{"id":204,"date":"2020-11-16T10:35:27","date_gmt":"2020-11-16T10:35:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/?p=204"},"modified":"2025-05-09T09:40:33","modified_gmt":"2025-05-09T08:40:33","slug":"types-of-editing-how-to-choose","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/types-of-editing-how-to-choose\/","title":{"rendered":"Types Of Editing: How To Choose"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/our-services\/jericho-editors-room\/developmental-editing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Developmental editing<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/our-services\/jericho-editors-room\/manuscript-assessment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Structural editing<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/our-services\/jericho-editors-room\/copy-editing-services\/line-editing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Line editing<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/our-services\/jericho-editors-room\/copy-editing-services\/copy-editing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Copy editing<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/our-services\/jericho-editors-room\/copy-editing-services\/proof-reading\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Proofreading<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, we know: you\u2019ve written a manuscript. You know it needs some kind of professional help. But what kind of help? Copy editing or line editing? Structural editing or developmental support? There seem to be <a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/types-of-editing-how-to-choose\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">so many options<\/a> to choose from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But never fear. We\u2019ll tell you exactly what each of the <a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/types-of-editing-how-to-choose\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">different types of editing<\/a> are \u2013 and offer some suggestions on what editing you do\/don\u2019t need right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The good news is that, quite often, you need less editorial input than you might think. (The bad news is that you have to put in a lot of hard graft instead\u2026)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-are-the-different-types-of-editing\">What Are The Different Types Of Editing?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/developmental-editing-what-it-is-where-to-get-it\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Developmental editing<\/a>: also known as structural editing. This is concerned with everything to do with the story&#8217;s big picture: the concept, plot, character development.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Line editing: looks at details line by line.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/what-is-copyediting-complete-guide\/\">Copy-editing<\/a>: is much as above, except with less attention to line-by-line correction of clumsy writing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/proofreading-marks-what-they-mean\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Proof reading<\/a>: looks for simple typos or errors in the text.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-editing-works\">How Editing Works<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before we go any further, it\u2019s worth explaining the editorial hierarchy. Essentially you go from large to little, from structural to detailed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So it\u2019s like building a house: you start with foundations, walls and roof.&nbsp;Then you start thinking about doors and windows.&nbsp;Then you start thinking about paints and wallpapers.&nbsp;Last, you go around sweeping up and sorting out any last little snags.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The same thing with editing, where the hierarchy runs roughly like this, from big to small:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Developmental editing<\/strong> or <strong>structural editing<\/strong>. Identifying and addressing any number of big picture issues that could include: plot, pacing, character development, settings, emotional turning points, themes, writing style and much else.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Line editing<\/strong>: this starts to look at the detail. Is each sentence clear? Are there typos? Unwanted repetitions? Minor factual errors?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Copy editing<\/strong>: much as above, except there\u2019s less attention to line-by-line correction of clumsy writing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Proof reading<\/strong>: At the proof stage, you generally expect that all the essential work has already been done, so this is really just rushing around the manuscript looking for last bits of lint to pick off and typos to clear away.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s the overview. Not all manuscripts will go through all of these stages \u2013 indeed, if you\u2019re doing a decent job as an author then one or two of these stages are probably redundant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All that said, let\u2019s jump straight into the meat\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-developmental-editing\">Developmental Editing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ll start with the biggest, broadest, most sweeping kind of editing you can get: developmental editing. We go into much more detail over in this <a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/developmental-editing-what-it-is-where-to-get-it-2\/\">blog post<\/a> if you are interested but the basics are below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-definition-what-is-developmental-editing\">Definition: What Is Developmental Editing?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In the good old days, developmental editing used to have one precise meaning. It now has certainly two, maybe three, and possibly four meanings. In short: no wonder you\u2019re confused. And no wonder it\u2019s unclear whether developmental editing is something you need or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But let\u2019s start with those definitions. Here goes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Developmental Editing is Structural Editing is Big Picture Editing is&#8230;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many names floating around that refer to roughly the same type of editing: the one that takes a step back from the line-level words and views the novel as a whole. Does the story make sense? Are these characters believable? What is the core concept promised in these pages and does it stick the landing? