and discuss how these elements in the text could be revised.
2. Developmental editing can immediately follow a manuscript assessment, or it can be a writer's first step in the editing process. Substantive developmental editing requires very deep and close reading of the manuscript, focusing on elements such as plot/structure, character motivation and development, dialogue, setting, and pacing: is everything working together to draw readers in and keep them engaged? Developmental editing also addresses the effectiveness of the language on the sentence level, especially on the ways that smaller issues of language affect the work as a whole. More detailed than a manuscript assessment, developmental editing addresses the manuscript page by page and helps a writer feel confident that the revised manuscript will be ready to seen by publishers or agents.
3. Line editing and substantive editing are alternative terms used to describe editing on the sentence level as well as on the level of overall structure.
4. Copyediting is the next step, focusing on grammar, syntax, diction, spelling, and consistent use of publishing conventions, such as the formatting of numbers, abbreviations, capitalization, and hyphenation. Often copyediting is done by the staff of a publishing house once a manuscript has been accepted for publication. Only after copyediting is a manuscript ready to be sent to the book designer.
5. Proofreading takes place after the book designer has laid out the text in book form. The proofreader makes sure the pages about to be published are formatted correctly and weeds out any remaining errors. Often proofreading is done by the staff of a publishing house.
In terms of editing, you want to focus on large, literary issues first — so that you don't end up paying for the copyediting of a passage that you ultimately delete from the manuscript in revision. So issues concerning plot, structure, pacing, and character development need to be addressed before problems with spelling or punctuation or the design of the book. Do you have questions? See the FAQ page or contact me.
Contact me to discuss your editing needs. I'd be happy to talk with you.