Do I need to get my article copyedited if I know it'll be proofread later?
Do I even really need an editor?
This page explains the different levels of editing and when in a manuscript's life each is called for. Though most of these distinctions and principles are true for both fiction and nonfiction, this guide is written with nonfiction authors in mind.
On this resource page, you'll find:
• the differences between a book/writing coach and a developmental editor
• who to turn to for help when your writing doesn't sound like you
• and more
For a much deeper dive, read my book How to Enjoy Being Edited: A Practical Guide for Nonfiction Authors!
what editors really do, when you need one, and how to find (the right) one
All About Editing
Introduction
Coaching and editing to help you finish your manuscript
But if you want the words to be your own, writing coaches, book coaches, and some developmental editors are all professionals who can help you get those words on the page.
The job of a book coach or developmental editor is to question, jiggle, explore, celebrate, bring forth, and crack open in service of you getting clear on your ideas and creating really good bones for your book.
They will ask so many questions. They will poke holes. They may send you back to the beginning. They should also explicitly appreciate what’s already working and what’s unique about you.
Lots of people call themselves coaches. Before beginning work with someone, please make sure you’re clear on what services they’re offering and how it aligns with what you actually need. Some writing coaches give feedback on your actual writing, while others focus more on process. Some book coaches concern themselves primarily with outlines and ideas, while others offer more micro-level guidance. Some offer one-off services, while others do only durational programs. What will work best for you?
An editor who works with authors from the ground up as they are creating a book is usually called a developmental editor. Editors crack their knuckles and get right on in the writing with you, offering feedback on and marking up what you have and suggesting revisions. (Just to be confusing, the term “developmental editor” also refers to editors—like me—who address whole-book concerns on a finished manuscript...see below.)
Who you choose to work with should be a matter of their experience, expertise, and credibility, as well as the fit between you, your field/genre, your process, and what they’re offering. See the full ebook for much more on this.
If you’re not ready or able to work with a pro right now, free options to help you bring your manuscript to life include:
- a writing group
- critique partners
- accountability buddies
As with working with a professional, you’ll get the most out of these if you can discern—up front or over time—what kind of feedback or process support will help you the most, and then be straightforward in communicating those needs. A good coach or editor will always be responsive, and invested in giving you what you need to succeed.
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Developmental / structural editors help when the draft is done and revised
If this service is more than your or your budget can take on right now, consider a manuscript critique, which is a one-pass global critique of your book. You’ll likely get a short editorial memo responding to the book as a whole but not any editorial work in the manuscript itself. This service usually costs much less than a full developmental/structural edit.
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Language editing: line editing / stylistic editing / copy editing
Now…does it sound like you? Does each sentence and paragraph flow well into the next? Does it march, pop off the page, shine or shimmer, glide, or flow in the way you want? Are the tone and quality of writing consistent? Have you kept your reader engaged and ensured they won’t trip anywhere along the path?
Call a line editor (sometimes called stylistic editor)—friend of fluidity, rhythm, readability, and concision! They will go line by line, word by word, helping you make all these dreams come true.
After working with a line editor, you'll revise revise revise! Then....
Are all your details consistent (like, really, ALL your details)? Are your grammar and punctuation in order?
Call a copy editor—friend of cleanliness and correctness! May we all bow down to the good copy editors of the world, sensitive and knowledgeable folks who whip your manuscript into shape on usage, internal consistency of facts and details, grammar, spelling, etc. This is really essential cleanup, folks. (Though I carry some habits and skills of copy editing into my line editing work, I no longer offer this as a distinct service. But I can refer you to some top-notch copy editors.)
You will accept/reject a copy editor's changes, but this is usually a final touch up. If you revise after a copy edit you may be introducing new errors, and everyone will go a bit berserk. Please avoid.
Other important kinds of editing at this level include sensitivity editing (for bias, inclusivity, etc.), technical editing (for technical correctness of instruction manuals and the like), fact checking (often lumped in with copy editing, but actually a separate, critical task). Some editors combine these services; ask your editor about it.
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Proofreading, or what you don't know is missing until it's too late
A proofreader can:
- Scrub your grant application, website copy, journal article, or marketing materials squeaky clean so you look maximally professional and the reader’s attention stays on your ideas, not your slip-ups.
- Make sure all the copy edits were successfully transferred to the final layouts of your book—the traditional use of the term proofreading.
- Do a “cold read” on final page proofs to minimize the chances of any stray errors making it into print (including formatting errors, like headers appearing on the last line of a page or an image being misaligned).
In developmental and line editing, I’m listening deeply, reading closely, and imagining in your voice and vision. But when I’m proofreading, I cut myself off from you and your words. Through most of the process I’m not even reading for understanding.
Instead I’m breaking down words, reading syllable by syllable out loud, looking at the shapes of lines on the page, maybe even reading backward through a text. The exception comes when I think I’ve found a mistake and I zoom out and really read the sentence or paragraph to double check the intended meaning.
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