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the world of books, you may come across other uses of &#8216;developmental editing&#8217; but essentially, knowing that this type of editing relates to the Big Picture rather than something closer like line-editing or proofreading, which is much more concerned with grammar and syntax. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-b-developmental-editing-as-industry-euphemism\"><strong>Developmental Editing As Juiced Up Manuscript Assessment<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Now for me, the gold-standard method of improving a manuscript is quite simply the good old-fashioned&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/our-services\/jericho-editors-room\/manuscript-assessment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">manuscript assessment<\/a>. You write your book. You send it to an editor. You get a report back saying, in essence, \u201cthis worked, this didn\u2019t, here\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/proofreading-marks-what-they-mean\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">how to fix the bits that were off.<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That sounds simple, but it isn\u2019t. And often enough the effect of good manuscript feedback is a total revitalisation of the work. Many, many times, I\u2019ve known a manuscript assessment to be the single most pivotal moment in a writer\u2019s path to publication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But \u2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A manuscript assessment is mostly just that. A long, written report. In the case of Jericho Writers, you <a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/editors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">get a fabulous editor<\/a>, a report of no less than 3,000 words, and a <a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/jericho-writers\/about-us\/success-stories\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">long track record of success<\/a>. But what you don\u2019t get, or not mostly, is a page-by-page list of Big Picture things to think about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>And sometimes you need that too<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes you need the rounded, structural commentary of the report but with detailed page-by-page advice alongside \u2013 actual annotations on the manuscript. Comments written in Word. Sample edits made to the document itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where <em>our <\/em>definition of developmental editing comes in. The big and the small. Both things delivered together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This kind of service is what we, Jericho Writers, offer by way of <a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/our-services\/jericho-editors-room\/developmental-editing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">developmental editing<\/a>. Others offer it too. It\u2019s a very, very good service. It\u2019s the ultimate gift you can give your work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(And yes. I know. That just sounds like a sales pitch \u2013 but read on. Developmental editing isn\u2019t right for everyone. It might not be right for you.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-when-is-classic-developmental-editing-right-for-you\">When Is Developmental Editing Right For You?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If we&#8217;re going by Jericho Writers definitions, it probably isn&#8217;t. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What you&nbsp;<em>probably<\/em>&nbsp;need is a professional <a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/editorial-services\/manuscript-assessment\/\">manuscript assessment<\/a> if you want an editor to help you understand the big picture of your manuscript and give you ways to improve it. If you want a closer, more in-depth look on a line-level, then consider a <a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/product\/developmental-editing-3\/\">developmental edit<\/a>. We&#8217;ve put the two types of editing side by side below for you to compare. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\r\n<div\r\n\tid=\"comparemsanddev\"\r\n\tclass=\"section-header alignfull section-header--centered section-header--top-margin\"\r\n>\r\n  <h2 class=\"section-header__header \" style=\"color: #21334a\">Compare Similar Editing Services<\/h2>\r\n  <div class=\"section-header__hr\" style=\"background-color: #e82027\"><\/div>\r\n      <p class=\"section-header__text\" style=\"color: #21334a\">Compare our Manuscript Evaluation, which is suitable for all, with our premium Developmental Editing service, which is best for those with more polished drafts.<\/p>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:20%\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-getwid-table alignwide has-horizontal-align-center has-vertical-align-middle\"><table class=\"has-text-color has-opulence-color\"><tbody><tr><td style=\"text-align:right;vertical-align:middle;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:5px\"><\/td><td style=\"vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;background-color:#1f4c75;color:#F1F1F1;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:5px\"><strong>Manuscript Assessment<\/strong><\/td><td style=\"vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;background-color:#1f4c75;color:#F1F1F1;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:5px\"><strong>Developmental Editing<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:5px;background-color:#F1F1F1;color:#21334a\"><strong>Price<\/strong><\/td><td style=\"vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:5px;background-color:#F1F1F1;color:#21334a\"><strong>From \u00a3395 (10% discount for Premium Members)<\/strong><\/td><td style=\"vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:5px;background-color:#F1F1F1;color:#21334a\"><strong>From \u00a3473 (10% discount for Premium Members)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:5px;color:#21334a\"><strong>Full editorial report<\/strong><\/td><td style=\"vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:5px\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"18\" height=\"18\" class=\"wp-image-272145\" style=\"width: 18px;\" src=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/v6Artboard-1.png\" alt=\"\"><\/td><td style=\"vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:5px\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/check-solid-mint.png\" alt=\"\" style=\"width: 18px;\"><\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:5px;color:#21334a;background-color:#F1F1F1\"><strong>In-text