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The Editing Process:
Self-publishing Terms, Tips, and a Cost-effective Way to Get a Professional Edit

January 8, 2008
By Stephanee Killen

oday's authors may find themselves facing a variety of edit type, level, and style choices when preparing their manuscript for publication. With the growing number of self-publishing options available—and the increase in author responsibility—understanding and setting editorial goals can be a beneficial first step in minimizing the overall cost of the process.

Editorial types may include:

Manuscript Review - A reviewer will often read a manuscript for overall character and plot development as well as for presentation. They may suggest changes in plot, sequence, or characterization. This does not include editorial corrections, as the manuscript is still in the content revision stage.

Copyediting - Copyediting may include various levels of complexity, often ranging from basic to extensive. A copyeditor reviews the manuscript line-by-line, checking for errors and making corrections. They may also query authors regarding content, style, tone, flow, plot, and sequence.

Proofreading - A proofreader reviews a manuscript for typographical errors (typos), grammar, some punctuation (if necessary), and consistency. A proofread will rarely concentrate on style, tone, or content. This level of editing is often useful if a manuscript has been extensively edited or reformatted.

Comparison Proofreading - A comparison proofreader often marks a typeset or computerized version of a manuscript against the edited copy, checking for differences or editorial errors. They may also review the typeset copy for formatting errors such as spacing problems, font changes, letter size, and graphic or table layout.

Although there are a variety of editors—from acquisition and developmental editors to project and production editors—I have chosen to list the ones more crucial to the post-developmental stage.

In order to choose an editing level that is right for you, it is helpful to understand the production stage of your manuscript. When self-publishing, it is unusual to have the budget or time to pass your manuscript through the hands of multiple editors. However, there are three stages where editorial assistance can be invaluable.

1. Author's Working Draft: You have completed the beginning drafts of your manuscript but question whether the story or information is presented in the clearest or most concise manner. (Have you maintained point of view and tense throughout? Are the characters strong enough? Does the story seem interesting?) This is where a manuscript review would be useful. A review can point out areas of weakness or confusion, suggest content reorganization, or help you remove redundant or extraneous content. Occasionally, major reorganization needs are discovered during the copyediting process, which can be far less cost-effective. This is because once major changes are made to the copy, a new copyedit should be completed. Therefore, if you feel your manuscript might need substantive revision, a review is almost always a good first step.

2. Author's Final Draft: Your manuscript is complete. You have gone through it countless times and are finally ready to begin pursuing production. This would be a good time to have your work copyedited. Because you are so close to the work, it is easy to miss crucial errors. One reason for this is because the human brain tends to supply us with the information we expect to see. Therefore, when your eyes pass over a sentence that is supposed to read, "The magic of that final moment will stay with me forever," you may not see that it actually says, "The magic of that finale moment will stay with me forever." (A mistake unlikely to be caught by a word processor's spell check function.) A copyeditor can catch many of the things you may have been unable to catch as well as help you to increase the overall readability of your work. This can include adjusting sentence structure, dialogue, and flow. Some copyeditors may also help you with issues of form and layout.

3. Post Editorial Revision: You have gone through the editorial corrections, made the suggested changes to your copy, and completed reviewing author queries and subsequent adjustments. Whew! At this stage, you may consider sending your work straight to the publisher, or you may consider having your work proofread. Proofreading is almost always a worthwhile process simply because there is almost always something new to catch. This does not necessarily mean that the editor did a poor job in editing your manuscript or that you did a poor job in making the suggested changes. The fact of the matter is, it is rare when a traditionally published book sees less than three different editors. (An acquisitions editor, a copyeditor, and a proofreader. Often, a comparison proofreader is later employed once typesetting has been completed.) However, a self-publishing budget may simply not allow for this.

One cost-effective way of getting around this is to see whether your copyeditor will offer you a discount on a post-edit proofread. Since they are already familiar with your work, it can be easier for them to check to make sure that the corrections were properly made while also checking for any additional errors; however, if you feel that a fresh pair of eyes would be better, make sure that the editor you choose understands that you are not looking for substantive changes—unless, of course, they would improve the story.

Another possibility may be the publisher. Some publishers offer proofreading or basic editing services. If there is a charge, make sure it is competitive with outside rates. In addition, make sure that they can offer you the level of service you need. The benefits of a good outside editor over an in-house editor can include greater personal attention to your work and your specific needs.

Some publishing companies maintain an editorial staff that has no direct contact with the author, closing this often crucial line of communication. This may occur when a company offers limited levels of service; however, contact between the author and editor can provide both with the opportunity to ask questions or to clarify story points, allowing the editor to customize their work specifically to suit the author's needs. Alternatively, in-house editing can be beneficial in meeting publishing deadlines and streamlining your work to fit specific guidelines.

After your manuscript has gone through these editing stages, your work should be ready to send to the publisher. Once in production, you will often have another chance to look at the final product. Most publishers will send you a galley or mock print of your book, which will be formatted to the printer's specifications. This is a great chance to look for small things you might have missed, as the new formatting often brings new light to the words, but it is usually not a good idea to use this stage for any major changes. Depending upon the publisher's policies, corrections to galleys can be expensive.

A great way to limit the amount of time your book spends in an editor's hands is to make a careful review of the work yourself. Though it is always recommended that you obtain the work of a professional editor if you are serious about having your work published, there are techniques that you can learn to enhance the readability and flow of your work. Writing publications—such as Writer's Digest Magazine published by F&W Publications—are a great resource for writing and submission tips and can easily be found at your local bookstore. The Internet is also a wonderful tool for finding writing assistance. (Check out sites such as WritersNet for writing articles, exercises, and a bit of humor.) You can also go to your public library and look for books on writing.

For a list of books and links to websites for writers, look through our Writer's Tools.

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