The Editing Process: A Guide for Self-Publishing Fiction Authors
I love editing, there’s no doubt about it. I also love educating, especially on topics I’m passionate about, so if I get to educate others on editing, it’s an added bonus. With this in mind, I’ve created a guide for self-publishing fiction authors that explains the ins and outs of the editing process. Covered topics include types of editing, costs, and finding an editor. Let’s learn about editing, shall we?
For some authors, the idea of having their story edited by someone else can lead to anxiety or fear. After all, who wants to have something so personal and meaningful torn apart by a stranger? When done correctly, the editing process is a collaboration between author and editor, not with the editor looming over the author with the dreaded red pen.
Whether you’re a seasoned author or are thinking of self-publishing your first book, this guide will walk you through the editing process.
Types of editing
You may have heard the terms editing, copyediting, content editing, or proofreading used to describe the process of “fixing” a manuscript. Day to day, these terms are often used interchangeably, when in fact there are distinct differences between the various types of editing. The following list is not exhaustive of every type of editing that exists, but it covers the three most common types you’ll want to consider as a self-publishing author.
Developmental editing
Developmental editing, also called content editing or substantive editing, looks at the writing as a whole to evaluate the effectiveness of the story. Are there major plot holes? Poorly developed characters? Inconsistencies in the timeline? The goal is to bring attention to what’s working and what needs further adjustments to make the story great. This process usually comes first so that you can work on the broader elements and nail down the story before moving on to the next type of editing.
Copyediting
Copyediting focuses on the finer points of writing to make sure everything is polished and consistent. A copyeditor will usually make corrections to issues with the following:
Grammar, spelling, punctuation
Dialogue tags
Point of view
Consistency of spelling, word choice, hyphenation
Repetition of words
Sentence structure
Confusing or ambiguous phrasing
They might also suggest sentence revisions if something is confusing. Copyeditors dig deep into the writing to make it more readable. Even though a reader is there for the story, they may put down an otherwise compelling book if it’s riddled with grammatical mistakes and misspelled words they just aren’t able to see past. Some editors combine copyediting and line editing, while others distinguish the two levels of intervention. In this case, copyediting is focused on correcting the mistakes and enforcing consistency, whereas line editing is more about how the writing flows.
Proofreading
Proofreading comes last in the editing process. Once a manuscript has been through developmental and copyediting, the proofreader performs a final eagle-eyed sweep to catch those last-minute typos, grammar errors, or layout inconsistencies that would have otherwise made it through to the published product.
Do you have to have every type of editing or any at all?
The short answer is no. Some authors choose to have every type of editing, some choose not to have any, and others find a middle ground. As an author choosing to self-publish, your story can go directly from your hand to a reader’s with no editing whatsoever. The question is whether you’re confident in the quality of the work you’ve produced.
Some authors may choose only to self-edit their writing. For most of us, there’s a reason why it’s so difficult to self-edit. We see what we expect to see when we read our own writing. We may overlook things like typos, incorrect word usage (writing “their” instead of “there”), or a missing word, to name a few. There are editing tools out there, such as Grammarly and ProWritingAid, which are software programs designed to help writers edit their own work. These can be great ways to catch errors, but they are not substitutes for trained professionals.
Even though editing is not required, going through each step in the editing process is beneficial if you have the time and money, especially if you’re a first-time author. Not only will each type of editing improve your current manuscript, but it will also provide you with valuable insight into your writing strengths and areas of growth. This will inevitably help with your future writing.
How do I know what type of editing I need?
The types of editing listed above can guide you in determining which type of editing your manuscript needs. If you’re still working through whether parts of the story are strong enough, a developmental edit would be helpful. If you’ve gone through the developmental edit or feel confident that your story is the best it can be, copyediting would likely be the next step. If you know your writing skills are impeccable and would like a professional to ensure nothing’s been missed, hire a proofreader. Your manuscript should improve after undergoing each type of editing. If you’re unsure of what type you need, just ask. Editors are people too.
How do I find the best editor?
As with many things, how you define “best” is subjective. In the case of editing, it’s not always about finding the person with the most impressive experience, education, or test-taking skills—it’s about finding the person who will best fit your needs. The following factors will play a part in deciding who to choose:
Type of editing
Some editors specialize in a specific type of editing. Others do all of them. For example, I’m a copyeditor and proofreader. If you were in need of a developmental editor, I’d kindly point you in a different direction so you can get what you’re looking for.
