5 Misconceptions About the Book Editing Process
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Working with a book editor can help you take your story to the next level and realize your vision for it, but there are a lot of misconceptions about what a book editor does and how the book editing process works. To be honest, before I worked in the publishing industry, I had some of these same misconceptions as well.
So, in this article, I want to debunk some of the common myths about the book editing process that emerging authors might have and give you more insight into how it really works. This is especially important if you are currently considering working with a book editor on your current work in progress.
1. Book Editing Is Just Fixing Typos
Many first-time authors think that editing is primarily about fixing typos and grammatical errors. While it is true that the fundamental purpose of editing is to make your story more polished, there are actually many different levels of book editing. Catching typos and fixing grammatical mistakes is only one level in the entire book editing ecosphere–it would actually be considered the most granular and detail-focused portion of the process.
But there are many other editing levels to complete before you worry about typos and grammatical mistakes. When I am walking through the different types of editing, I like to imagine a funnel, where you start from the highest, most overarching form of editing, which is developmental editing.
Developmental editing focuses on your overarching story structure, including plot, character development, pacing, and other big-picture elements that make your story what it is. This is the type of editing that I specialize in.
From developmental editing, the next level down the funnel would be line editing and copy editing. In this form of editing, you are working with someone on a sentence-by-sentence level to make sure everything flows smoothly.
Then, the final stage of editing is proofreading, and that's what I call the nitty-gritty editing. This is a final pass to make sure there are no typos or grammatical mistakes, so that the book is as polished as possible before it goes out into the world.
So in summary, you go from working with a book editor on the entire story, to working sentence-by-sentence, then finally word-by-word. Because the book editing process involves these different levels, I typically recommend that an author works with two to three different editors. That would be one developmental editor, one copy or line editor, and then one proofreader. Sometimes you might have the same copy editor and proofreader, but I find that it’s helpful to have a separate proofreader to get completely fresh eyes on the book.
The reason why you have different editors for the different stages of editing is because each editor has a different skill set. Plus, these types of editing are quite different in function and purpose, so each editor will provide you a different style of feedback.
Now, if you are pursuing traditional publishing and you are interested in working with a book editor, personally I feel it is most important to work with a developmental editor on big-picture story elements versus investing in a copy edit or a proofread. This is because literary agents and editors at publishing houses don't expect your manuscript to be perfectly free of typos or grammar mistakes, but they will expect a compelling, solidly written story. Thus, I feel it is better to invest your money in deeply transforming your story and making sure it is the most effective from a structural perspective.
That said, if you are concerned about your prose on a line-by-line or sentence-by-sentence level, then it might make sense to work with a line or copy editor.
2. Authors Should Accept Every Editing Suggestion
I truly ascribe to the philosophy that editing is a collaboration between the author and the editor. Having back and forth dialogue about the book is extremely productive and important to the book editing process, as it very frequently results in a stronger story.
This collaborative element is especially important when we're talking about big-picture developmental editing, because you're talking through ideas on things like plot development, character backstory, and point of view, all of which can be handled in dozens of different ways. There's not necessarily one right or wrong answer to executing these elements in the way there is to fixing grammar mistakes. Both writing and editing are creative pursuits, which means that both the author and editor should bring creative ideas to the table, and the magic happens when those creative minds meld and you're able to create something totally unique.
All of this is to say that, as the author, you are the visionary for your story. No one can take that away from you, and it is completely in your right to say no to some suggestions from your editor if they don't resonate with you. You can also suggest alternative solutions to a problem that your editor points out that the editor didn't even consider, which is the beauty of you being true partners on your project.
For instance, your editor might say a plot twist didn’t work and offer a suggestion, and their suggestion doesn't make sense to you or you just don't like it. It is your right to say something like, “I see why that original plot twist doesn't work, but how about we do this instead?”
You should feel empowered to handle the edits however you see fit. Your editor is there to help you and guide you, but every decision with your story is your decision at the end of the day.
3. Editors Will Change the Author’s Voice
Many first-time authors fear that a book editor will change their voice or their vision for their story. I have to say this misconception about the book editing process upsets me anytime I hear an author saying it, because in my view, this is actually the complete opposite of what an editor's purpose is.
A book editor's job is to help you realize your creativity and manifest your vision for your story, not diminish or disregard it. If you feel that an editor is changing your voice in a way that doesn't feel authentic or right, then it is possible that you aren't the right editorial match. This applies especially to working with a developmental editor when it comes to the overarching vision for your story, or a line or copy editor if you're working on voice.
This is why I strongly recommend vetting any potential editor before you agree to work with them. You want to make sure you check their genre specialties and see if they work on books that are similar to yours, so they have an understanding of what you are trying to do. Ideally, you would get a sample edit from them as well, so that you can ensure their style of feedback resonates with you.
Again, any book editor's goal is to help you reach your creative potential and see your story soar. If you ever feel like they are stifling or misunderstanding you, then it is time to end that collaboration and work with someone else.
4. Editors Rewrite Your Story For You
This is a misconception related to the revising and rewriting part of the book editing process. In the developmental editing phase, the editor is going to give you suggestions on how to change a scene or the structure of the plot. However, they're not going to go into the manuscript and move around the paragraphs or rewrite sections.
For instance, an editor could suggest something like, “Revise this scene to include a conversation between X and Y character about this plot point.” But they're not going to actually go into the scene and write out the conversation themselves for two reasons.
First, as I mentioned earlier, editing is a collaboration. So, first the editor wants to make sure you agree with the piece of feedback. They're not going to go in and change something without your explicit approval. Second, the actual author of the story is you. The book editor is the editor, not a co-writer or a ghostwriter. So the writing portion is on you and the editing portion is on them.
Have you ever heard the saying “writing is rewriting?” I know some of you probably cringe at that because, to be frank, the revising process is probably the hardest part of the entire book writing journey. But it is some of the most important work that you will do to make your story stronger.
That's why I encourage all of the writers I work with to embrace the revision process as much as they can. Think of your story like wet clay; you can continue to mold and reshape it, and it can become something beautiful that you maybe even didn't anticipate.
Try to allow this process to be energizing and exciting and know that you can and should lean on your editor for support.
5. All Book Editors Edit the Same Way
You might have a vision of a book editor printing out a manuscript on paper and then marking it up with a red pen. In fact, that's exactly what my former boss at Penguin Random House did, even when we were long into Word documents on the computer.
The truth is that every editor has their own style and spin to the book editing process because editing is also a creative act, just as writing is. How this might manifest in your collaboration is that some editors might be more verbally-oriented in their feedback, perhaps even scheduling a series of phone conversations to deliver the feedback. Others might stay quiet for a bit while they're working on your manuscript, reading it, digesting it, and taking notes. Then they will write up a detailed report for you to review.
There's no right or wrong way to edit a book, just as there is no right or wrong way to write a book. The bottom line is that no two editors are going to edit your book in the exact same way. For instance, two developmental editors might have similar overarching feedback or they might point to similar problems in the manuscript, but they might have completely different suggestions for how to revise it.
It is also possible that something one editor thought was an issue will be something another editor doesn't find issue with at all. Editing is a subjective pursuit, and that's why I speak so much about finding the right editorial match to ensure you are working with someone whose opinion you trust and who shares your vision.
I hope these tips help you better understand the book editing process and how book editors work!
Thank you so much for reading and happy writing!
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