Over the last few months, I have published a number of articles about different kinds of editing and how they may be helpful to you. I am now collating this information into a quick guide so you can get a better sense of what sort of editing your manuscript requires.
While other editors may use alternate names or add further distinctions, I consider editing in three main ways. These are developmental editing, structural editing and copyediting.
Developmental editing
What is it?
This is the kind of editing that takes place before a manuscript is fully formed. There’s an idea out there, hovering with a sense of possibility, but any sense of structure or direction is missing. Sometimes even the precise nature of the topic is yet to fully emerge.
Who needs it?
Writers who have something important to say but need help figuring out exactly what that is and what shape it will take.
How does it work?
This is a shared journey which usually begins when you approach an editor with your idea and ask for help to develop it. Discussions will take place, along with reviews of any writing you have already done. From these exchanges, you will be given options for how you might expand, refine or rework your idea. It’s a dialogic process, and an important part of developmental editing involves supporting you as you refine your concept and write the content.
How long will it take?
Hard to say… It depends on how clear the ideas are in your mind and how readily you respond to your editor’s suggestions. This can be a slow process, but the guidance, insight and assurance you receive at this stage can be invaluable.
How much does it cost?
By its nature, developmental editing is evolutionary. This makes it highly unlikely that a fixed price can be set. The cost will vary according to the depth of work necessary and the time it takes to craft the , but it is almost always worth it.
Structural editing
What is it?
Also known as substantive (or sometimes substantial) editing, this is the miraculous process by which a mostly complete but somewhat jumbled document is transformed into a meaningful manuscript.
Who needs it?
Structural editing is helpful for writers who have a extensive document but have lost their sense of how it all holds together.
How does it work?
Your editor will start by reading through the entire manuscript, taking note of themes, images, recurring ideas, repetition, omissions, shifts in tone, and so on. Based on this reading, you will be offered a range of options around which the manuscript can be arranged. Once the organising principle has been decided, the work of shifting text into place begins.
How long will it take?
The time required for structural editing is determined by the length of your manuscript and the state of its confusion. For longer documents, allow a few weeks to a month.
How much does it cost?
As with developmental editing, it is difficult to predict the amount of work needed to complete a full structural edit. Provision of a total job cost is not likely, but your editor should keep you informed of progress along the way.
Copyediting
What is it?
This is the deliciously finicky bit of the editing adventure which involves checking that the text is clear, consistent, complete and correct. It entails all that fun (to editors, anyway) technical stuff about precisely where that comma belongs and whether or not your sentence actually means what you think it does. This is the last stage of editing before a document is prepared for publication and it is often followed by proofreading.
Who needs it?
When your manuscript is in a healthy state and needs correction rather than major restructuring, you are ready to have it carefully copyedited.
How does it work?
Many editors today copyedit using the track changes feature in Microsoft Word. This allows us to work on your document onscreen and it enables you to see all the corrections and suggestions we make. As the author, it is your responsibility to accept or reject these changes. Editors may also make comments on your document using track changes. These can alert you to issues with the text or raise questions for you to address prior to publishing your masterpiece.
How long will it take?
The time required for copyediting depends on the length of the manuscript and the extent of correction required. Again, allow a couple of weeks for long documents.
How much does it cost?
Copyediting is generally charged per word or by hour. Your editor should be able to give you an upfront estimate for the work. Some will also send you a sample edit so you can see whether the approach taken suits what you are seeking.
And that’s it.
This has been your fast and friendly guide to three kinds of editing. Hopefully you now understand a little more about each, but please do not feel that you need to know exactly what you require when you first contact an editor.
As long as you have a vision for your manuscript and are willing to work towards achieving it, your editor will assist you in whatever way is best.
Any questions? Please feel free to ask me anything about editing. It is a topic that fascinates me and I’m happy to share what I know.