Different Types of Editing in Book Publishing Explained

Writing a book is a great accomplishment in itself, but completing your manuscript is just the first step in the overall publishing process. Your book will undergo multiple edits before it is ready for the public.

These editing stages will help your book reader understand it more easily by clarifying the manuscript, improving the structure of the work, and correcting grammar and other issues.

A good many first-time authors are shocked to discover that there are multiple editing types and each works differently on the manuscript. Discovering how many editing stages are (and how they work) provides authors with some guidelines to follow when getting their work professionally edited prior to publishing.

The following guide will detail what types of editing occur within book publishing, how they work, and what makes each unique.

What Is Editing in Book Publishing?

Editing is a process that consists of reviewing a manuscript and improving the quality of the manuscript prior to publishing. The goal of editing is not only to correct errors but also to improve the overall quality of the book.

The focus of professional book editing will be on a variety of areas, including:

-> Story structure or flow of argument 

-> Clarity of ideas

-> Correct use of punctuation and grammar

-> Readability of sentences

-> Consistency throughout the book

In traditional publishing, manuscripts are first edited to correspond with each editing process before a manuscript is published.

What Is Editing in Book Publishing?

Even seasoned authors can benefit from editing services by a professional editor because when you spend so much time (months to years) creating your storyline, it will become more difficult to identify minor mistakes and issues related to the overall structure.

A professional edit can create value by doing the following:

-> Improve the clarity of your writing as well as how easy it is to read

-> Identify and correct spelling and grammatical errors

-> Enhance the strength of your point(s) or story

-> Keep the manuscript consistent and controllable from cover to cover

-> Make the manuscript ready to be sent out for submission to a professional publisher

Without the proper editing of even a great idea, it will continue to have very little effect.

The Main Types of Editing in Publishing

Within the book publishing industry, there are at least five different levels/stages of editing. Each level will highlight one aspect of the manuscript.

Knowing the types of edits available to authors will help them determine which type of editing will be the best fit for their manuscript.

1. Developmental Editing

Developmental editing is the first step in the editing process and is the most thorough editing stage. Developmental editing deals with major issues that the writer has produced, as opposed to minor corrections of grammar and punctuation.

With developmental editing, the editor looks for:

-> Overall structure of the book

-> How the ideas relate or tell a story

-> How the chapters are structured

-> How persuasive the arguments are or how well the story is told

-> Who the intended reader is

Developmental editing also looks at the following areas for a fiction book:

-> How well the plot is developed

-> How character development occurs

-> How fast or slow the pace of the story is

Developmental editing for a non-fiction book looks at how the ideas flow logically and are expressed in an understandable manner. Developmental editing also looks at how well the overall message of the book is expressed.

Developmental editing may make suggestions, re-structure chapters, and add content to certain areas of the book.

2. Line Editing

The line editing process focuses on the way the sentences are written. Developmental editing focuses on the overall structure of the book, while line editing focuses on the overall style and flow of the writing.

Line editors will work closely with the body of the text to provide the following benefits:

-> Provide clarity to the sentences

-> Provide an appropriate tone or style

-> Provide appropriate words to convey the intended meaning

-> Enhance the book's readability

For instance, if any of the sentences are long or complicated, the editor may then take those sentences and rewrite them to make them easier to read.

The line editing stage is intended to ensure the writing flows smoothly and effectively engages the reader.

3. Copy Editing

The process of copy editing is the part of the manual review where an editor concentrates on the technical accuracy of the text we've been provided with. During this phase, the editor will check for any appropriate grammatical or language-related errors.

Common things reviewed in copy editing include:

-> Problems with Grammar

-> Problems with Spelling

-> Problems with Punctuation

-> Errors in Sentence Structure

-> Inconsistent Terminology

Other things checked for consistency includes many items throughout the manuscript:

-> Consistency in Spelling of Names

-> Consistent Formatting of Headings (using the same font style/size and spacing)

-> Following Established/Standard Rules in Punctuation 

The goal of copy editing is to ensure that your book meets all current professional language quality standards.

4. Proofreading

Proofreading is the final piece in the editing and review process before your book can be printed.

All formatting has been done to the manuscript at this point; therefore, a proofreader will do their best to find any remaining mistakes in the final version of the manuscript.

When proofreading, an editor's focus will be on the following:

-> Typographical Errors

-> Minor Errors in Punctuation

-> Errors in Formatting

-> Errors in Page Numbers

In essence, proofreading serves as a last check to guarantee the quality of the book to be printed.

How the Editing Process in Book Publishing Works

Book publishing has a set of steps for the editing process.

The workflow for editing a book is as follows: 

-> Developmental Edit - Improves Structure & Content

-> Line Edit - Improves Flow/Style of Sentences

-> Copy Edit - Fixes Faulty Grammar & Technical Problems

-> Proofreading - Last Step Before Pressing the Publish Button

All books do not need to have every stage of the editing process, i.e., 2, 3, etc. levels. However, almost every "professionally" published book should have undergone at least 2 or 3 stages in the editing process.

How Authors Choose the Right Editing Stage

Since each manuscript may require a different level of editing, the appropriate level of editing will depend on the present condition of the manuscript.

When do I want to use Developmental Editing?

If the manuscript still requires structural improvement, Developmental Editing is the best step to take.

When do I want to use Line Editing?

If the manuscript is structurally sound, but the style requires refining, Line Editing will improve readability.

When do I want to use Copy Editing?

If your manuscript is finished and just needs to be checked for grammar & consistency issues, then Copy Editing is appropriate.

When Should I Use Proofreading?

Proofreading should be done after formatting and right before you publish.

Common Editing Mistakes New Authors Make

First-time writers often have an incorrect understanding of the editing procedure. The following list provides a few frequently made mistakes.

Skipping Professional Editing

Relying solely on Spell Check to edit one’s own manuscript will yield far less than satisfactory results, while Spell Check may assist you in catching some errors; nothing replaces having your manuscript edited by professionals.

Confusing Copy Editing with Proofreading

Proofreading, while helpful, will only identify some of the smallest errors in writing and will not correct any type of structural or unclear writing issues.

Editing Late in the Process

Editing should take place in the early stages of your publishing project before formatting or designing your cover art; otherwise, you will end up doing re-work.

Editing in Traditional vs Self-Publishing

While traditional and self-publishing relies on editing, the responsibilities of those who handle editing are different.

With traditional publishing houses, publishers typically take care of all the editing for you.

When you self-publish, you often must hire your own editor. Therefore, it is imperative that you understand the various types of book editing.

Final Thoughts 

Editing is an essential part of the process of turning a manuscript into a finished, polished book. Each of the four types of editing work together (developmental editing, line editing, copy editing and proofreading), to enhance the overall quality of your book.

Understanding what stage of the publishing process you are dealing with will help you be more prepared to have a better-quality manuscript and help you to obtain the appropriate type of editing help as you need it.

In addition to improving the quality of your book and providing you with a greater level of professionalism and credibility to your audience, hiring a professional editor is the most critical investment you can make throughout your publishing career, no matter what genre or type of material you decide to publish.