Publishing Insights: The Editorial Process

Introduction 

As you dive into submitting work to publications or publishing companies, a recommended step would be to have it read over by an editor. Editors check a variety of aspects within your work— depending on which kind you need and how far in the process you are. This guide explains the different areas of editing, how to know which is needed, and how to work alongside an editor to bring your pieces to their utmost quality. 

Types of Editing

Developmental editing looks at the characterization, flow of storytelling, and the overall readability of the plot. The editor provides detailed sheets of feedback and raw comments annotated on the document itself to refine your ideas, and fix any major plot or character inconsistencies if any particular elements of the story don’t work together. It’s considered moreso a “big-picture” kind of editing. The questions they ask are more in-depth to understand the full scope of the work.

Line editing is where the editor works line-by-line rather than looking at the whole work right away. It involves the tightening of sentence structure to make it clear and sharp, looking closely at the word choice and syntax and how it contributes to the tone or emotion of the piece, as well as the overall pace/flow of the work. Different from copy editing, it focuses on the content and flow of your writing, as well as concentrates on the style rather than the mechanics.

Copy editing takes place before the proofreading, where the copy is polished so that it retains the author’s voice while remaining clear. It includes combing through work for grammar , spelling, capitalization, wordiness, any clunky transitions, uneven flow, inconsistencies with descriptions, and tone/style deviations. Copy editing ensures that those sorts of errors don’t happen, allowing your writing to flourish and be as strong as possible. Some also look at the inclusivity of the language used and if terminology was correctly used.

Content editing is a form of copy editing that evaluates the document’s format, style, and content to optimize visual design and comprehensibility to produce the most impactful piece. It takes copy editing further by including the brand’s voice, and adherence to one’s style guide.

Proofreading is considered the last major stage. They are the last line of defense to ensure that your pieces have no spelling or grammar mistakes that make it to the final stage. A proofreader’s main job is to scour for spelling and style inconsistencies, page and work breaks that appear confusing, and incorrectly captioned illustrations or page numbers. They have a scrutinizing, eagle eye for anything that the previous edits may have missed throughout the process. 

Fact-checking and sensitivity reading is something that could be done by a developmental or copy editor, but it isn’t their primary job within those positions. Even after thoroughly researching as a writer, there can still be inconsistencies. Designated fact-checkers take note of all of the factual references made within your text and alert you immediately if there is anything inaccurate. Sensitivity readers, on the other hand, ensure any cultural representations made are done correctly, especially if you’ve never written characters or plots in regards to them before. Sensitivity readers look for stereotypes made and comment on how they can be improved upon or changed, and furthermore provide insight on how well your work encapsulating these topics would do with the greater audience. 

Editing, despite oftentimes done by magazine staff after acceptances, is still heavily advised to show the reviewers that you took the time and energy to care for your work, and that you understood what they were searching for. The same can be said when submitting to publishing companies and presses, who prefer polished samples sent during open-calls. A self-edit won’t always be enough in order to be a successful writer. Outside perspectives from an editor allow for the foundations to be properly built without any holes or discrepancies.

Finding and Working Alongside an Editor

Editors can be found on a magnitude of websites. Some examples include Fiverr, Upwork, Reedsy, The Young Writer’s Initiative Beta Reading services, freelancing websites, social media, and so forth. Upwork and Fiverr provide affordable editorial options that people offer, oftentimes to support growing editors within the industry. Reedsy, on the other hand, hosts editors who have years of experience under their belt and usually are pricier given their expertise.

When it comes to looking for an editor, it is good to read through their portfolio of edited genres and ask for sample edits to see whether they’d be a proficient fit. Getting an overall feel of their strengths, character, and professionalism can provide a picture for how well you would work together for your manuscript. Each editor tends to have their own voice, schedules, and processes that set them apart from others. Thus, communication is key when working together. The right editor can understand the deadlines set while forming a meaningful relationship with the author along the way.

Conclusion 

The editorial process can be long and tedious but well worth it by the end. With an editor alongside you, your work is able to reach its optimal potential that readers will love. Not only do they offer the author a chance to see the different perspectives that their work brings— it also opens doors to further improvement within their own writing.

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