What are the three main types of editing, and do you need all three?

This question crops up a lot, and it often leaves new writers feeling confused. If you’ve finished a manuscript and want to have it professionally edited, what are the different editing options, and do you need all three?

The three main types of editing are developmental editing, line editing and copyediting. All three are very different skills. If you’re thinking about having your manuscript professionally edited, here’s an overview of what you can expect.

Developmental editing

Developmental editing is the type of editing that authors are advised to opt for on completion of self-editing their manuscripts, because it’s the ‘bigger picture’ form of editing. A developmental editor is going to pick up on major structural problems that need addressing, so there’s no sense in hiring a line editor or copyeditor first, only to cut or alter significant portions of the text they’ve already worked on.

Developmental editing involves looking at the overall plot structure, character development and character arcs, pacing, tone of voice, whether scenes need cutting or extending, plot holes that need closing and whether the ending is effective. In other words, a developmental editor is there to tell you if your novel is working, and if it isn’t, how it can be made to work.

Line editing

Line editing is the next step. A line edit looks at the overall writing style and the language used at a paragraph and sentence level. The aim of line editing is to pick up on over-used words and phrases, repetition, clarification issues, bland writing and run-on sentences.

A line editor may also suggest places where the writing could be tightened up, by eliminating extraneous words or passages of dialogue that aren’t adding anything to the plot. Put simply, this is the type of editing that looks at both the beauty and efficacy of your writing and suggests ways both could be improved to make your novel more readable and enjoyable.

Copyediting

Lastly, we have copyediting. This is the final form of editing because it looks at your manuscript at a micro level. Copyediting is about the nuts and bolts of your sentences, scrutinising your grammar, punctuation and syntax.

A copyeditor will also look for consistency in spelling, capital letters, hyphenation and numerals, as well as some fact checking. This is particularly important for academic or non-fiction writers, although it may apply to fiction writers who are referencing something in the real world such as an historical event or figure.

Do you need all three?

There are really two answers to that question, depending on whether you’re taking the traditional or self-publishing route.

If you are hoping to be traditionally published and want your manuscript edited before querying agents and publishing houses, then stick with a developmental edit and work with your editor on getting your manuscript as polished as it can be. Hiring a developmental editor at this stage means your manuscript is made as attractive as possible in the hope that someone will snap it up. Most traditional publishers have their own in-house editorial team to take care of line and copyediting, possibly with another developmental edit if they feel the work still needs a little more tweaking to suit their tastes.

If, however, you are planning to self-publish, then in an ideal world you would have all three types of editing done. It’s generally advised that this is done by three different people, as the same editor re-reading the same work over and over can get reading fatigue and stop seeing mistakes. Obviously, this can get expensive. If your budget is finite – as it is for most people – then stick with a developmental edit and a professional proof-read. That will hopefully get your manuscript as well-polished and clean as it can be before you release it.

For more information on the editing services I provide, please get in touch using the online contact form.