Ever wondered what “editing” really means for your manuscript, or how to find the right editor for your writing journey? In this video, I break down the different types of editing—developmental, copy editing, and proofreading—and share practical tips on choosing an editor who truly fits your needs. Whether you’re aiming for traditional publishing or considering self-publishing, you’ll get clarity on the editing process and how to set your book up for success.
Hello, Jane Cleland here.
The question is, I go to writer’s conferences and workshops and I hear over and over again that before I submit my manuscript or self-publish it, which I’m thinking about doing, I should make sure it’s edited. What does this mean and how do I find this editor person? Great question. Just as all excellent photographs need cropping, all excellent manuscripts need editing. Now, editing is an umbrella term and it can refer to several specific functions. Developmental editing refers to the story development, helping you come up with a plot, the characters and the like.
Copy editing, also known as line editing, look at, uh, the continuity, the clarity, the accuracy, and um, sentence level writing issues. And then there’s proofreading, which gets down to the nitty gritty of the grammar, punctuation, and consistency. How you find these various kinds of editors, I can recommend an organization called The Editorial Freelancers Association, the-efa.org. Look for an editor who has experience in the genre you’re working in and a background that aligns with your aspirations. So if that you’re looking to become traditionally published, well then you want to be sure and find an editor who comes from traditional publishing. I think it’s great you’re doing it.
I wish you all success with it. And if this tip had value for you, would you like it? Would you share it? Would you subscribe to the channel? That opens up features for us that lets us make these videos even more valuable for you. And my new book, although by the time you’re seeing this, it might not be quite so new, it’s called Beat the Bots: A Writer’s Guide to Surviving and Thriving in the Age of AI. This book will be out very soon, and you’d be doing me a great favor if you pre-order it or order it. Also, would you ask your librarian to order it? Thank you so much.
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