If you’re diving into authorship, you need to know that not all editing is created equal. When your manuscript is ready for the next step in your publishing journey, understanding the different levels of editing will help you choose the right path forward for your book. 📖✨
Proofreading (Mechanics)
Technically, proofreading is the final step before you take your book to formatting and publishing, but I start the list with it because proofreading is all about the mechanics of your work. Think of it as a safety net.
Proofreaders fix basic errors in spelling, grammar, capitalization, and punctuation as well as sentence structure. A last, thorough check ensures a final catch of mistakes or inconsistencies.
Copyediting (Technical/Accuracy)
Copyeditors are all about consistency. They check syntax (sentence structure and sentence variety), fact check subject-specific terminology or phrasing, and make sure you adhere to the way in which you use the jargon.
A copyeditor eliminates redundancies and checks for wordiness. If you used 10 words when five will do, they will tighten up your work accordingly.
Content Editing (The meaning of your work)
Now that the mechanics and technical details have been addressed, it’s time to dive into the quality of your content. Each paragraph and sentence is under the microscope separately but also in the way they fit together like the pieces of a puzzle.
Think of content editing as akin to refining your business pitch: Is this point relevant? Does this section capture the essence of the message? This editing ensures clarity, smooth transitions, that your timeline makes sense, and you use an active voice, for example.
Developmental Editing (Coaching after the fact)
When I edit anyone’s work, I use two lenses; I perform all the editing tasks I just described above, and I read your work as if I were your end user. You completed your manuscript, but in many ways, the work has just begun.
First, I go through your manuscript and correct all the errors related to the rules of writing. I address capitalization, grammar, spelling that wasn’t picked up by a spell-check program, and correct passive verbs.
I also read your book as if I am the reader you envisioned when you started writing. I want to know everything, so I will ask questions, make suggestions, and leave comments in the margin of your work to help you fulfill the promise you made to the people who bought your book.
After you make the changes I highlighted, I will read your book a final time to be sure that between the two of us, we caught every possible error. 💪📚🌟
Final thoughts
The kind of editing you choose will come down to how much attention you think your book needs. Maybe you’ll be happy with proofreading or perhaps you know your mechanics are solid, and you need a content editor to be sure you’ve pulled all your thoughts together properly.
Whichever level you use to take your book to formatting and publishing, just know that your editor is your superhero come to save the day (and your brand reputation!).🦸🏻