Editorial work and the terms used to describe it are subjective and despite associations such as the Editorial Freelancers Association and the Bay Area Editors Association, no two editors work the same or charge the same for the work they do, in part because no two manuscripts require exactly the same level of editing. Developmental or Substantial Editing: this kind of editing involves moving larg
e chunks of text around and possibly cutting or expanding some sections as well. It addresses the structure of a book — how everything hangs together. Plot flow; sequencing; pacing; point of view; dialogue; scene; character development; narrative and character arcs; transitions; and any other questions the author has or the editor feels the book raises are addressed in this stage of editing. Line Editing or Stylistic Editing: this kind of editing involves recasting sentences for clarity and flow. It can also involve moving sentences around so that the meaning is clear. Line editing always aims to preserve the author’s voice, first, and foremost. Grammar, punctuation, syntax, minor language repetition, and spelling are addressed in line editing. Some authors request a manuscript assessment early in the development process. An assessment of the manuscript is a written review of what is working and what's not, with a view towards helping the author determine how to revise, restructure, where to cut, and where to reshape, as well as where the gems and strengths of the book are. Often the assessment is part of the developmental edit. It is impossible for me to provide a developmental edit for someone without connecting with the author and discussing my thoughts and making certain that we have a meeting of the minds and that we envision a like audience for the book, and vision for the manuscript. Because each project is different, please contact me to discuss pricing information.
