What Kind of Editing Do I Need?

Here at Spoonbridge Press, “What kind of editing do I need?” is a common question we hear from independent authors.

There are so many different terms and definitions used throughout the publishing industry. It can be challenging for a new author to compare editors and rates. What’s more, it can be confusing to understand how different types of editing work together to make your book better. How can an independent author know what to do?

The fact is, if you’re self-publishing, you’re in charge of every step of your publishing journey. There are no built-in safeguards to stop you from cutting corners or doing things in the wrong order.

Before committing to an editing plan, it’s important to understand how each type of editing can benefit your book. Let’s look at what editing does, why order matters, and how to choose the right plan for your unique situation.

Topics Covered in “What Kind of Editing Do I Need?”

What Does Editing Really Do for My Book?

What Is Developmental Editing?
What Is Substantive Editing?
What Is Copyediting?

Does Order Matter?

What Should I Consider When Building My Editing Plan?

Publishing Budget
Intended Readers and Marketability Concerns
Publication Timeline
Number of Revisions
Feedback from Early Readers
Writing Confidence
Cover Design

What If I Still Don’t Know What Kind of Editing I Need?

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What Does Editing Really Do for My Book?

While the terminology may vary, the basic process is the same across the publishing industry. Here’s a look at the three main types of editing and how each can benefit your book.

What Is Developmental Editing?

At the beginning of any renovation project, it’s important to make sure the framework can support everything else. Developmental editing (or structural editing) is an intensive, “big picture” look at the structural integrity and flow of your manuscript.

This may involve restructuring information within a chapter, combining chapters, or moving sections from one chapter to another. A developmental editor may cut extraneous information, point out gaps in logic, ask for clarification, and even recommend new sections. It all depends on what work is needed to successfully execute your vision and keep your readers on solid ground.

What Is Substantive Editing?

After you decide which rooms to keep, which walls to knock down, and where to combine or expand or leave well enough alone, it’s time to make sure everything is comfortable, logical, and engaging for anyone who visits. Substantive editing (also called content editing or line editing) can transform an author’s writing and add reader engagement. 

Substantive editing goes beyond copyediting to help less confident writers captivate readers through appealing language and voice. This not-quite-developmental, not-quite-mechanical edit is a valuable opportunity to connect with your readers at the sentence level. And substantive editing is an important opportunity to pick up after any loose debris left over from developmental editing.

What Is Copyediting?

Copyediting is like the final coat of paint: the changes may be subtle, but the total effect can be massive. This level of intervention only makes sense after you know everything else is exactly where you want it.

For nonfiction books, a copyeditor will help ensure internal consistency with graphs, figures, and technical terms. For fiction, a copyeditor will focus on internal consistency, clarity, and accuracy while retaining the author’s natural voice. Regardless of your genre, a skilled copyeditor will edit for reader comprehension and eliminate repetitive words. They’ll help with phrasing and standardize spellings. And they’ll make sure your manuscript follows current style guides. (For most US authors, that’s the Chicago Manual of Style).

Does Order Matter?

If you were renovating a house, it doesn’t make sense to paint the walls before securing the foundation. Like paint, even the most tasteful copyediting can’t disguise gaps in logic or distract from inherent structural issues.

That’s why it’s so important to take each stage of editing in its logical order. Moving backward can be costly and time-consuming; moving forward without addressing fundamental concerns won’t get you the results you want.

What Should I Consider When Building My Editing Plan?

While any manuscript can benefit from all three rounds of editing, a full renovation project isn’t always feasible for every independent author. Here’s a quick look at the factors you should consider when weighing your editing plan.

Publishing Budget

If you’re like most independent authors, budget is foremost on your mind when you’re putting your publishing plan together. Of course, that shouldn’t be the only thing on your mind. But if an intensive three-round editing plan just isn’t in the cards, build your editing plan accordingly.

If you suspect you need more editing than you can afford, it’s time to get creative! Work with beta readers to take care of as many logistical issues on your own. Join writers’ groups to learn what you’re doing right and where you’re missing the mark. Learn about the developmental editing process so you can push your manuscript as far as you can on your own.

Above all, be patient. The more time you spend critically analyzing your book, the better it will be. (Here’s a hint: put your manuscript away for a month or two. You might be surprised how many issues leap out at you after you return with fresh eyes.)

Intended Readers and Marketability Concerns

Before you build an editing plan for your book, consider your target audience. Are you hoping to connect with as many readers as possible? Is your publication a labor of love for your family, church, or community? While it’s rarely wise to skip editing entirely, if mass marketability is truly not a concern, you may be able to safely skip a couple of rounds.

If profits and high ratings are not goals for your book, you may decide to skip a round or two. However, if your book is a cornerstone of your business, robust editing could be the difference between success and failure.

Publication Timeline

Some authors find themselves in a situation where they’ve built a publishing plan around a certain date. If your publication date is fast approaching and you only allocated a month for editing, your options are limited. However, is rushing an underdeveloped book to publication really the best way to serve your readers?

If your publication date is flexible, consider waiting until you have a chance to fully develop your manuscript. Remember, delays happen all the time in publishing; that’s just part of the game. You can usually push your publication date back if it means ultimately publishing a better book.

Number of Revisions

Here’s an industry secret: none of the books you know and love were written in a single draft. They were carefully analyzed, revised, combed over, and polished into the professional product you’re familiar with. If you’ve only just completed your first draft, it’s not time to hire a professional editor yet.

Before hiring an editor, take the opportunity to read, reread, and fine-tune on your own. The more work you can do yourself, the better your manuscript will be by the time it reaches an editor.

Feedback from Early Readers

If no one has ever read your book, try to get feedback from other readers before hiring a professional editor. The less time your editor spends on basic fundamentals and concepts you might have worked through by getting other eyeballs on your project, the more time they’ll have for nuanced feedback that will help bring your manuscript to the next level.

Of course, not every author knows readers who can offer useful feedback or is comfortable in a writers’ group setting. These 12 places to find a beta reader might just help you connect with someone who matches your style.

Writing Confidence 

Do you know your own skill? Have you written anything before? Are you always organized at a high level? Do other people come to you for help with their own writing? If you’re an experienced writer, you probably have a solid, tested process for revising your own manuscript. If you’re not, you may not know what you need.

Independent authors have the opportunity to publish to their strengths. If you have reason to be sure about what you’re doing in any of these areas—or, importantly, if you believe you’re lacking in certain grammatical or organizational areas—keep that in mind when building your editing plan.

Cover Design

If there’s anything more important for making sales than professional editing, it’s cover design. Readers make snap decisions about which books they buy, especially books by unknown authors. Cover design is a huge influence on those decisions.

Unless you design books professionally, even the most robust editing won’t make up for a homemade cover. If you can’t afford high-quality cover design, consider holding off on publishing your book until you can afford both.

What If I Still Don’t Know What Kind of Editing I Need?

It’s common for authors to feel like they aren’t qualified to know what sort of editing their books need. In many ways, that’s true; a good professional editor has spent countless hours learning what makes books work. Most new authors just don’t have the context or experience to know what their own books need. And that’s OK.

If you’re just not sure what the right approach is for you, consider asking a developmental editor for an editorial assessment. Rather than a marked-up manuscript, these assessments typically consist of a separate memo containing suggestions for improvement. Some editors will even include a proposed editing plan in their assessments.

An editorial assessment gives you a roadmap for taking your manuscript a little bit further before hiring an editor. It’s a great way to be sure you’re spending your editing budget in the right places.