Types of Editing: Which One Do You Need?

There are many different types of editing. Here are three commonly requested editing services for fiction writers in the recommended order. Developmental edits come first, these handle big picture issues, and proofreading comes last as a final read for formatting and typos.

1.    Developmental Edit:

Sometimes called substantive or structural editing (though in my experience substantive editing focuses more on the scene level and organization of prose). Developmental edits look at the big picture and story structure. Tracks character arcs, story beats, scene placement, emotion, theme, setting, pacing, consistency, etc. A developmental editor will ask important questions. Is your world-building detailed enough? Are your characters well-rounded? How does the story theme inform the plot? This kind of edit is ideal for finished drafts.

2.    Line/Copyedit:

These words are sometimes used interchangeably due to overlap in some areas, but they are distinct forms of editing. Line edits look at sentence structure, grammar, punctuation, word choice, passive language, showing versus telling, tightening wordy passages, style, and flow. You can think of a line edit as a “language facelift” to improve voice and style. A copyedit is more like a “technical check” that focuses on mechanical consistency, clarity, and grammar. Both are essential edits to improve readability and give your book a polished feel. The editor’s goal is to retain the author’s voice and style while removing distractions and smoothing prose. Line edits are perfect for the “almost there” manuscript.

3.    Proofreading:

A final read-through for basic typos, consistency, and formatting. I highly recommend selecting a separate editor for the last stage to catch anything missed in revisions. The more eyes on a story the better!