The 5 Types of Fiction Manuscript Editing

So, you’ve written a story, that’s the hard part done, right? 

Well, yes and no. 

Firstly, congratulations, you’ve achieved a goal many set out to do but never accomplish. Secondly, brace yourself for the world of Manuscript Editing. 

When I finished my first story, I thought a quick once over by me, a friend and maybe a professional (if I wanted to be fancy) was all that editing entailed, but we all know from a quick internet search, that that’s not right. The overwhelm at seeing so many different types of editing, and everyone saying different types were more important than others, made me want to avoid the process altogether. 

It was a lot. And still is, especially for new writers finding their feet. 

But through training, courses and experience, I’d simplify fiction manuscript editing into these main types.

  

1 – Developmental Editing 

What? 

A Developmental Edit (or Manuscript Evaluation) looks at the big picture elements of a story and makes sure everything fits together. 

Some areas a Developmental Editor could look at are; themes, plot and character development, dialogue and narrative summary, voice and style, pacing or tension. The focus will be on manuscript improvement rather than providing feedback on every area, but if there is a part in particular that you want feedback on, let them know in the querying process.

The aim is to bring clarity and depth to your story with a goal of improvement not perfection.  

  

When? 

Often the first type of professional editing a book undergoes, a Developmental Edit is completed during the early drafts of a manuscript. 

However, a common mistake I see is for writers to send in their first draft at this stage. This isn’t wrong, but it means you’re not getting the most out of your editor. Take some time to reflect on your work and Self-edit before hiring a professional. That way you can catch the easy to spot mistakes before an editor provides more in-depth feedback using their expertise.  

   

A Developmental Edit secures your story and structure, to ready your manuscript for the next type; A Line Edit. 

  

2 – Line Editing

What? 

This is a look at the style and flow of your story on a paragraph and sentence level. 

There’s a rhythm to writing that makes reading enjoyable and emphasises the pacing and tension of a scene. Locking into this rhythm improves the reader’s experience and the emotional readability of the novel and this editing with help you to do that. An editor might suggest swapping paragraphs around, varying sentences, changing wording, or showing you how to use sentence structure to the fullest to embed emotion.

It’s a critical moment of balance to improve flow without losing your unique voice. 

 

When? 

Completed after a Developmental Edit, a Line Edit takes place once you’ve cemented your structure but before looking at the nitty gritty mechanical corrections of a Copy Edit 

  

3 – Copy Editing

What? 

This is a mechanical look at sentences and words, to make sure they are technically correct and ensure your novel is an easy pleasure to read.  

There’s nothing worse than being yanked out of a story by awkward sentences or tripping over multiple spelling mistakes. It can frustrate readers or, in the worst case scenario, it can make them put the book down. 

A Copy Edit improves readability by looking at consistency, correctness and technical accuracy through spelling, grammar and punctuation checks.

  

When? 

Completed after a Line Edit, a Copy Edit takes you a step towards being publication ready. Once done, and you are happy with the manuscript, you’ll be looking at formatting it for publishing. 

  

4 – Proofreading 

What? 

This is probably the most common type of manuscript editing that people think of, but not necessarily understand.

I have been asked to Proofread a first draft and a partial manuscript before, which isn’t the right moment for this edit. However, because the name has almost become synonymous with editing, many new writers think it’s where they should go first, but it’s actually an entire type on its own and has a key time within the process. 

This editing is the last line of defence before publication. It looks at formatting issues, inconsistencies in the story, spelling, grammar and punctuation, and overall readability. This sounds like an amalgamation of all the previous types, but consider it as one final check. Like a restaurant manager’s checklist before opening for service. She might straighten a tablecloth or look over the menu but those are other people’s responsibilities she is simply double checking. 

A note here; if there are many issues with either the story or the writing, a proofreader will likely recommend returning to an earlier stage of editing. 

  

When? 

