Every time I get a new editing inquiry from an interested author, one of the first things I do is make sure that my services are a right fit for the author’s writing and publishing stage. There are so many different editing services and different names for each type of service. It can be hard for writers to know what all the different available services are, let alone which one is the right fit for their current goals.

I’ve already dug deep into the different types of editing in my post The Four Levels of Fiction Editing. Here, I’ll go over how to know which editing service is right for your current writing stage.

Book Coaching

A book coach is a partner you regularly check in with as you write your book. Book coaches give you feedback on your early writing, help you make sure you’re on the right path for your publishing goals, and give you encouragement and accountability with your writing milestones.

Writers don’t need a book coach, but the right coach can be invaluable to authors, especially with their first book. So, if you’re in your initial writing stage and would really appreciate some formal, personable guidance, hiring a book coach could be a great option for you.

Something I also want to clarify is the difference between a book coach and a developmental editor. I’ve found authors can easily mix them up, as a book coach often ends up giving story-level feedback similar to a developmental editor. The key difference is that book coaches provide ongoing support during the writing process, whereas developmental editors provide a set pass of edits for an already complete manuscript.

If you want professional help in the writing process, look for a book coach. If you want professional help to prepare a complete manuscript for publication, look for an editor. That being said, before passing your story on to a professional editor, there are some informal feedback options that you may find very helpful for self-editing.

Beta Readers

A beta reader is someone who reads your full manuscript and gives you feedback on how they experienced it as a new reader. The best beta readers are people who already avidly read your genre.

If you’re looking to gain valuable feedback on how readers experience your story, beta readers are a great resource. Beta readers tend to give more broad and unspecific advice though. If you’re looking to really pinpoint the ways you can improve story-level concerns, a developmental editor may be a better fit for you.

Even though beta reading isn’t as formal as professional editing, it is still a significant time commitment for the reader. It takes work to analyze a full manuscript and give feedback. Some of your friends may be happy to do it as a favour, but a lot of beta readers ask for some kind of compensation.

One favourite solution for authors on a budget is to exchange manuscripts with a fellow author and mutually beta-read each other’s work. To find one of these like-minded writers, you can look to join a writers’ group or guild in your area, or you can look online through social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, or WattPad. #writingcommunity

Critique Group

Another option for gaining feedback from fellow writers is to join a critique group. In a critique meeting, each member brings a sample of their writing and the group discusses the strengths and weaknesses of each piece.

Like beta readers, critique groups are most valuable for gaining insight into how readers instinctually respond to your story. Regularly engaging with fellow writers can also be a great source of encouragement and support. These groups are valuable at both the initial writing and the editing stages.

Since mutual value is baked in to the structure of critique groups, these groups are usually free to join! To find a local critique group, you can look it up on Google, check the widely used platform MeetUp, or check what’s available through your local writers’ guild.

Developmental Editing

Now we’re getting into the formal editing services. A developmental edit addresses the story itself – its plot, structure, pacing, setting, character development, narrative techniques, and themes.

An interesting and convincing plot, engaging character arcs, and thought-provoking themes are the reasons readers love novels. A developmental edit is all about making sure the heart of what makes your story impactful comes across to readers. It is so important to make sure that these foundations are strong to give your book the best chance on the market.

That being said, most traditional publishers don’t provide this level of novel editing anymore. Why? Nowadays, publishers get so many submissions that they’re able to only accept the rare manuscripts that don’t need any developmental editing. As an investment, it’s cheaper if the publisher can skip this editing stage and it’s less risky to take on a book that’s guaranteed to be good.

As such, seeking developmental editing on your own can boost your chances of being picked up by an agent or publisher.

Also, self-publishing authors, note that you should pursue developmental editing before stylistic and copy editing. In this stage, you may add, delete, reorder, or completely rewrite scenes to address developmental concerns. There is no point copy editing a chapter that might be removed or stylistically editing a section that will be rewritten. To get the most value from your editing investment, developmental editing should come first, stylistic and copy editing second.

Stylistic and Copy Editing

Even though stylistic and copy editing are technically separate levels of editing, most editors complete these levels at the same time, so I’ve grouped them together here.

Stylistic editing, also called line editing, addresses sentence-level clarity, coherence, and flow. Copy editing is more technical and addresses grammar, spelling, usage, punctuation, basic factual correctness, and editorial style. Copy editing ensures that sentences are technically sound, whereas stylistic editing ensures that sentences are clear and artful.

If you want to traditionally publish, your publisher will take care of the stylistic and copy editing. Your sentences shouldn’t be glaringly awkward, but when agents and publishers assess submissions, they aren’t looking for perfection at the sentence-level. They’re looking for a unique and deeply engaging story. Don’t stress about sentence-level editing before you’ve found your publisher.

Of course, self-publishers are in control of every edit their book gets. In an ideal world, a self-publishing author would pursue both developmental editing and stylistic and copy editing to ensure that their book has the best chance to do well in the market.

Proofreading

Proofreading is the final check to snuff out any finicky remaining errors. Keep in mind that it happens after your book has been formatted into its final pages, which is called the typeset.

Like copy editors, proofreaders look for basic technical correctness in grammar, punctuation, spelling, usage, and editorial style. But unlike copy editors, they also examine the book’s formatting for consistency and for any inadvertent errors introduced by the typeset.

Again, publishers will handle this stage if you’re publishing traditionally. For self-publishers, this step may seem redundant after a copy edit. But keep in mind, it’s fairly common for some errors to still make it through to the typesetting stage, and the typeset can create its own errors too. Proofreading is an important final polish.

So there you have it – the central editing services available and when it’s best to pursue each one. I hope you now have a clearer sense of direction for the next step in your publishing journey.