comments<\/strong><\/td><td style=\"vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:5px;background-color:#F1F1F1\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/v6Asset-1exp-bk.png\" alt=\"\"><\/td><td style=\"vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:5px;background-color:#F1F1F1;color:#F1F1F1\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/check-solid-mint.png\" alt=\"\" style=\"width: 18px;\"><\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:5px;color:#21334a\"><strong>Short email follow-up<\/strong><\/td><td style=\"vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:5px\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/check-solid-mint.png\" alt=\"\" style=\"width: 18px;\"><\/td><td style=\"vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:5px\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/v6Asset-1exp-bk.png\" alt=\"\"><\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:5px;color:#21334a;background-color:#F1F1F1\"><strong>1 hour follow-up<\/strong><\/td><td style=\"vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:5px;background-color:#F1F1F1\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/v6Asset-1exp-bk.png\" alt=\"\"><\/td><td style=\"vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:5px;background-color:#F1F1F1\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/v6Artboard-1.png\" alt=\"\"><\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:5px;color:#21334a\"><strong>Suitable for first drafts<\/strong><\/td><td style=\"vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:5px\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/v6Artboard-1.png\" alt=\"\"><\/td><td style=\"vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:5px\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/v6Asset-1exp-bk.png\" alt=\"\"><\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:5px;color:#21334a;background-color:#F1F1F1\"><strong>Suitable for later drafts<\/strong><\/td><td style=\"vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:5px;background-color:#F1F1F1\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/v6Artboard-1.png\" alt=\"\"><\/td><td style=\"vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:5px;background-color:#F1F1F1\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/v6Artboard-1.png\" alt=\"\"><\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:5px;color:#21334a\"><strong>2-4 week turnaround*<\/strong><\/td><td style=\"vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:5px;background-color:#ffffff\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/v6Artboard-1.png\" alt=\"\"><\/td><td style=\"vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:5px;background-color:#ffffff\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/v6Asset-1exp-bk.png\" alt=\"\"><\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:5px;color:#21334a;background-color:#F1F1F1\"><strong>6 week turnaround*<\/strong><\/td><td style=\"text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;background-color:#F1F1F1;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:5px\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/v6Asset-1exp-bk.png\" alt=\"\"><\/td><td style=\"text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;background-color:#F1F1F1\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/v6Artboard-1.png\" alt=\"\"><\/td><\/tr><tr><td style=\"vertical-align:middle;text-align:right;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:5px\"><\/td><td style=\"vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:5px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/our-services\/jericho-editors-room\/manuscript-assessment\/\">View service<\/a><\/td><td style=\"vertical-align:middle;text-align:center;padding-top:10px;padding-right:10px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:5px\"><a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/our-services\/jericho-editors-room\/developmental-editing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">View service<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption><span style=\"color:#21334a\" class=\"tadv-color\">*Please note that turnaround times may be extended during busy periods<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:20%\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-structural-editing-substantive-editing-editorial-assessment\">Structural Editing, Substantive Editing, Editorial Assessment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now we know the rough difference between types of editing that look at the big picture and the types that are concerned with closer, line-level views, let&#8217;s dig into some definitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-definitions\">Definitions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Structural editing<\/strong>&nbsp;is, by definition, a set of comments on the structure of your work. That will certainly involve plot and pacing. But it may also include comments on character, mood, emotional transitions, dialogue, character arcs, writing style and much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re being strict about it, structural editing should focus&nbsp;<em>only<\/em>&nbsp;on structure, but in practice editors tend to comment on anything that, in their view, needs attention. (Which is good. Which is what you want.) Which makes it closer to something like our <a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/editorial-services\/manuscript-assessment\/\">manuscript assessment<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Basically, a good structural edit will tell you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What\u2019s working (though they won\u2019t spend too long on this)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What\u2019s not working (this is where the report will concentrate all its firepower. This is good. This is what you want.