What Type of Editing Does Your Manuscript Need?

Line editing, structural editing, developmental editing, copy editing, manuscript critique, proofreading…

Trying to decide what type of editing you need from the barrage of terms Google will throw out is overwhelming. And it doesn’t help that everyone defines these terms differently.

So, what type of editing do you need?

Let’s start with some quick explanations for the basic types of editing. Generally speaking, editing can be divided into two main categories—high-level editing and line-by-line editing. Let’s start at the top with high-level editing.

Types of Editing

High-Level Edits

Foundational Edit/Manuscript Critique

A foundational edit or manuscript critique is a high-level edit that looks at the basic story elements like character, plot, setting, etc. However, rather than comments or changes within your manuscript, you’ll receive a separate report that discusses strengths and areas for improvement with examples. It will include overarching guidance on each element with concrete tips for your next draft.

Structural Editing/Developmental Editing

Depending on who you ask or the industry, these two have slightly different definitions, but sometimes, they are used interchangeably, particularly when discussing fiction.

• It's a high-level edit that looks at the story as a whole—the story arc, plot, character development, setting, etc. There may be larger changes suggested such as adding, deleting, or rearranging scenes, and following the edit, major revisions are often made.
• If something is labeled as a developmental edit, it may focus more on the ideas and content, helping the author flesh out details.
• If something is labeled as a structural edit, it may focus more on the structure and flow.
• However, there is not a strict dividing line between the two.
• For a more detailed discussion, you can check out our blog post, Editing 101: What is a Structural Edit?

Line-by-Line Editing

Line Editing/Copy Editing

There’s a similar story with these two terms. Slight differences, but often interchangeable.

• It’s a line-by-line edit of the “language” of your manuscript. Language includes the various elements, such as writing style, syntax, point-of-view, grammar and spelling, etc.
• If something is labeled as a line edit, it will focus more on style, flow, and clarity.
• If something is labeled as a copy edit, it will focus more on the technical aspects—grammar, punctuation, etc.
• Again, there is no strict dividing line here.
• For a more detailed discussion, you can check out our blog post, Editing 101: What is a Line Edit?

Proofreading

Proofreading is the most straightforward. There won’t be substantial changes. It’s an edit for grammar and spelling only, making sure those pesky typos are removed. A proofread is the final polish before publication.

How to Decide What Type of Editing You Need

Now that you have a basic understanding of what the types of editing look like, let’s talk about where you are in the writing process.

Have you finished your manuscript?

• Yes. Great! Have you done a pass of revision on your own?
  • Yes. Fantastic! Proceed to the question below about budget.
  • No. We recommend taking a stab at revising on your own before seeking professional editing. There are often things that you can fix on your own, which will allow your editor to go deeper into the story rather than fixing surface-level issues you could have fixed on your own. Not sure where to start revising? Try our Rock-Solid Fiction Foundations Workbook (free with newsletter sign-up). This will lead you through a series of questions to figure out where your manuscript could use some work.
• No. That’s ok! If you’re struggling with the middle of your story, or could use some guidance to get you out of a rut, there are editing services that can help. You have a few options:
  • A developmental edit may be a good place to start. An editor can look at what you have, point out any issues, and possibly give you pointers on what gaps need to be filled in to finish the story.
  • A foundational edit would also be a good place to start and is usually less expensive than a developmental edit.
  • You could also look into hiring a book coach. They are often described as an author’s cheerleader, and they have the skills to help you flesh out the rest of your book.

What does your budget look like?

• I’m ready! I’ve saved/budgeted/am independently wealthy.
  • Awesome! Then I recommend starting with a full foundational edit or a full structural edit (or a foundational edit followed by a structural edit, with a period for you to revise in between). We always recommend starting with a high-level edit to make sure your story is solid. There’s no sense painting the walls if the house is about to collapse. Following a structural edit, we recommend a line edit, which is akin to the lighting and plumbing of your house, and then, depending on how many changes you make following the line edit, a final proofread. (See our list of Services for more info as well as the Inferno Package.)
• I’m not really sure how much editing costs or what my budget is.
  • That’s ok too! For a general sense of how much editing costs, you can take a look at our Services page. We charge by the word, so under each service, you’ll see a price per word. Just take the number that’s in parentheses and multiply that by your word count, and that’s the estimated cost for that service (plus tax). For example, a structural edit for an 80,000-word book would be $1,600 (80,000 x .02) plus tax. You can also check out Reedsy’s blog for a general discussion of the cost of editing or the Editorial Freelancers Association for a rate calculator.
    • If, after looking at those numbers, you realize you’re ready to go, check out the bullet above that says, “I’m ready!”
  • If your budget is limited or you want to start small, that works too.
    • We still recommend you start with a high-level edit to fix any structural issues in your story. A foundational edit/manuscript critique is generally cheaper than a full structural edit, so that’s a good place to start.
    • Some editors also offer shorter edits, such as the first 50 pages. That is an excellent place to start if your budget is tight.

Wondering what a structural edit or a line edit actually looks like? We offer a free sample edit! Check it out on our Services page and then fill out the Contact form to get started.

You can also check out our blog on Removing the Mystery: The Step-by-Step Process of Working with Embers Igniting for more about our process.

~Melissa Burnham