Developmental editing deals with the big picture: evaluating story arc, characterization, dialogue, obligatory scenes of your chosen genre, scene structure, and overall plot structure. Although dev editors will share suggestions for big revisions, an experienced editor knows the line between working with an author’s vision and trying to hijack their vision.

Once the story is solid and developmental editing is finished, your next step is line editing. This stage requires an eye for detail and an ear for rhythm. Line editors focus on syntax variety (varying your sentence types and lengths), word choice, tone, voice, and economy. A heavy line edit might include adding transitions and cutting excess material. Like a good developmental editor, a line editor should not impose their own personal style but should instead work with your style.

The end stage for your manuscript is copy editing and proofreading. Each publishing house has its own “house style,” and your editor/proofreader should ensure that your manuscript adheres to that. Elliott Bay Editing does not provide proofreading services, but we’d be happy to refer you to a good one. For nonfiction, we provide indexing services that are clear, organized, and human-created.