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How to fix the stuff that isn\u2019t yet right<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>A good report will quite simply cover&nbsp;<em>everything<\/em>&nbsp;that you most need to know. It\u2019ll do that from the perspective of the market for books as it is now. So the kind of crime novels (say) that could have sold 25 years ago may not be right for the market now. A good editor will know that, and set you on the right lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Substantive editing<\/strong>&nbsp;is basically the same as structural editing, except that technically it doesn\u2019t have to limit itself to structure alone. But since structural editors&nbsp;<em>don\u2019t<\/em>&nbsp;in practice confine themselves to structural comments, it\u2019s pretty safe to say that, in practice, the two things are exactly the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Editorial assessment<\/strong>, or&nbsp;<strong>Manuscript assessment<\/strong>. These two things are exactly the same as structural editing. The difference is that an editorial assessment gives you an editorial report, but doesn\u2019t usually also give you a marked-up manuscript as well. If it&#8217;s line-level comments you want from your editor, a <a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/editorial-services\/developmental-editing\/\">developmental edit<\/a> is what you&#8217;re looking for, though you probably don&#8217;t need it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Again, in practice, these things blur into each other. Our own core editorial product is, indeed, the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/bazaar\/full-manuscript-assessment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">manuscript assessment<\/a>. The main deliverable there is a long, detailed editorial report on your book. That said, a lot of editors will, if it\u2019s useful, also mark-up all or part of your manuscript. Or if they don\u2019t, they may quote so extensively from your work, that it\u2019s kinda the same as if they did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In short, and give or take a few blurry bits on the edges:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>structural editing = substantive editing = editorial assessment = manuscript assessment<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Easy, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-is-structural-editing-editorial-assessment-right-for-you\">Is Structural Editing \/ Editorial Assessment Right For You?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Almost certainly: yes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, to be clear, I own Jericho Writers and if you trot along to buy one of our wonderful&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/bazaar\/full-manuscript-assessment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">manuscript assessments<\/a>, it&#8217;ll boost my business. So in that sense I\u2019m biased.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other hand, I just told you you probably don&#8217;t need developmental edits, and I\u2019d make myself a LOT richer if I got you to buy one of those things, so I hope I have a little credit in the bank. I\u2019m speaking truth, not salesman yadda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And the reason I like structural editing so much is that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>It is and remains the gold-standard way to improve a manuscript<\/strong>. Nothing else has ever come close. I\u2019m not that far away from publishing my twentieth book. (I\u2019m both trad &amp; indie, and I love both channels, in case you\u2019re wondering.) I\u2019m a pretty damn good author. I\u2019ve had very positive reviews in newspapers across the world. My books have sold in a kazillion countries and been optioned for TV. And every single one of my books have had detailed editorial input.&nbsp;<em>And they\u2019ve always, always got better as a result<\/em>. Always.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>It makes you better as a writer<\/strong>. You always emerge from these exercises with new skills and new insights. You will apply those to your current manuscript, for sure, but you\u2019ll apply them to the next one too. The more you work with skilled external editors, the more you\u2019ll grow as a writer. (And, I think, as a human too.)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>So that\u2019s why I think structural editing works so well, and for such a huge variety of manuscripts, genres and authors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-when-should-you-get-structural-input-on-your-work\">When Should You Get Structural Input On Your Work?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Well, OK. The businessman in me wants to say, \u201cGet that input right now. Hand over your lovely hard-earned dollars \/ pounds \/ shekels \/ yen, and your soul and career will flourish, my friend.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But that\u2019s not the right answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The fact is that the right time for editorial input is generally: as late as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you know you have a plot niggle in Part IV, then fix the damn niggle. Fix it as well as you can. Don\u2019t go and pay someone to tell you that you have an issue. That\u2019s dumb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Same thing if your characters feel a bit flat, or your atmosphere is a bit lacking, or whatever else. If you know your book has issues, then do the best you can to fix those issues. You\u2019ll learn a lot and your book will get better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That means, the right time for editorial input comes when:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>You\u2019ve worked hard, but you keep going round in circles<\/strong>. You\u2019re confusing yourself. You need external eyes and buckets of wisdom.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You\u2019ve worked hard, but&nbsp;<strong>you know the book isn\u2019t right<\/strong>. You don\u2019t know what\u2019s awry exactly, but you know you need help.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You\u2019ve worked hard, you\u2019ve got the book out to agents, but&nbsp;<strong>you\u2019re not getting offers of representation<\/strong>. You know you need to do&nbsp;<em>something<\/em>, but you don\u2019t know what.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The&nbsp;<strong>self-pub version of 2<\/strong>: you have a draft you\u2019re reasonably happy with, but you\u2019re about to publish this damn thing, and your whole future career depends on the excellence of the story you\u2019re going to serve the reader. So you do the right thing and invest in the product. You\u2019re going to get the best kickass structural edit you can, then use that advice as intensively as you can. (Editing, in fact, is one of the only two things that should cost you real money at this early stage: the other one is cover design. And, no surprise, they both relate to developing the best product it is in your power to produce.)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>In short: work as hard as you can on the book. When you\u2019re no longer making discernible forward progress, come to an editor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And \u2013&nbsp;<em>blatant plug alert!