Genre of fiction
As with the different types of editing, editors may specialize in specific genres of fiction (romance, mystery, fantasy, etc.) or may edit any genre. If you have a story that’s highly technical, it may be best to seek out a specialist in your particular genre.
Availability
If you need your manuscript edited next week, and the editor you approach is booked for the next six months, it doesn’t matter how good they are if they’re unavailable. Anticipating when you’ll want your manuscript edited and contacting an editor early will make it more likely that your desired editor will have room in their schedule.
Cost and value
Cost should be a consideration when looking for an editor, but it shouldn’t be the only one. Sure, if the editor is going to charge you five times the amount you have budgeted, you probably have to move on. What should be considered along with cost is the value the editor brings. See below for more details about the costs of editing.
Approach
If you send your manuscript to five different editors, all of them will approach it differently. Some changes would likely be universal, such as inserting a missing apostrophe, but editing can be very subjective. All five may rewrite the same sentence in different ways. Some might ask questions for clarification before making changes, while others might assume the answers and go for it. Asking for a sample edit is a great way to see an editor’s approach before hiring them. Some may offer this for free or for a fee.
Personality
At the end of the day, you’re paying for an editor to improve your manuscript, so you may not care how the editor interacts with you as long as they get the job done. Others weigh the working relationship as importantly as the edits themselves. You may not care for an editor’s communication style, or maybe you feel they’re too harsh in their critique. Whatever the reason, personality may play a role in finding the best fit.
There are no universal qualifications to become an editor. Some editors have professional experience working for traditional publishing houses. Some have a degree in English, writing, or a related field, while others have little professional experience or education but are self-taught and continue to learn. Editors can also choose to join a professional organization, such as the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) or ACES: The Society of Editing in the US, or the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) in the UK.
How much does editing cost?
There are no set rates for editing, and they are usually calculated per hour of editing time or per word.
The EFA’s editorial rates chart estimates the following hourly rates for fiction editing:
Type of work / Range of fees per hour
Developmental editing / $50 to $82
Copyediting / $38 to $60
Proofreading / $35 to $60
Reedsy’s article on self-publishing costs estimates the following rates based on word count:
Type of editing / Average cost for an 80,000-word manuscript
Developmental editing / $2,540
Copyediting / $1,900
Proofreading / $1,360
You’ll find that some editors charge significantly more, significantly less, or right in the middle. Each editor determines their own rates. In addition to word count and type of editing, other considerations include the amount of work involved (manuscripts are often at different stages of readiness for publishing), turnaround time, number of passes the editor will do, and whether the work is highly technical or involves extensive fact-checking. All of these may increase the cost of the edit. This is why an editor often asks to see the manuscript in its entirety, or at least a representative sample, prior to quoting the cost.
The most expensive editor may not be the best one, and the least expensive may not be the worst. It may be tempting to go with the cheapest option to save money, but it may end up costing more in the long run. You might have heard stories where an author chose the cheapest editor, only to have their manuscript returned with poor edits. Now they have to spend more money on someone who can do the job to their liking, so the decision to go off price alone ends up costing them more than they would’ve spent on hiring the best fit. Consider editing as an investment into the success of your novel and the quality of your writing.
For a more in-depth look at this, check out my blog post on the costs of professional editing.
How will an editor edit my manuscript?
The most common method in which an editor will edit your manuscript, if submitted electronically, is to use the Track Changes feature in Microsoft Word. If you’re unfamiliar with how this feature works, here’s a guide by Blake Atwood. The beauty of Track Changes is that you have the final say on accepting or deleting the changes. Keep in mind that an editor makes a change or comment for a reason, though, so if you don’t understand why they did, ask them.
Others might edit using Google Docs, and a proofread might take place in a typeset PDF.
Summing up
The editing process may seem complicated, but it doesn’t have to be scary. Hiring a professional to edit your manuscript can increase the quality of the story and writing. There are many factors to consider, such as the type of editing needed, what’s important to you as the author, and the value for the price. While a well-edited book doesn’t guarantee commercial success, it does mean that the reader will focus on your story rather than on the issues they may find along the way.
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