Editors Part II: Types of Editors

Part I: What is an Editor and Why Hire One?

So you've decided it's time to take your writing to the next level. Now, you understand the basics of editing and what to expect from an editor. However, as mentioned there are different types of editors. Here are the different aspects and types of editing.

Again, I'm going to link to another resources for reference.



Developmental Editing:

[The Big Picture]

• Helping develop the story overall (not necessarily writing plot for you--but help hint where necessary)
• Helping to strengthen relevant chapters and slice out "clutter" chapters.
• Helping assess where/why things go awry and where things are solid.
• Helping writer (if asked or needed) to build the world. 
• Assisting in character development.
• Guidance on plot arcs and whether they fit properly together.
• Deciding whether tone and style are appropriate (some editors classify this under line editing).

[The Detailed Picture--What a developmental editor looks for and asks themselves when reading]

• Pacing?
• Sufficient conflict?
• "Big picture" ordering.
• Plot hole patching.
• Back story checking.
• Filmy back-story?
• Irrelevant side characters?
• Abnormal/uncharacteristic behavior?
• Arc structured (build up, turn, climax all that jazz)
• Missing/broke story elements?
• Ostensibly anything else that isn't directly prose or grammar related.

Note: Developmental edits generally do not include notes or changes within the manuscript. However, this varies from editor to editor. Personally, I almost always end up leaving some type of mark unless explicitly asked not to.

Line Editing:

Line editors are the folks with the red pen. However, this shouldn't be confused with proof editors. Proof editors are almost explicitly grammar oriented (even while some mix the two together, the purpose of line editing isn't necessarily to make something "straight to print publishable").

Line editors focus on:

• Word choices
• Pointing out things like "Over filtering" or "Purple Prose" , "Cliches" , "Oxymorons" , {insert well over a dozens other lit. terms here}.
• Overall flow of prose
• Style and elegance
• Assurance of "active" voice
• Readability
• Consistency in tone. (Also goes with development)
• Sentence fragments
• Dangling participial and modifiers (Oh we fancy, huh?)
• Policing Adverb [link] use (huge one!)
• Overuse of any word in general
• Structure of paragraphing
• Structure/syntax and flow of dialogue
• Confusing sentences
• Strengthen imagery (sometimes by trimming!)
• And basically everything else found on this list [FOUND HERE] - I wrote this for the writing sub-reddit I administrate] 

Line-to-line editing is better suited for people who are serious about making their prose shine and their story burst from their mind and off the pages in the most vibrant and engaging way possible.  

Proof Editors:

These are the people most newer authors imagine when they think "editor". However, there is a caveat. Although it a proof editor's job to FIX the grammar, it is NOT their job to do much of anything else. They have no vested interest in fixing your abysmal story arcs or your horrendous dialogue. That's not their problem. They don't care if your character is a Mary Sue. They don't care if your plot is as broken as your heart was that time your ex dumped your ass. Maybe that's why you're writing. Who knows? Who cares? I can tell you who doesn't. The proof editor.

All right, maybe I'm being a bit unfair. Not ALL proof editors are jerks, and some (quite a few!) do care about all the aforementioned stuff. However, these guys/gals are few and far between. Their rates are usually exorbitantly out of range for the average author, which is fine because they don't need one.

Almost explicitly, a proof editor does things like polishing grammar, and even prepping things for an actual print run. Realistically, if you're far enough down the road to need one of these, it will be provided for you from a traditional publishing house (although not always!) or someone in the industry will clue you in that it's time to pony up!

There are other types of editors out there, but those are the 3 major ones. Personally, I only offer developmental and line edits. 

Part III: Picking the Right Editor

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