January 16, 2023
Updated May 12, 2025

Hey, folks!

Some of you might be wondering, didn’t she already do a post on types of editing?

I did. It’s archived now, first in 2023 because I’d learned a fair bit more about my craft since posting it and how I work within it. And now it’s being updated in 2025 since I’m editing novels now, too, and I figured I’d update the content to partially reflect that.

So here’s the 2.0-style post. Or I guess, with this update… 2.5-style?

Depending on the editor you ask, where said editor works, and how they edit, you might get slightly different answers around the types of editing. To make things simple, I’m going to look at the four types you’re likely to come across, but mostly focused on how I personally approach them.

Shall we?

Developmental Editing

There’s no real consensus whether developmental editing is the same as or different from substantive editing from structural editing. I treat all three the same, but some editors may separate substantive and structural into different categories, fitting the term “developmental” as either an umbrella term or as a synonym for one or the other. If you see “substantive” or “structural” as part of an editor’s offerings, make sure to ask what’s included ahead of time so you’re getting everything you need.

Developmental editing is commonly explained as the big-picture stage of editing. But what does that mean?

Basically, your editor will look at the foundation of the project itself. Does the story itself (whether fictional or not) actually work?

So for something like a novel or a picture book (or anything with a narrative, really), they’ll look at characters and their arcs; the plot’s arc and if it progresses logically and in good order; the tone of the work and if it’s the right one; info-dumping and telling rather than showing; the use of stereotypes and cliches; etc. Some of that will overlap with line editing and copy editing, but it’ll get dealt with here first.

Here, editors won’t correct for spelling and grammar (though they might adjust something glaring) or point out every instance you called your character’s eyes a different colour. But they will guide you in the right direction and make suggestions for how to get there.

When it comes to poetry, this is where an editor will help strengthen the backbone of your work, much like in fiction. This includes finding a rhythm to a poem if it needs one, or pointing out if the one that is there doesn’t quite work; looking at overarching imagery and how it can be pulled out (but smaller elements of imagery are dealt with later!); looking at the structure of the poem’s stanzas and lines; and working to make sense of any present narrative arc, just to give you an idea.

However, for rhyming picture books, the rhyme and rhythm itself is usually dealt with first, and then the story is looked at, in a two-level sort of developmental edit.

Line Editing

Line editing takes the process down in scope, but doesn’t yet arrive at corrections. Instead, it’s basically developmental editing for sentences, lines, and paragraphs. Do they flow into each other nicely? Are they in the right order? Can anything be strengthened to make it punchier or more vivid (ex. through word choice or imagery)? Can any lingering telling be made into showing? Are the senses brought in where possible?

Essentially, developmental editing makes the content itself stronger; line editing makes the way it’s told stronger.

It’s important to note that some editors, like myself, do line editing and copy editing at the same time (unless otherwise requested). Others, however, offer them separately, and sometimes only offer one or the other. Always make sure you know what’s included when you hire someone for this stage!

Copy Editing (or copyediting, depending on your preference)

I’ve done a post on the four c’s of copy editing, but I’ll do a quick recap here:

Copy editing essentially entails correctness, clarity, conciseness, and consistency. This is the stage where editors make sure that what was done in line editing comes across properly for the readers. Are words and punctuation right? Are facts? Do the sentences read logically? Is there wordiness and repetition to deal with? Are numbers represented the same way throughout, and is a character’s hair colour consistent?

As I said under line editing, the two are often done together. Double check if your prospective editor(s) will work on the four c’s only, or them and content flow.

This is also the stage where your editor will create a style sheet for your work, which tracks things like style choices, in-text facts like names and birthdays and appearances, timelines, and spelling.

Proofreading

This is the final stage of edits, and is basically the broom that sweeps the room after copy editing has vacated it.

Proofreading is when an editor searches for any lingering spelling and grammar errors, checks for any glaring issues of fact or consistency (minor ones might be ignored, especially in a publishing house), and adjusts any weird formatting, like bold type when there shouldn’t be any or changes to font size halfway through the manuscript.

Note that a proofreader isn’t necessarily a formatter. Might some be? Sure. But many, including myself, aren’t. So while we can catch those formatting errors on a basic level and make sure paragraph breaks and the like are presented consistently, we won’t format the actual book for you.

Freelance proofreading and publishing house proofreading generally aren’t the same thing. Proofreading with a freelance editor includes what I’ve listed above in a program like Word, almost acting like a super light copy edit by traditional definitions. Publishing house proofreaders usually look at a finished PDF (or a “proof”), which means there are even less errors that may get adjusted, since everything has been set by the formatter (i.e. it could cost extra money to adjust things). If your prospective freelance proofreader asks for a PDF of your manuscript, check with them which type of proofing they’re going to do.

Looking to Hire an Editor?

If you’re looking for an editor for your novel, poetry, or picture book, let’s work together! Head over to my contact page to send me a message and request a free sample edit and/or consultation call.

I offer:
~ Novel editing: copy editing, proofreading
~ Poetry editing: developmental editing, copy editing, proofreading, collection organization
~ Picture book editing: developmental editing, copy editing, proofreading

And if you’d like a better understanding of the editing process within the self-publishing journey, download my free self-publishing checklist on my resources page!

No matter where you are in your writing or editing journey, I’m over here cheering you on 😊