


Proofreading: Yes, you still need proofreading after copyediting. Copyediting focuses exclusively on identifying and fixing mechanical issues, such as grammatical, spelling, usage, and punctuation errors. Any major round of editing likely introduces new errors, so copyediting is essential. Line editing also looks for inconsistencies in writing style and plot.Ĭopyediting: Once you’ve updated your manuscript based on line editing suggestions and you feel the content of your manuscript is complete, it’s copyediting time. Line editing focuses on how the manuscript flows by examining sentence- and paragraph-level structural issues, word choice, and grammatical and spelling errors. Line Editing: After you’ve gotten the bones of your manuscript in place based on developmental editing suggestions, you’re ready for line editing. These high-level suggestions can help you focus your rewrites to transform your draft into a finished book. Now it’s time for developmental editing, which tackles the big picture: organization, structure, plot, pacing, and character development.
#Types of manuscript editing full#
And the more proofreaders and rounds of proofreading the better! No single editor, regardless of talent and experience, will find every error in a long manuscript.ĭevelopmental Editing: You’ve completed a full or partial draft of your manuscript. Sometimes, you’ll need multiple rounds of one type of editing or another to polish it. We can help you determine the phase your manuscript is in at the time you reach out to us.

Standard Types of Editingīelow are the four standard types of editing your manuscript requires, all of which Hill Press provides.
#Types of manuscript editing professional#
Asking people in your life whose opinions you respect to read your manuscript before it goes to a professional editor is always a good idea. Even if you can hire a professional, you’ll still want as many eyes on the manuscript as possible for additional suggestions.Įditors often assess the state of a manuscript before estimating their editing costs, so the tighter the manuscript is by the time it gets in their hands, the less expensive their fees will be. But if budget is a concern, you may have to try to find family or friends who are willing to help with some of these aspects. It’s ideal to hire a professional editor to assist you with each round of editing. No matter how skilled a writer you are, your manuscript will require numerous rounds and types of editing to elevate it to its full potential. The following includes an excerpt from Untangling the Self-Publishing Process: A Practical Guide to Creating and Marketing a Professional-Quality Book by Julia Soplop, Hill Press founder.