<\/em>&nbsp;\u2013 Jericho Writers is very, very good at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/editors-room\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">editorial stuff<\/a>. We\u2019ve got a bazillion people published, trad and indie, and the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/success-stories\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">success stories<\/a>&nbsp;just keep coming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-developmental-editing-as-premium-manuscript-assessment\">Developmental Editing \u2013 As Juiced Up Manuscript Assessment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>I love manuscript assessments \u2013 I think they\u2019re the single most helpful thing you can do to improve your work. At their best, with author and editor working well together, they\u2019re like a magic formula for improving your work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But a lot of people still find them insufficient. In particular, a manuscript assessment might say something like, \u201cYour character Claudia isn\u2019t yet cohering. Here\u2019s what I mean in general terms [blah, blah, blah]. And here are some specific page references which illustrate my general point [page 23, page 58, etc].\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that\u2019s helpful, but it still leaves you to do an awful lot. If Claudia is a major character, the specific changes you need to make are likely to go well beyond the handful of examples the editor uses to make their broader point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So what do you do?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Well, hopefully, you understand exactly where your editor is coming from, and you make the necessary changes, and your manuscript becomes perfect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Only maybe not. Some people just are helped by having their manuscript&nbsp;<em>marked up page by page<\/em>. That\u2019s not instead of the more general report. It\u2019s in addition. That way you get to see the broad thrust of the comments, as well as the more specific issues as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So you get an overview of (for example) why Claudia isn\u2019t quite working as well as a detailed laundry list of all the specific places where her character grates a bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And it\u2019s not just characterisation. It\u2019s plot issues. It\u2019s matters of writing style. It\u2019s sense of place. It\u2019s everything that goes into a novel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So \u2013 and this is because our clients have specifically asked us to create the product \u2013 we now offer a version of <a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/editorial-services\/developmental-editing\/\">developmental editing<\/a> that combines these services in a single package:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Manuscript assessment \u2013 overview report<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Detailed mark-up of your manuscript \u2013 literally page, by page<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>One hour discussion with the editor, so you can resolve any outstanding questions or niggles you may have.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Pretty obviously, this is a deluxe package and, pretty obviously, it\u2019s expensive. It\u2019s also, honestly, not what most of you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-will-i-benefit-from-developmental-editing-jericho-style\">Will I Benefit From Developmental Editing, Jericho-style?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As a rough guide, very new writers are probably best off building their skills by taking a writing course or, of course, just hammering away at their manuscript. (That\u2019s still the best learning exercise of all.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After that, once you have a first, or third, or fifth draft manuscript, it makes sense to get a regular manuscript assessment. That way, you can grasp the main issues with your work and you have a plan of attack for dealing with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because developmental editing is as much concerned both with the broader issues AND with the narrower ones, it doesn\u2019t really make sense to purchase the service until your manuscript is in pretty good shape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After all, the outcome of a manuscript assessment might be \u201cThat whole sequence set on Venus just doesn\u2019t work and needs to be rethought from scratch.\u201d If that\u2019s the case, then having detailed page-by-page comments on the way you write isn\u2019t really going to help you much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So as a rough guide, you&nbsp;<strong>will benefit<\/strong>&nbsp;from developmental editing, if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Your manuscript is in pretty good shape (ie: this should be the last major round of work before submitting to publishers or self-publishing the manuscript)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You want both broad and narrow comments<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You want the opportunity to talk at length with your editor<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You are OK paying for a premium service.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You&nbsp;<strong>will not benefit<\/strong>&nbsp;from developmental editing, if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Your manuscript is still at a somewhat earlier stage in its journey<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You feel able to handle the narrower issues yourself, so long as you have reasonable guidance from your manuscript assessment report.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-line-editing-copy-editing-proof-reading\">Line Editing, Copy Editing, Proof Reading<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>OK. We\u2019ve dealt with the broader, more structural types of editing. We\u2019re now going to home in on the ever finer-grained types of editing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ll start as before with some definitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-definitions-1\">Definitions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Of the detailed, line-by-line type edits, line-editing is the one that has the broadest remit. I\u2019ll start with proof-reading (the most narrowly defined of these editorial stages) and build upwards from there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Proof-reading<\/strong>&nbsp;comes at the final stage prior to printing\/publication. It basically assumes that the manuscript has already been checked over thoroughly, so this is really only a final check for errors that have managed to slip through the net. (And, in fact historically, the process of type-setting for print often introduced errors, so proof-reading was partly necessary to reverse those. These days, unsurprisingly, you can format a document for print without messing it up.) The kind of errors a proof-reader will catch include: typos, misspellings, punctuation errors, missing spaces, and the like. It\u2019s a micro-level, final-error catching task, and nothing much else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Copy-editing<\/strong>&nbsp;includes everything included in proofreading, but it\u2019ll have a somewhat broader scope. So a copy editor will also be on the look out for factual errors, timetable and other inconsistencies in the novel, occasional instances of unclear or weak phrasing, awkward repetitions, deviations from house style (if there is a house style), and so on. In the traditional publishing sequence, copy editing will take place after all structural editing has been done, but before the book has been set for print.