The Four Stages of Editing: Which One Do You Need?

“I’m done writing my non-fiction book; what do I do now?”

If you have already had your book professionally edited, the next step is to think about how you would like to publish your book. You can choose one of four publishing routes.

If you still need to edit your manuscript, consider hiring an editor to help you polish it up before publishing.

“I’ve heard there are different types of freelance editors. How do I choose one?”

What kind of editor do you need?

There are four types of editing. Most editors specialize in one of the four types. For instance, I specialize in developmental editing, which includes content and structure. Developmental and line editing focus more on content, whereas copy editing and proofreading focus more on mechanical elements.

Comprehensive editing (a service I sometimes offer) combines one or more of the four editing types. For example, line and copy editing.

The Different Editing Stages

Most successful books go through four stages of editing. Developmental Editing is the first stage, followed by Line Editing, then Copy editing, and finally Proofreading.

I've put together a slide presentation that provides a detailed description of the different types and stages of editing. The presentation includes an explanation of what is a manuscript evaluation and the functions of a manuscript evaluator.

You can view or download the presentation here: Resource: Pick Your Editor.

If you would like to learn more about which type of editing best suits you, feel free to contact me.

Shamila Iyer - your content partner from idea to publication. Write. Edit. Coach.