Updated March 2020.
Do you have a question for the Motivational Editor? Drop it in the comments below or email me at deb [at] DebraLButterfield.com. Once a quarter I’ll be dedicating a post to answering your questions.
What are the different kinds of editing services normally provided and what can we expect from each?
There are many types of editing and the names vary from editor to editor. What I call a developmental edit others call a macro or substantive edit. Therefore, when working with a freelance editor it’s important to clearly state your expectations. For example:
- Are you only interested in knowing whether your grammar is correct?
- Could you care less about grammar, but want to know if your plot and characters are well-developed?
- Is the dialog real?
- Is the pacing off?
- Is the character arc missing?
You can have as much or as little done in an edit as you want. Which is why you want to be specific and have a conversation with the editor before you make a hiring decision.
The Developmental Edit looks at big-picture aspects of the entire manuscript. It is also known as a big picture edit, substantive edit, content edit, and macro edit.
Is it really any wonder that writers get confused about editing?
In a developmental edit, the editor looks at plot and character development, story flow, dialog, POV, show vs. tell, story and character arc, et cetera. The editor doesn’t do any revision on your manuscript, but provides a report outlining the strengths and weaknesses and suggesting possible solutions.
The Copy Edit is also called a line edit. The editor works through your manuscript line-by-line, making edits and entering comments in your manuscript. In this edit the editor isn’t correcting big-picture issues. According to the The Copyeditor’s Handbook, a copyeditor is concerned with
imposing mechanical consistency; correcting infelicities of grammar, usage, and diction; and querying internal inconsistencies of fact or tone.
A copyeditor is expected to catch typographical errors, but realize that a copyedit is not the same as a proofread.
The copyeditor usually does this work within MS Word utilizing track changes, and then sends the marked manuscript back to you for review and revision. Every editor works differently so be sure to ask if the price includes only one edit or additional edits on your revised work.
The Full Edit or Complete Edit is when the editor does both the development and copy edits. The developmental edit is completed first. Once you have fixed the big picture issues, the manuscript goes back to the editor for the copyedit.
Big picture issues should always be fixed before a line edit is done. A line edit ahead of a macro edit is like putting shingles on a roof without the underlying framework.
Proofreading is not editing, though it is a service that many editors provide. Proofing looks for typos, correct punctuation and spelling, checking tables, footnotes/endnotes, and sometimes fact checking. A good editor will catch many of these same things during a copyedit, but these are not the primary tasks of an editor.
What are some less common services we may see?
Some editors also edit query letters, book proposals, and synopses. Beyond that, any services offered are most likely outside the realm of editing.
I guess I edit every week. Thanks for your info. I will use it to edit multiple times looking at my blog posts differently. I’m currently taking a writing course from Great Courses on writing better sentences. I’m hoping to improve my sentences. I know writing a blog post is different from writing a book or even a long article. It needs to be short but powerful. I’m using some of what I’ve been learning in my last few posts. If you would like to check me out I’m found at sherienamcevers.com. Thanks always for your helpful information, Debra.
This is very informative! Thanks so much.
Thanks, Catherine. Glad you liked it.
I feel that editing is a process I could literally be in forever with my book. How do you reach the point where you know that the editing process is complete?
LOL, you are so right, Lisa. I find things I want to edit even when I sit and read the print or Kindle versions of my own books. I think part of that is the creative process and wanting to find the best way to express our message. I’ll provide a more complete answer in a blog post yet this month.
Ah, I guess creativity never ends. I look forward to reading your post!
Thank you so much! Great break down 😀
You’re welcome. Glad you found it helpful. Tomorrow I’ll cover your other, much tougher, question.