What kind of editor does your book need?
Developmental, line, copy or proof? Six questions about your manuscript, one straight answer, including "not yet" when it is too early to pay anyone.
- 6 questions, about a minute
- No email needed for your answer
Want a person to look at your manuscript?
Leave your details and someone from the Scribe team will get in touch to talk through what your manuscript needs. Your editor finder answers come along with the form.
Rather pick a time yourself? Book a free 15-minute consult or call 512-325-0249.
Thank you. Your details are with the Scribe team.
Someone from Scribe will reach out by email. If you would rather not wait, pick a time for a free consult.
From the whole book down to the comma
Each kind of edit fixes a different problem, and they work best in this order. Paying for a later edit before an earlier one usually means paying twice.
Developmental editing
The big picture: is this the right book for the reader, does the argument hold, what is missing, what should go. More on developmental editing.
Line editing
The reading experience: rhythm, clarity, repetition and voice, sentence by sentence. Line editing vs copyediting.
Copyediting
Correctness and consistency: grammar, usage, style, names, numbers, and a style sheet for your book. What a copy editor does, and copyediting vs proofreading.
Proofreading
The final check on the finished pages: typos, missing words, bad breaks, page numbers.
Common questions
What are the main types of book editing?
Four, in this order: developmental editing (the shape and argument of the whole book), line editing (how each sentence reads), copyediting (grammar, consistency and style) and proofreading (the last check for typos on the final pages). Types of editing compares them side by side.
Do I need all four kinds of editing?
Not always. A tightly structured draft from a strong writer may skip straight to a copyedit. But almost every book that will be sold needs at least a copyedit and a proofread, and most first books benefit from a big-picture read before that.
Should I hire an editor before my draft is finished?
Usually not. Editors work on pages, and books change a lot between a partial draft and a full one. If you are stuck on structure early, a book coach or an outline review is a better use of money than an edit.
How does the editor finder decide?
It weighs where your manuscript is, what worries you most, who has read it, how you will publish, your budget and how you feel about writing. The exact rules are written out on the about page.
Who made this?
Scribe Media, a book writing and publishing company in Austin, Texas that has published more than 3,000 books. Scribe sells editing as part of its services; the finder will often tell you to self-edit or find beta readers first.
More editing guides
How to edit your own book before you hire anyone
A seven-pass self-editing process for nonfiction, from the whole book to the final read: what to look for in each pass, and when to hand it to an editor.
Read →The proofreading checklist for your designed book
A proofreading checklist for the designed pages and ebook: text, layout, front matter, ISBNs, images and cover, plus a sample correction list to copy.
Read →Proofreading practice: sample book passages to check for errors
Three free editing practice exercises for authors: sample book passages with planted errors, a style sheet to follow, a paragraph to rewrite, and answer keys.
Read →What a beta reader is, how to find beta readers for your nonfiction book, and what to ask them
How to use beta readers on a nonfiction book: pick your actual reader, how many to ask, a ready-to-send question list, and how to weigh conflicting feedback.
Read →How to find a book editor you can trust
Where to find a nonfiction book editor, how to judge a sample edit, questions to ask, red flags to walk away from, and what an editing contract should cover.
Read →Working with your editor: how to read an edit and respond
How to read an edit without losing heart, handle tracked changes and queries, accept or reject suggestions, push back well, and how many rounds to expect.
Read →Fact-checking and permissions for nonfiction authors
How to fact-check your own book, quote other works, weigh fair use, clear lyrics and images, and write about real clients. Practical help, not legal advice.
Read →