By Chris Olsen

All books require editing. Some books require more editing than others. Books that meet publishing industry standards go through three stages of professional editing—developmental editing, copy editing and proofreading. Some publishers (like Publish Her) take it a step further by adding line editing to the process. Regardless of how you publish, it’s important for authors to understand the various stages of editing.

Developmental Editing

Developmental editing is typically the first stage of editing. A developmental editor conducts a big-picture review of your work in progress or completed manuscript and focuses on structure, organization and flow. They look at characters, setting, narrative arc and plot. They consider themes and pacing. They point out what’s working and what’s not. They don’t necessarily focus on the technical aspects of writing, but they can help you fine-tune your voice and style. Developmental editors help you bring your ideas to life and create a book your readers will appreciate.

Developmental editing is a collaboration between editor and author. Typically, the author does the writing and makes edits based on the editor’s feedback. In some cases, editors may provide support with rewrites.

Line Editing

Line editing comes after developmental editing and before copy editing. At this stage, the editor reviews the manuscript line by line at the sentence and paragraph level. They look at the author’s use of language, as well as your style, voice and tone. They assess whether the words used express the intended tone and whether the tone is consistent throughout the book. They pay attention to transitions and how well sentences and paragraphs flow from one to the next. They consider point of view and shifts and help ensure the writing is clear and consistent throughout.

While editor and author partner on these changes, line editors may do some rewriting at this point in the process.

Copy Editing

Copy editing and proofreading occur closer to the end of the publishing process; however, they are distinctly different. Copy editing involves polishing the final draft of the manuscript. Copy editors look at word use, syntax and conciseness. They ensure the language follows the rules of standard American English and adheres to a specific editorial style guide—a document that outlines the framework for copy editing and proofreading. Professional publishers tend to follow the standards of style guides like the Chicago Manual of Style and the Associated Press Stylebook. Copy editors also keep an eye out for unnecessary repetition, digressions and clichés.

Copy editing is less of a collaborative process. Professional publishers rely on the editor’s expertise and corrections at this stage.

Proofreading

Proofreading is a final technical review of the manuscript and generally happens after the book pages have been typeset. Typically, a proofreader reviews the page proofs (also called galleys) to search for errors in spelling, grammar and punctuation. They also point out any issues with the document’s formatting or style. As the author, you play a significant role in ensuring your book is ready for publishing as well—plan to review your proofs carefully. This stage provides one last opportunity to confirm that the manuscript has been converted with accuracy to the typeset page.

The proofreading stage does not typically allow for revising or rewriting text. At this point, changes are limited to correcting typographical errors.

By familiarizing yourself with these phases of editing, you’ll have a better idea of what to expect throughout the publishing process and the degree of changes made at each stage.

About the Author

Chris Olsen is a book designer, publisher, educator and the author of “Whyography: Building a Brand Fueled by Purpose.” The founder of Publish Her and Publish Her Story, Chris has helped thousands of women tell their stories and publish their books.

About Publish Her

Publish Her is a female-founded publisher dedicated to elevating the words, writing and stories of women. We are passionate about amplifying the voices of women of color, women with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ+ community. We aim to make publishing an attainable, exciting and collaborative process for all.