This topic has come up semi-recently within my writing circles, and so I thought now would be as good a time as any to cover the subject.
First of all, just what exactly is editing? Anyone who has ever written anything for school is familiar with the process of getting marked down for spelling / grammar / punctuation / citation errors, etc. But did you know that there are actually many different subcategories of editing? Especially within the realm of fiction, some types of edits are sought out more than others (depending on what the author wants examined in further detail, how much money or general publishing support they have, what’s most important to them in writing, etc. etc.).
The following list introduces just a few—not all!—of the types of editing you will most likely need or desire before your story is ready to be officially published.
Developmental Editing
This subcategory of editing takes on the big picture of a story. Are there any plot holes? Are the characters likeable, and do they complete any arcs that were introduced? Do the underlying themes / motifs present themselves clearly? Does the story seem appropriate for the target audience? Does the writing succeed in capturing the desired tone / tension of each scene? Does the overall structure flow well from one point to the next?
Now, some may argue that a few of the concepts I mentioned above will fall under another header: “Structural Editing.” And while it technically is its own subcategory, I personally think structural editing and developmental editing are relatively the same in that they both focus on the way the story is put together as a whole, so you might as well do them together anyway. Developmental / Structural Editing is like looking at the story from a reader’s perspective—i.e., examining it first as someone who just wants to read a good book, and second as someone preparing to write a review of it. If the story isn’t keeping an editor’s attention or is confusing them at this stage for any reason, then it’s a sign that work still needs to be done. However, the really nice part about this type of editing is that the right group of beta readers essentially does it for free.
Now, there is no rule stating an author has to have this type of editing done first and foremost…but it will make their lives a lot easier if they do. Just imagine paying 1000+ dollars to get a different type of editing done, and then having to add a bunch of new scenes / details or a change of structure that might contain a whole new set of errors.
Just do yourself a favor and get developmental edits done first.
Line Editing
Line Editing is all in the title. This is the part of the editing process where a professional will take a more detailed look at the author’s stylistic and structural choices. This is done to ensure that the writing flows well—but this time the writing is examined line by line instead of as a whole. This is where description, dialogue, tense, and voice come into play. Does each line carry well into the next? Is the prose too “purple?” Do the characters consistently sound like themselves? Is the writer accidentally switching tenses at any point?
Copy Editing
This is the real nitty-gritty part of the editing phase. A copy editor is the one looking at all the spelling / punctuation / grammatical errors that a writer might be making. But on top of that, they also look at consistency in things like capitalization and word usage. If a writer accidentally used the wrong character’s name here, or completely skipped a word there, or forgot how they initially spelled that newfangled fantasy term here, that’s where a copy editor really shines.
Proofreading
This is a stage of editing that is done near or else exactly at the end depending on the writer’s needs / desires. It is essentially the last look-through for any errors that might have been missed in the text during the copy edits. It is also done for the sake of checking any formatting mistakes that might be present in the manuscript. Are the page numbers centered correctly? Does that symbol at the beginning of your chapters appear consistently? Are there four lines between the title and the text for chapter five instead of the usual three? All that fun stuff that certainly doesn’t give me a headache.
Sensitivity Reading / Fact Check Editing
Depending on the subject matter an author is tackling in their book, they might benefit from a sensitivity reader or else a fact-checker at some point along the editing stage. If a manuscript involves a marginalized group or groups, it would be best to have someone specifically trained in subjects like diversity, equity, and inclusion look through it to ensure no one is being stereotyped or misrepresented. And if a manuscript involves a time-travel back to medieval Europe, it would be best to have someone either extremely good at proper research or else extremely familiar with medieval Europe look through it to make sure no grievous historical errors have been made.
These are just a few of the many different types and stages of editing within the field of writing and literature. However, I believe that when it comes to fiction writing in particular, these five subcategories are the most important. Some can easily be done for free while others will require the eye of a paid professional. But none of them should be skipped over if you want to present your audience with a well-structured, quality piece of writing. If you want my advice based on the experience I’ve had so far, leave the developmental editing to your beta readers and save your money for the line and copy edits. Because, believe me, you are not catching every error on your own, no matter how good you were in school.
Good luck, writers!
Night Owls, which type of editing is your favorite? Which could you see yourself doing every day / getting paid to do if you became an editor?
