My main distinction between dev editing and line or copy editing is that after a dev edit, the writer reworks the manuscript to address the issues brought up by the editor; with line and copy editing, the editor is the one doing the work directly to the copy in the manuscript.

Also called structural or substantive editing, dev editing is an in-depth look at all the big-picture elements of your manuscript. It’s ultimately about whether your manuscript conveys its story, ideas, and message effectively and connects with the audience.

Elements I’ll look at include: structure, organization, tone, voice, pacing, readability, and conciseness, as well as plot, story, character arcs, and much more.

I’ll give you two deliverables: an in-depth editorial letter (usually 10-20 pages) noting the strengths and weaknesses of the manuscript and a version of your manuscript with extensive notes, comments, and tracked changes.

For a less expensive option, some writers prefer a manuscript evaluation/beta read, which just includes the extensive editorial letter (more below).

A manuscript evaluation, sometimes called a beta read, gives authors general initial feedback on an early draft of a manuscript, before getting an extensive edit. They can also be helpful if you need a sounding board for an incomplete or stuck manuscript and don’t know where to take it.

I think of these as a “dev edit lite”—I’ll look at big-picture elements of your manuscript, including structure, tone, voice, organization, character development, and more.

With manuscript evaluations/beta reads, I’ll send you an editorial assessment outlining the strengths and weaknesses of your manuscript, without a marked up version of your manuscript.

I price these lower than dev edits and turnaround times are quicker because they aren’t as in-depth.

I frequently combine line and copy editing, especially for indie authors—many editors and authors even use these terms synonymously, and the difference between the two can be a little hazy.

I also offer the two types of editing separately for an extra layer of polish. More info on both and what they entail is below.

I usually charge a slightly higher rate when combining the two edits, and after this you should be ready to publish your manuscript.

Also called stylistic editing, this line-by-line, paragraph-by-paragraph edit focuses on the flow of a manuscript, ultimately editing for clarity, smoothness, and pacing. It looks at voice, style, phrasing, word choice, and more, polishing sentences and words to make them pop off the page.

Typically, line editing is the medium level in the editing process: It’s done after the big-picture developmental edit and before the nitty-gritty copy edit.

I’ll give you an extensively marked copy of your manuscript tracking all of my changes.

When people think of editing, they usually mean copy editing. I think of this as the nitty-gritty, roll-your-sleeves-up editing that looks at grammar, mechanics, punctuation, spelling, usage, style, and much more. This editing will put the final touches on your manuscript before it’s ready for publication.

As mentioned above, I often combine line and copy editing, but I also offer the two services separately if you’re looking to have more editors and sets of eyes on your manuscript.

I copy edit according to The Chicago Manual of Style, and my edit will include an in-depth markup of your text with comments and a style sheet.

This is a final, careful reading of a copy-edited manuscript to look for stray typos, misplaced punctuation, formatting errors, and other tiny mistakes. This is the final polish of your manuscript and the last step before publication.