Authors often ask for an edit without knowing which kind they need. That leads to paying for the wrong service at the wrong time. Editing comes in layers, and each layer solves a different problem. Understanding them helps you plan your budget and your schedule, and it helps you get the most from every professional you hire.
Developmental editing: the big picture
A developmental edit looks at the whole book. For fiction, that means plot, pacing, characters, point of view and the strength of the opening and ending. For non-fiction, it means argument, structure, completeness and whether each chapter does its job. The result is usually an editorial letter with notes and a revision plan. Our developmental editing service follows this approach.
This is the right first step when you have a complete draft and want to know if the book works. Do it before anything else, because large changes can make later polishing wasted effort.
Line editing: sentences and style
Once the structure is solid, a line edit improves the writing itself. The editor works sentence by sentence on clarity, rhythm, word choice and voice. Repetition, awkward phrasing and unclear passages are fixed, and changes are shown so you can accept or reject them. Read more about our line editing service.
Choose this when you are happy with the story or argument but know the prose could be sharper, or when English is not your first language.
Proofreading: the final check
Proofreading is the last pass before publication. The proofreader looks only for errors: spelling, punctuation, grammar, inconsistent capitalisation and layout slips. It does not change content or structure. Because it is a final check, it is best done on the typeset pages, which is the version readers will see. See our proofreading service for details.
The right order
- Developmental edit and your own revision.
- Line edit.
- Formatting and layout.
- Proofread on the typeset pages.
Skipping a step is sometimes sensible, but reversing the order rarely is. A proofread before a developmental edit, for example, is money spent polishing text you may cut.
How to decide what you need
Ask yourself these questions:
- Do you trust the structure of the book? If not, begin with a developmental edit.
- Do beta readers say the book is confusing or slow? That points to developmental work.
- Is the book well structured but the writing uneven? Choose a line edit.
- Is the book finished and polished? Go straight to a proofread.
If you are still unsure, send us a sample. We can tell you honestly which service will help and which will not. A good editor would rather recommend fewer services than sell you ones you do not need.
A note on budget
If you must choose one service, pick the one that addresses your biggest weakness. For many first books that is structure; for many later drafts it is polish. Whatever you choose, avoid editing only by yourself, since authors cannot easily see their own mistakes. Ready to get started? Contact us for a no-obligation conversation about your manuscript.