The four main types of editing are developmental editing (structure and story), line editing (voice and flow), copyediting (grammar and consistency), and proofreading (final typos and formatting errors), and they're meant to happen roughly in that order, moving from big-picture to fine detail. Knowing which one your manuscript needs saves you from paying for the wrong kind of help, or paying for polish that gets undone by a later structural change.
This is part of the Complete Guide to Book Editing.
Developmental editing looks at the manuscript as a whole: plot, structure, pacing, character arcs, argument, and whether the book delivers on what it promises. A developmental editor might suggest cutting a subplot, restructuring the opening chapters, or rethinking how a character's arc resolves. This is the most involved and typically the most expensive kind of editing, because it can mean substantial rewriting afterward.
You need it if: your beta readers flagged structural problems, you're not confident the story or argument holds together, or this is your first book in the genre and you want an expert eye on the big picture before investing in anything else.
You probably don't need it if: beta readers found the structure solid and their notes were mostly about individual scenes, sentences, or smaller details.
Line editing works at the paragraph and sentence level. A line editor looks at voice, flow, word choice, clarity, and how the prose reads, without changing the plot or structure. It's the stage where awkward sentences get smoothed, repetitive phrasing gets varied, and unclear passages get sharpened.
You need it if: the story works, but the writing itself feels clunky, repetitive, or inconsistent in tone.
You probably don't need it if: you're still not sure the story itself is working. Line editing polishes prose; it doesn't fix structural problems.
Copyediting corrects grammar, punctuation, spelling, and consistency: character names, timelines, capitalization, and formatting. A copyeditor makes sure the text is technically correct and internally consistent, without changing your voice or style.
You need it if: the writing itself reads well and you're getting close to a final draft, but the manuscript hasn't had a careful technical check yet.
Proofreading is the last pass before publication. A proofreader catches typos, missing words, and formatting errors, things that slip through even after copyediting, especially once the manuscript has been laid out in its final format.
You need it if: everything else is done and the manuscript is formatted and ready to publish. Proofreading should always come last.
| Developmental | Line | Copy | Proofreading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Looks at | Whole manuscript: structure, story, arcs | Sentences and paragraphs: voice, flow | Grammar, punctuation, consistency | Typos, formatting, final errors |
| Changes the story? | Often, substantially | No | No | No |
| When it happens | Early, after beta reading | After structure is settled | Near-final draft | Last, after layout |
| Typically the most expensive? | Yes, usually | Moderate | Moderate | Least |
Not always, and not always as four separate passes. A shorter or already-clean manuscript might combine line editing and copyediting into one pass. A manuscript with real structural issues, on the other hand, shouldn't skip developmental editing in favor of jumping straight to copyediting, since that copyedit may need to be redone after structural revisions anyway.
Beta reading can help you figure out which stage you actually need. If beta readers consistently flagged plot or character problems, start with developmental editing. If their notes were mostly about individual scenes or the prose itself, you may be able to start at line editing. See Is Your Manuscript Ready for Beta Readers? and Beta Readers vs. Critique Partners vs. Editors.
Rates vary by project and by which type of editing you need, roughly $1 per page for shorter manuscripts, with larger projects typically working out to a lower effective rate. Email us for pricing specific to your project. See How Much Does Book Editing Cost? for how that compares to typical industry rates.
Not Sure Which Kind of Editing You Need?
Entrada Publishing's editing team handles developmental editing, line editing, copyediting, and proofreading. Email us and we'll help you figure out what your manuscript needs and what it'll cost.
Line editing focuses on voice, flow, and clarity at the sentence level. Copyediting focuses on grammar, punctuation, spelling, and consistency. Line editing can change how a sentence reads; copyediting corrects it without changing your style.
If beta readers or your own read-through turned up structural problems, plot holes, or unclear character arcs, developmental editing addresses those before anything else is worth paying for.
Proofreading, after the manuscript is fully laid out in its final format. It's meant to catch what slipped through everything before it, including errors introduced during formatting.
Only if you're confident the story's structure and the prose itself are already solid. If there's any doubt, developmental or line editing first can save you from paying to copyedit text that gets substantially rewritten later.