What Is Content Editing
In Publishing?
By Mary Kole
Mary Kole is a former literary agent, freelance editor, writing teacher, author of Writing Irresistible Kidlit, and IP developer for major publishers, with over a decade in the publishing industry.
Many writers hit the search engines, wondering what is content editing when it comes to writing and publishing. If you’re researching how to hire a book editor, you will notice that there are different types of content editing, and this often leaves writers confused about what is content editing compared to some of the other types of editing you might read about.
What are the specific types of editing? What is proofreading? What is content editing or developmental editing? Well, you can stop your scrolling, because here’s a handy guide that breaks everything down.
What Is Content Editing, and Why Do You Need It?
If you’re looking into types of editing, you might be coming across some incorrect, interchangeable, or misleading terms. Be careful about what you request from an editor, and understand the services offered so that you get the most out of your time and financial investment.
Questions abound when it comes to looking for editorial services. What is line editing? What is copy editing vs proofreading? Developmental editing vs copy editing? What is content editing? Copy editing vs line editing? Developmental editing vs line editing? Ack! No wonder well-meaning writers get confused.
Below, you will find a list of editing terms. You might also notice that some editors provide all of these services, while some specialize. If you’re confused, it’s always best to ask. A reputable editor will have no problem going over their menu of book editing services in detail to help you select the types of editing that will be most appropriate for your project.
These different types of editing services, below, are listed in order of comprehensiveness and level of creative feedback on the manuscript, from least to most detailed.
What is Proofreading?
Proofreading can sometimes be confused with copy editing and line editing. But proofreading is a final comb through a manuscript before it goes to print. Freelance proofreaders look for typos, formatting issues, grammatical mistakes, and other minutiae. Writers looking to self-publish will often spend money on proofreading to give their project a final once-over. You shouldn’t expect creative feedback with this type of service, however. So if you’re wondering what is content editing, and looking for something more detailed, read on.
Manuscript formatting and fact checking are related services. They involve formatting your manuscript, and checking the accuracy of your work, respectively. Ebook formatting providers and layout designers fit into this category as well. While these services are important, writers who use them shouldn’t expect creative feedback. We’ll get to that below.
Proofreading is usually the last thing to happen before a manuscript goes on submission or to print, and can sometimes be done at the same time as a copy edit.
What is Copy Editing?
Copy editing looks at the grammar and mechanics of your manuscript, while also scouring the project at the sentence level for spelling, style, and punctuation errors. Comments on the overall quality of the writing and writing voice are usually included, but not always.
You’ll have to figure out how deeply your potential editor is willing to dive. Copy editing is one step up from proofreading in terms of thoroughness. If you’re still just looking for a service that focuses on the basics of your writing, without a lot of big picture creative feedback, a copy edit is a good call. This type of edit tends to happen later in the revision process, as you begin to fine-tune.
Ask any copy editor you’re thinking of hiring about what, exactly, level of detail to expect. Copy editing sometimes floats between proofreading and line editing. If you’re still curious about what is copy editing, we still have a few more definitions to get through!
What is Line Editing?
Line editing involves all of the services provided at the copy editing level, and more. It works with grammar and mechanics, sure, but the feedback now includes comments on plot, character, story, writing voice, readability, and potentially even marketability. Line editing focuses on bigger issues of writing style, voice, and storytelling.
Your overall level of writing craft is part of the conversation. If you want feedback on your writing basics, but are also looking for comments on what you’ve written and how to improve it, you will want to research freelance copy editing services at minimum, instead of just purchasing proofreading or copy editing.
Line editing is generally done earlier in the process of manuscript revision.
What is Content Editing?
What is content editing? Ah, here we are at last. You may have heard content editing also called developmental editing. Content editing is the most comprehensive and full-service critique you can receive on your writing. Investing in developmental editing means you’ll get everything from copy editing to line editing, but also deep feedback on your writing and storytelling craft.
Developmental editing tends to think small and big at the same time, weaving in feedback on all areas of your project, from voice at the sentence level to the overall trajectories of your character and plot.
Content editing asks bigger questions about your story, and anyone giving you this level of feedback is going to be talking about character arcs, theme, your use of imagery, and more. The focus of content editing can also be even bigger, taking your place within your publishing market into consideration.
Some of the editors providing developmental editing services—especially those with publishing industry experience—will even comment on your book’s submission odds, how to strengthen the project with an eye toward getting a literary agent, and how to pitch the work.
When you purchase content editing, you’re really investing in a full-service treatment of your project. That is why costs tend to be highest with this level of service. What is content editing? The most thorough and therefore investment-heavy type of editing available.
For those eagle-eyed readers who are wondering just what kind of editor would write an article with the clunky phrasing of “what is content editing” over and over on her website, I applaud you for noticing that this reads awkwardly. Please note that I picked this keyword phrase on purpose, as part of my SEO (search engine optimization) strategy. If you’re curious about writer marketing techniques, check out Good Story Marketing.