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Line-editing<\/strong>&nbsp;will cover everything that\u2019s detailed above, plus a general check for sentence structure, clarity and sense. In other words, it is part of a line editor\u2019s job to fix clumsily phrased, repetitious or otherwise awkward sentences. Yes, you the author should not be writing clumsily in the first place, but if by chance you do, the line editor is there to put things right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why does anyone ever want or need line-editing? Well, some authors are brilliant at generating character and story, but their actual sentence-by-sentence expression of that story just isn\u2019t so great. In these cases, a publisher will commission a line-edit to put those things right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-editing-process-what-you-need-when-you-need-it\">The Editing Process: What You Need&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;When You Need It<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Right. What kind of editing you need and should pay for depends on what kind of publication you are looking at. So:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-traditional-publishing-sequence\">The Traditional Publishing Sequence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The normal publishing sequence (for traditionally published books) would be:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Structural editing<\/strong>&nbsp;(ie: a detailed manuscript assessment)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Copy-editing<\/strong>&nbsp;(or&nbsp;<strong>line editing<\/strong>&nbsp;if the author really needs it, but never both things)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Proof-reading<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are aiming at traditional publication, then you may well need to invest in a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/bazaar\/full-manuscript-assessment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">manuscript assessment<\/a>, in order to write something of the quality needed for a literary agent \/ publisher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You certainly&nbsp;<em>won\u2019t<\/em>&nbsp;need copy editing, or anything along those lines. That\u2019ll be carried out, for free, by the publisher down the line. (They\u2019ll also do some more structural editing work too, but don\u2019t worry about that \u2013 you can\u2019t get too much, and your book always gets better.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-indie-publishing-sequence\">The Indie Publishing Sequence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Indie publishers, inevitably, focus more on cost-cutting than the Big 5 houses do, so a typical indie process might look simply like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Some kind of&nbsp;<strong>structural support<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 probably an&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/bazaar\/full-manuscript-assessment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">editorial assessment<\/a>&nbsp;or something similar<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some kind of&nbsp;<strong>copy-editing support<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>If you don\u2019t have the budget for both, I\u2019d urge you to get the structural help: that\u2019s what will really make the difference to the sheer readability of your book. That\u2019s where to spend your funds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Indeed, though we at Jericho Writers offer a full range of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/our-services\/jericho-editors-room\/copy-editing-services\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">copyediting and proofreading services<\/a>, I don\u2019t usually advise writers to invest in them at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are an indie on a lowish launch budget (which is the right kind of budget to have when you\u2019re just starting out), then I\u2019d recommend an editing plan along roughly the following lines:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Full editorial assessment, ideally from Jericho Writers (because we\u2019re really good at it.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You then rework your book in the light of what you\u2019ve been told<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You then give it a good hard proofread yourself for any errors and typos<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You then enlist the help of any eagle-eyed friends to do the same<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>That plan won\u2019t give you a manuscript as clean as if you give it the full cost-no-object Big 5 treatment \u2026 but it\u2019ll be just fine. Don\u2019t overspend at this stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-indie-publishing-sequence-1\">The Indie Publishing Sequence<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>OK. You know the basic layout of what editing is and when it\u2019s used. Here\u2019s what I think the big questions are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-developmental-editing-vs-structural-editing\">Developmental Editing Vs Structural Editing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You know my view on this. I think for 99% of you reading this, you are best off (a) working and self-editing as hard as you can yourself, then (b) getting professional input on your work from a structural editor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s going to be miles cheaper and the end result will be better too. Yes, you\u2019ll need to do a lot of work, but you\u2019re a writer. You like work. (If you don\u2019t, you\u2019re in the wrong job.