Blog #2: The four kinds of fiction editing

So, you’re finally done with your the first draft of your manuscript. Congratulations! Grab a fancy latte and soak up the sun before we move on the real fun of the writing process: editing. But which one is right for you? Let’s talk about it.

Developmental Editing

Developmental editing is the earliest stage of editing a manuscript. This kind of editing focuses on big picture issues such as plot structure, pacing, narrative tension, and so on. Basically, we are looking at the foundation and framework of the manuscript (because without it, the interesting characters alone can only carry the story so much). When looking for a developmental editors, make sure they are well-read in the genre of your manuscript and understand its conventions and tropes of said genre. After going through your manuscript, they offer a critique (usually in a form of an editorial letter) regarding issues aforementioned and how to improve upon them. They also highlight specific scenes that work don’t work, narrative flaws, and where in manuscript to be tightened for tension or rearranged.

Note: This is not to be confused with manuscript evaluation. Although both involves the same thing, developmental editing is more in-depth in providing revisions to address specific areas and issues within the manuscript; the process is on-going dialogue between editor and author. Manuscript evaluation on the other hand is a one-time assessment with general critique on story structure, plot, and characters.

Line Editing

This sentence-by-sentence edit analyzes the way the writer uses language to further the storyline. Grammar and spelling is not the focus here! It is the expression, logic, meaning, and prose that the line editor is concerned with. They fix confusing narrative digressions, mixed metaphors, and other word issues.

Copy Editing

Copy, or text, editing is the correcting (and the heftiest) phase, so that means grammar, spelling, and style check. Copy editors are also concerned with fact checking and copyright. Consistency, clarity, and style is the main idea here. If the author doesn’t have one, the copy editor drafts up style sheets of general style and usage, characters, locations, and timeline, all of which they would reference throughout your manuscript to ensure that details don’t change. (Alice was sixteen years old in chapters 1-4, but she is thirteen in chapter 5). This kind of editing is the most intensive and it is recommended that the manuscript has gone through developmental editing prior to copy editing.

Proofreading

Otherwise known as the quality control phase. After the manuscript undergoes a good amount of editing and is ready to be published, all that is left is for proofreaders to scour the manuscript for superficial errors. The aim here is to catch minor errors in spelling, typography, and grammar. Things like catching an accidental name change from Elda to Elsa, for example. (IYKYK). We want to make sure your manuscript is as polished as possible.

Which editing do I need?

If you just finished the first draft of your story, I’d recommend developmental editing to ensure your story has a strong narrative structure and plot. Doing this early on in the process will save you a world of headaches and major revisions when you’re waist-deep into multiple drafts. Also, most copy editors will take on your manuscript only after it has gone through developmental editing.

Once that’s done, it’s up to the author if they want line editing or not. Some copy editors offer line edit in tandem with copy editing. If you are concerned with pacing, style, and word choice, I highly recommend looking for a line editor before copy edits.

Every writer should have their manuscript copy edited. Period. In my opinion, if you can only pick one kind of editing, a copy edit is the way to go. As I’ve mentioned before, this level of editing is the most intensive and involved. It is the correcting phase after all and therefore, the most important.

Proofreading is the final line of defense, so it should be the last kind of editing you’d want before setting your story free into the literary world.

I hope you find this helpful! If you have any further questions or concernts, please feel free to reach out. I’d be happy to help! 😊