Editors & editing: Three Different kinds
Choosing an editor to work on your manuscript is already tough, determining what kind of editor you need is another challenge. From plot holes to grammar nuances, there is an editor for you! But which one do you need? Below is a brief explanation of each type of editor and when you should consider one for your manuscript.
Three Types of Editors and Editing:
1. Developmental Editors: A developmental editor is the editor you should consider after you have self-edited your first draft to the point where it is as good as you can get it on your own. Developmental editors look at your overall story structure. These editors look at the “big picture,” and look at character ARCs. Developmental editors also can help suggest ways to cut down your word count, helping to make your story more concise. These editors look at your novel’s pacing and analyze your storyline to identify any plot holes. You may be asking yourself, “Where do alpha- and beta-readers come in?” Don’t worry, we will cover that in another blog in more detail!
2. Line/Copy Editors: Despite line and copy editing being two different types of editing, they are commonly done simultaneously by many editors who focus on this type of editing. So, for the purpose of this blog, I am going to combine these into a single bullet point. During the line editing phase, the editor is examining the readability and flow of the manuscript. They are looking at the novel at a line-level versus looking at the structure of the story in a “big picture” way. A line editor goes through the manuscript and will suggest changes to ensure clarity, readability, and ensure the context that the author intends is coming across to the reader.
A copy editor looks at grammar and ensures the manuscript follows the grammar rules for the appropriate style guide. Like with line edits, it also takes place at the sentence level. For fiction writing, it is commonly The Chicago Manual of Style that is followed. Copy editors look for punctuation, spelling, and grammatical errors, and then make suggestions to correct these errors for the author to review.
3. Proofreaders: The proofreader is typically the last professional to touch your manuscript before you hit publish. The proofreader looks for any errors that may have been missed by the copy editor, or new errors that may have been introduced by the author when they made revisions after the line/copy editing phase. If you send your proofreader your formatted manuscript, they can also check for formatting errors. Proofreaders primarily look for spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors.
Is hiring an editor mandatory?
No, it isn’t mandatory as an indie author. However, hiring an editor—at least one of them—is highly recommended. As a writer, it is easy to miss mistakes because we’re incredibly close to our content. Error ninjas (those pesky errors we often overlook and make their way into the manuscript’s final drafts) have a better chance of slipping through into your published novel without having trained eyes looking over your manuscript pre-publishing.
It is important to mention that all of these editors should be making suggestions on your manuscript—not directly editing your work. You should be able to go through the edited document and accept or reject the suggestions as you see fit. Ultimately, the decision to make changes is up to you—the author. Your story is yours to tell, editors are there to help enhance your voice, not take it over and make it their own.