Let's Talk Editing, Take #2
Demystifying the services I provide for developmental, line, and copyediting.
Hey Story Crafters,
This week, I participated in the #EFAChat focused on demystifying the different types of editing for authors.* I hope some of you were able to tune in!
*Note: The hyperlink is to access the transcription of the chat, if you’re interested in reviewing the discussion. There’s a lot of great information, so I encourage you to check it out!
I previously wrote a post on the different types of editing you might hear about when searching for an editor. However, I’d like to cover how I define each of the editing services I provide (developmental, line, and copyediting), and what authors can expect from me.
Developmental Editing
How I define it:
Also known as substantive editing. I check which storytelling elements (especially character development) are effective, and which aren’t as effective, from a “big picture” perspective of the manuscript as a whole. This includes evaluating how these elements work within chapters as well.
My overall goal for developmental editing is to make sure your story has a strong narrative arc your readers will want to follow, and interesting characters they'll want to know and care about.
Deliverables:
In-manuscript comments about specific strengths of the story, including storytelling elements the author uses effectively. These comments also note areas that aren’t as effective for the author’s consideration, areas to consider during revision with the intention of lessening reader confusion and increasing reader engagement. Any specific areas of interest or concern the author might have, can also be noted.
A developmental editing tracking sheet. Similar to a copyediting style sheet, but focused on worldbuilding details and name consistency instead of punctuation and grammar styles and rules.
A detailed editorial letter addressing specific examples from the in-manuscript comments, and expanding on them further as needed.
Follow-up: Email communication, after the return of the edited manuscript + deliverables:
Up to 10 (ten) follow-up emails in the 30 days after the return of the edited manuscript for support.
Line Editing
How I define it:
My overall line editing goal is to strengthen your prose and creative content, and help your writer voice shine through. My hope is that, during our time together, you'll gain insight into your writer voice for you to use in future projects.
Line editing is my favorite type of editing to work on with authors, because I can let my own creativity resonate with the author’s to really make the author’s language and sentences shine. I also enjoy helping authors make their POV character’s voice (or POV characters’ voices) shine through!
Deliverables:
In-manuscript comments about specific strengths of the story, including storytelling elements the author uses effectively. These comments also note areas that aren’t as effective for the author’s consideration, areas to consider during revision with the intention of lessening reader confusion and increasing reader engagement. Any specific areas of interest or concern the author might have, can also be noted.
A detailed editorial letter addressing specific examples from the in-manuscript comments, and expanding on them further as needed.
Follow-up: Email communication, after the return of the edited manuscript + deliverables:
Up to 10 (ten) follow-up emails in the 30 days after the return of the edited manuscript for support.
Copyediting
How I define it:
This type of editing is more technical, like putting your manuscript under a microscope to check the minute details.
My overall goal for copyediting is to make sure the mechanics of your writing work, such as checking for grammar and punctuation accuracy (in terms of rules) and consistency. I follow The Chicago Manual of Style guidelines.
Deliverables:
In-manuscript comments about specific strengths of the story, including storytelling elements the author uses effectively. These comments also note areas that aren’t as effective for the author’s consideration, areas to consider during revision with the intention of lessening reader confusion and increasing reader engagement. Any specific areas of interest or concern the author might have, can also be noted.
A style sheet, to track the consistency of punctuation, grammar, and spelling styles and rules throughout the manuscript. This will also include tracking the consistency of details such as character appearance and scene description.
A detailed editorial letter addressing specific examples from the in-manuscript comments, and expanding on them further as needed.
Follow-up: Email communication, after the return of the edited manuscript + deliverables:
Up to 10 (ten) follow-up emails in the 30 days after the return of the edited manuscript for support.
Note: I offer line editing and copyediting as a combined service as well. I don’t recommend combining services with developmental editing, since any line or copyediting performed may become irrelevant if big changes are made to the story due to the development edits. However, I may perform minor line edits while performing a developmental edit.
Editing Services Wrap-up
I hope this clears up some of the confusion that a lot of authors have about these types of editing, and the deliverables included with each type. Please keep in mind that different editors may have different definitions for each of these editing types, and may provide different deliverables with each. These are just my definitions for developmental, line, and copyediting, and the deliverables I provide for each type of editing.
Interested in learning more about my editing services? Click the button below!
Are you searching for an editor to work with on a completed manuscript? Get in touch! I’d love to hear about your project(s). I’m looking to work with authors of:
Fantasy
Dark Fantasy
Science Fiction
Horror
I’m also open to editing most genres of fiction. I’m currently booking clients up until December 2022.
Try to be as detailed as possible about your project in the contact form. Please include any relevant details, like:
Word count
Publishing goals
Content warnings (if applicable, or even if you aren’t sure there is content to warn for) for your project. (E.g., uneven power dynamics in a romantic relationship, dubious consent, graphic violence, etc.)
The more detailed you are in the contact form, the more engaging our conversation can be.
I’d also love to hear from you even if you’re not quite done with your manuscript, but you’ve started searching for an editor. Starting your search before your manuscript is finished gives you more time to find the editor who truly understands your vision for your manuscript, and who will help you reach the best version of your work possible.
A bit about me…
For those of you who don’t know me yet, hi! Welcome to the Writer’s Corner, and thanks for taking the time to check out this post.
For current subscribers, thanks for sticking with me so far, and for letting me talk with you about writing and editing fiction. I appreciate your support. You all rock!
I’m Leah, a speculative fiction author and a freelance fantasy editor with an MFA in Creative Writing and a publishing certificate from the Denver Publishing Institute. I’m the owner of The Crafty Fox Editing Services, and a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association and ACES: The Society for Editing. I primarily edit fantasy, dark fantasy, science-fiction, and horror, but I’m open to editing most genres of fiction. I edit novel-length works and short stories.
When I’m not reading books, writing, or editing, I’m usually geeking out over manga and anime, or the latest LEGO Creator set.
Interested in learning more about me, and the kind of energy I’ll bring to a writer-editor relationship? Subscribe to this newsletter (it’s free!), or check out the archives.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Best,
Leah