Just before the book is ready to be published. Once completed, and you are happy, this editing will provide you with your final manuscript. 

  

5 – A Self-Edit

What? 

After the last type, I bet you were wondering what else there could be, but this type of editing is the most important. 

Editing your own work can be frustrating and difficult, but if you take it in stages and break it into different areas, the process begins to feel more manageable.

You can read my Self-editing guide for more instruction on how to do this, but the when is a key factor. 

  

When? 

You should be editing your book throughout the entire process. From your first draft through your professional feedback, this process is continual and important to keep refining your story.

No, I don’t mean constantly being on your laptop changing the same sentence 15 times. That’s a bad state to get yourself in and I’d recommend walking away from your writing for a few days in that case. 

I mean; whichever editing type you are undergoing, the responsibility to make changes stays with you. The author.

A Developmental Edit could provide you a 10-page report of advice on your plot, or a Copy Edit could leave 100s of suggested changes to your words, but it’s down to you to decide which feedback you want to take on and which changes to make. 

Self-Editing is a constant process and being aware of it actually improves your writing craft.

  

Conclusion

Hopefully, this has given you an insight into a process you were unfamiliar with, and explained which editing type you should be looking at, depending on where you are in your writing journey. 

• In the early stages, look at a Developmental Edit to hone your plot and strengthen your story to satisfy your readers. 

• If your plot and structure are strong, look at Line Editing to make your sentences flow for an enjoyable read. 

• Ready to polish, look at Copy Editing to tidy your words for good technical readability. 

• Ready for publishing, use a Proofread as the last check. 

• And, of course, our continual Self-Editing. 

Sometimes timelines or budget can get in the way of undergoing a professional, but there are ways to make it more affordable and to find the right manuscript editor for you. However, if you’re simply curious at the moment, and gathering information, follow along with my blog and Substack to read all the tips I have to share on writing and editing. 

If you’re ready for a professional edit and think it’s time for a Developmental Edit, Get in touch for a free chat about your project and goals. 

But remember, if you’ve finished your first draft, you’ve already done the hardest part of writing a story. A bit more work and you’ll have the final published book in your hands. 

  

FAQs

What are the different types of fiction editing? – The core types are Developmental Editing, Line Editing, Copy Editing, Proofreading and Self-editing, though there can be more specific ones based on your needs.

What is the difference between Developmental and Copy Editing? – A Developmental Edit looks at the big-picture items of a story, focusing on structure, character, plot and pacing. A Copy edit looks at the technical accuracy of the writing in terms of spelling, grammar and punctuation.

I want to have my manuscript edited, but the process makes me very anxious, what should I do? – This is actually a very common fear shared amongst writers, but don’t let it hold you back from sharing your story. Easier said than done I know. What you need to do is reframe the way you view and think about feedback and understand how to use it to improve your story.

What is the process of a Developmental Edit? – Once you’ve chosen your editor, you will sign a contract and hand over your manuscript. They will do the edit and return the manuscript with their feedback, likely in the form of a report and/or manuscript mark-up. If you want to learn more about the process, read my next blog – What does a Developmental Editor actually do?

Which type of editing is most important? – A tough question as it is based on the writer’s proficiency and needs, but I’d say a Developmental Edit, because if a story doesn’t have a strong core that will attract a reader, it doesn’t matter that the writing is technically perfect. However, every stage of editing plays it part.

What does a Developmental Editor actually do? – They look at the big-picture items of a story, focusing on structure, character, plot and pacing, and provide feedback to improve your manuscript. Check out my next blog post to find out more – What does a Developmental Editor actually do?

Can I skip a Developmental Edit? – Anyone can, but it’s whether you should. I recommend my clients to at least get a Developmental Edit Report completed on their manuscripts before moving onto the next stage, especially for writers who already have published books or acute knowledge of writing craft. For new writers or those early in their career, I’d suggest not skipping this stage as the feedback you can get could be critical for the improvement of the story.