Which type of book editor do you need?
It may surprise you to know that when it comes to self-publishing your non-fiction book, not all editors are equal, and the type of editor you need will depend on where you are on your book journey. We’ll be looking at what the different types of editing are, how to work out which kind of editor you need and how each editor fits into your overall book process.
Broadly speaking, we can divide the editorial elements of self-publishing into three categories:
Developmental editing
Copyediting
Proofreading
You may also hear people talk about structural and line editing, but since these are often incorporated into the developmental and copyediting stages, and to keep things simple, we’re going to stick with these three for now.
So what are they, and which type of editor do you need for your book?
It can help to think of the editing stages as three steps on an inverted pyramid…
Developmental editing is at the top and looks at the big-picture elements of your book; by that, we mean the overall structure, the depth of your content and making sure you are meeting your readers’ needs. A developmental editor will be checking you’ve not strayed from the core message and theme of your book and that the level of detail ticks the Goldilocks box: not too much, not too little, just right! At this stage, you can expect a fair bit of culling, moving around sections and probably some re-writes too. The developmental edit is usually a close and collaborative process between you and your editor and it can take quite a bit of time to get it to your final draft stage.
A developmental editor will not be looking at your grammar, consistency and sentence flow. This is the realm of a copyeditor!
A copyeditor is the next level down on the pyramid, so their focus is more narrow than the developmental editor. They’re going to assume you are happy with all the content in your book and are ready to make it as readable as possible. They will be looking for things like repetitions (both within a sentence and across the whole book), consistency of spellings and presentation of terms. Their main aim is to make the reading process as smooth as possible for your readers, so they may suggest minor rewording or sentence tweaks. They’ll question any ambiguities and may offer fact checking and inclusive language checks, depending on their level of expertise. Typically, a copyeditor will edit your full manuscript in Microsoft Word. Once they’ve completed their first round of edits, it will come back to you for review and to make any further changes. Most editors will then carry out a second pass of any changes you’ve made - when you’re booking your editor, make sure you find out how many passes their fee includes. You can read about other important questions to ask here.
The final stage, which takes you to the tip of the pyramid, is proofreading. This is the final line of editorial defence before your book is deemed ready for publication. While a copyeditor looks at the manuscript at sentence level, a proofreader can be thought of as reviewing it at word level. They are checking for spelling, grammar and punctuation errors that have managed to slip through your copyeditor’s the net. But it’s much more than a check for typos. Proofreaders will also check for any formatting errors and make sure everything is where it should be. They’ll ensure your contents matches with your chapter titles, the page numbers are referenced correctly, headings are presented consistently and a whole lot more… all the little details that make a big difference to the quality and standard of your book .
Do I need all three?
Yes and no.
You need to go through all three stages of editing if you want to a high-quality book at the end of it. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean you need three different editors (although you might choose to). You may feel confident to do the developmental editing stage yourself, especially if you have been working with a book coach or have been getting lots of feedback along the way.
Most developmental editors also offer manuscript assessments, either as a precursor to a full edit or as a standalone service. These are comprehensive critiques in their own right and may be enough for you to take the reins and get your book to the final draft stage on your own - they are a great cost-effective option to consider.
While a developmental editor is advisable but not always essential, hiring a professional copyeditor and proofreader are non-negotiables if you want your book to meet top-notch industry standards.
By the time you get to the copyediting stage, you have probably read and re-read your manuscript so many times you’ve lost count. By this point, you are so familiar with the content that your brain starts seeing what it expects to see. Your copyeditor is your blind-spot checker. Even if you know what to look for, you’re too close to your own writing to do it properly – and, yes, even professional editors need editors when they’re writing!
Some copyeditors also offer proofreading, but we advise against using the same person for both stages. Why? Well, by the time they’ve finished, your copyeditor has already been up close and personal with your manuscript, and are likely to have become a bit blind to any sneaky errors too. An independent proofreader offers a fresh set of expert eyes - and the more professional eyes you can get on your book before publication, the better. There is a good reason why traditional publishing houses use different copyeditors and proofreaders, and if you want to maintain the same industry standards, we recommend following their lead!
Other members of your book team
Editors should form a core part of your book squad but they’re not the only pros you’re likely to need. Here are some other people you need to consider when planning to self-publish your book:
Typesetter: they format your text and any images inside your book, transforming your Word doc into a PDF that can be uploaded onto your publishing platform of choice.
E-book converter: if you want your book to be available as an e-book, and most people do, you’ll need to find someone who has the skills to turn your print-compatible file into an EPUB doc.
Cover designer: while you could create your own design on Canva, if you want your book to look professional, you really need to invest in an expert designer. After all, people do judge a book by its cover. Former book designer for Disney and Oxford University Press Jess Sands shares some brilliant tips on what makes a successful book cover. You can read the interview here.
Marketing: a robust marketing strategy is a must for a successful book launch and beyond. A marketing coach or consultant can help you promote your book in the best way to attract your target readers.
PR: a PR expert will help you and your book get seen, e.g. in magazines, podcasts and radio interviews, even TV. Maximising your visibility is another key tenant to achieving book and business success.
If you’re approaching the final draft stage and looking for a copyeditor to support you through the next step, I can help. To find out how I can assist you on your book journey, check out my services page or book a discovery call here.