Developmental
When you have an idea for a story but are stuck on fleshing out the narrative, developmental editing may be for you. Developmental editing focuses on refining your story to create a captivating reading experience by analyzing the book’s organization and structure rather than grammar and spelling. A developmental editor will identify and address issues such as plot holes, timeline inconsistencies, and underdeveloped characters. For non-fiction Developmental edits can help authors flesh out areas where assumptions have been made, transitions are weak, or more story or anecdotes are needed. Developmental editors review your manuscript or book outline (even if it’s not finished) and help you develop a plan to move forward with the writing process and narrative.
Best for:
First-time self-published authors who need guidance on how to structure their book and don’t have a completed manuscript yet, or are stuck and need help getting to the finish line.
Content Editing
Content editing provides detailed, paragraph-level feedback on your manuscript. It identifies incomplete sections and offers guidance to improve chapter flow and structure. Content editing ensures your book’s message is clear, concise, and easily understandable. Repetitive sections are eliminated, and unnecessary backstory may be reframed. Your content editor should have a deep understanding of your target reader and experience editing similar works in your genre.
Best for:
Authors who want to ensure their completed manuscript is consistent, concise, and communicates clearly.
Line Editing
Line editing refines your word choices and sentence structure, line by line. This process focuses on refining your manuscript’s style and tone to enhance readability by rephrasing repetition and correcting stylistic inconsistencies. A line editor will address issues such as style, word choice, regional dialects, and engagement, ensuring the text flows smoothly for style and tone.
Best for:
Authors with a solid manuscript and who desire editing for style, tone, and readability.
Copy Editing
By the time your manuscript reaches the copyediting stage, it should have already undergone initial checks for basic spelling and grammar. However, copy editors dig deeper with a meticulous review of your manuscript for typos and grammatical errors. They’ll also ensure consistent style choices such as spelling out numerals, capitalization of proper nouns, consistent heading formats, bullet points, and lists. Copy editing also ensures the book follows best practices for each genre and the style guide the publisher uses.
Best for:
All authors who want a professionally reviewed self-published book.
Proofreading
Proofreaders examine your manuscript in detail to identify any overlooked typos or grammatical errors. They also assess the manuscript’s formatting such as bullet points and insets, ensuring it’s ready for printing. This final type of editing is crucial, providing a sense of security that your manuscript is error-free and ready to be published. Once this step is completed, your manuscript is ready to be published!
Best for:
All self-published authors.
Self-Publish Your Book with EABooks Publishing
At EABooks Publishing, we offer a variety of self-publishing editing services that will get your book ready to be published. Each of our editing services puts the power in your hands to accept or reject suggestions using “track changes” features. Learn more about our editing services. When you consult with our team, our first step is to offer a free sample edit. We’ll match your manuscript with the perfect editor who will review the full manuscript and offer a sample on a few pages to show you how they would work with you. They will return this along with their suggestion on the type of editing the recommend along with their quote. Contact us today to schedule your consultation.