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are a newer author, you may well need two or three rounds of structural input. That\u2019s fine. That\u2019s not a failure on your part. That\u2019s you learning a new trade. It\u2019s money well spent \u2013 and you can prove it to yourself too. Just ask yourself: are you a better, more knowledgeable, more capable writer at the end of the process? If the answer isn\u2019t yes, I\u2019ll eat my boots, jingly spurs and all. (*)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>* \u2013 disclosure: I don\u2019t actually wear spurs.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-structural-editing-vs-copy-editing\">Structural Editing Vs Copy Editing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>OK, these are two very different things, but of the two, the structural editing definitely matters more. The&nbsp;<em>purpose<\/em>&nbsp;of structural \/ substantive editing is simply: make your book the best book it can be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;<em>purpose<\/em>&nbsp;of copy editing is simply: make the text as clean as it can be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both things matter, but if your budget only permits one of those things, then go for structural editing, every day of the week. A wonderful story is much more important than tidy text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And again, though we sell&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/copyediting-proofreading-services\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">copyediting services<\/a>, you shouldn\u2019t need them at all if you are heading for trad publication, and you should probably be able to find an acceptable but much cheaper substitute if you are self-publishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-line-editing-vs-copy-editing-vs-proof-reading\">Line Editing Vs Copy Editing Vs Proof-reading<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&nbsp;<em>are<\/em>&nbsp;going to get line-by-line corrections to your MS, then the default answer is to go for copy editing. Proof-reading is really too narrow, and only really makes sense if your book has already been copy edited. (Which is fine if you have a Big 5 budget, but makes no sense for you.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Line editing is really only required if your sentence construction isn\u2019t yet all it could be, in which case I\u2019d urge you to invest in upskilling. Quite simply: as a pro author, you should be in command of your language. If you\u2019re not, and have to pay a line editor, and if you intend to write 10, 15, 20 or more books over the course of your career, you\u2019ll end up paying a fortune. Much, much better to nurture those exact skills in yourself, and you\u2019ll never need to spend a penny on a line edit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also: writing well is good for your soul and writing beautiful sentences is a source of beauty and joy forever. So don\u2019t give anyone else the pleasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">And Finally\u2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s it from me. Thanks for reading. If you\u2019ve read this far, you may also like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/manuscript-presentation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Help on how to present your manuscript<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/how-to-edit-your-first-draft-novel-a-checklist\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Help on how to self-edit your novel<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you need help figuring out what kind of editorial process (or, indeed, other support) might be right for you, then&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/jericho-writers\/about-us\/contact-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">get in touch<\/a>. Jericho Writers does not have a sales team or employ salespeople or pay anyone on commission. Our customer service people are only allowed to recommend a particular service if they genuinely think it would be helpful to the writer concerned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019re run by writers for writers, and we\u2019re on your side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thanks for reading \u2013 and happy editing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Jericho Writers&nbsp;is a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/join-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">global membership group for writers<\/a>, providing everything you need to get published. Keep up with our news,&nbsp;membership offers, and updates by&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/jericho-writers\/about-us\/join-mailing-list\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">signing up to our newsletter<\/a>.&nbsp;For more writing articles take a look at our&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/jericho-writers\/about-us\/blog\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">blog page<\/a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;join&nbsp;our&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/community.jerichowriters.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">free writer&#8217;s community<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If you think you need copyediting for your manuscript, take a look at our copyediting services. Jericho Writers&#8217; experienced editors specialise in editing both novels and non-fiction and would love to help you with your work.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/our-services\/jericho-editors-room\/copy-editing-services\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Click here for more<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Developmental editing. Structural editing. Line editing. Copy editing. Proofreading. Yes, we know: you\u2019ve written a manuscript. You know it needs some kind of professional help. But what kind of help? Copy editing or line editing? Structural editing or developmental support? There seem to be so many options to choose from. But never fear. We\u2019ll tell<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":481406,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28666],"tags":[27486],"class_list":["post-204","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editing","tag-get-published"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Jericho Writers<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What&#039;s the difference between developmental and structural editing? What are line edits? Which is better: copy editing or proofreading? 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