What the Heck Does An Editor Actually Do?

If you are thinking about hiring a professional editor, you may wonder what services are available and what to expect. The answer is anything from advice on where to start right through to making sure your grammar is deadly accurate.

Editors typically spend their days glued to their screens (rarely using the iconic red pen in this age of data), as they read, correct, and coach writers. It’s fairly solitary but there’s nothing like the rush of getting a sentence to sing and clearing up all the typos and misplaced punctuation in a document.

It doesn’t sound like a thrill, but it is!

If you are looking to work with an editor, it helps to understand the various processes that go into building a larger project, like a book.

Developmental editing – This happens as you decide how to tell your story, including who will narrate and if you will tell the tale in order or in a series of flashbacks. It’s like building a framework and inserting the chapters and key moments at the right time of the story arc.

Evaluation editing – This unfolds during the early writing phase to make sure that you’re on track. By catching holes in the storyline or problems with timelines or characters at this point, you prevent things from going off-track. It also allows you to see if the original game plan is working out or if you need to reassess.

Content editing – Now that most of the book is coming together, you’ll need another set of eyes to make sure the chapters flow properly and ideas build on one another towards a crescendo. If any paragraphs are out of order, this is the point in time to get them organized so they roll out naturally. Other big-picture details will be finalized at this point.

Line editing – Now we get into the nitty-gritty by going into each sentence to ensure that every verb tense aligns and the tone is consistent for each character. Any extraneous words are removed so the reader is kept on target at all times. Small errors may be caught right now but if not, then you move into the next step.

Copyediting – Now your editor is looking for small details, such as consistent use of style, which is the subtext that most readers don’t look for, yet they feel when things are ‘off.’ This means presenting numbers, names, and other details in the same way from start to finish. Usually, as those eagle eyes are working this granularly on the text, misspellings or missing and incomplete punctuation are often corrected.

Proofreading – This service is a final look to catch anything that was missed before. It can be done by a separate person, but preferably a professional. You can ask a friend to review a final manuscript, but chances are good they will undo the style edits you just paid for since they don’t know the industry standards. It is worth the investment so you don’t see that one typo missed along the way the instant you open a page.

Beta reading – This relatively new trend is a vital one. It means you put your text into the hands of a person with a different perspective so they can provide insights into how your words are perceived on a cultural basis. This prevents you from publishing language or ideas that are unwittingly insensitive. For example, if you have characters who are from a different culture, have someone from that community read the text to see if the language and descriptors reflect them in a way that is not stereotypical. That way, you can avoid your book from becoming a lightning rod for the wrong reasons.

Whatever service you need – from one level right through the full gamut – having a pro by your side really helps with your confidence and the professionalism of your final product. You need to trust this person with your words as you create something wonderful together. Hopefully, you now have a better idea of what is offered so you can find what you need.