The world of professional editing services can be daunting for any writer, particularly when determining what types of editing services you need and how to locate an editor for your project. There are so many different ways of editing that it's enough to make anyone's head spin!

This method, however, does not have to be so difficult. We'll go through all of the various editing styles, what each one entails, and how they compare to one another in this guide.

What are the six different kinds of editing services that can be provided by an editor?

1. Editing services during the development stage

An editor provides comprehensive input on "big-picture" problems in developmental editing, also known as material or substantive editing. They'll help you polish your ideas, form your story, and iron out any big plot or character flaws. They'll examine every aspect of your story and tell you what works and what doesn't.

If you haven't even fleshed out the story, you don't want to have your manuscript proofed or formatted! However, before moving on, a developmental editor will make sure the story is up to par, so you don't waste time copy-editing work that will discard.

2. Editorial evaluation services

If, on the other hand, your manuscript isn't quite ready for a developmental edit, but you'd like some input, you can always request an editorial evaluation.

A similar to an editorial article, but with less specificity, is an editorial evaluation. It should provide you with some specific suggestions for how to structure your plot. However, it will lack the nuance of a complete developmental edit, so don't expect your manuscript to be perfected solely by an evaluation.

3. Editing services for the structure

Structural editing is just what it sounds like: a method for improving the structure of your story so that it fits your specific story and keeps the reader interested.

If your story has many surprises, for example, a flashback structure may be a great way to build suspense than a traditional linear chronology. Structural editing will also help you figure out if your story can be divided into more or fewer chapters/parts, whether those sections are in the correct order, and what material you can remove or expand to simplify or fill out your structure.

4. Revisions to the copy:

It's time to dive into copy editing until you're confident that you've addressed your book's big-picture issues and completed any required rewrites. Depending on the program, this style is also known as mechanical editing or line editing.

A copy edit improves clarity, coherency, continuity, and correctness in your book, making it more readable. The intention is to close any gaps between the author's purpose and the reader's comprehension.

The following elements of your work are examined and corrected by a copy editor:

• Spelling

• Grammar

• Capitalization

• Word usage and repetition

• Dialogue tags

• Use of numbers or numerals

• Descriptive contradictions

• POV/tense (to correct any unintended shifts) (character descriptions, locations, blocking, etc.)

5. Editing and proofreading services

The final service of the book editing process is proofreading. Proofreaders are the eagle-eyed reviewers who make sure the work is free of spelling and grammar errors before it is published. They're diligent, as they should be, and their meticulous analysis of your manuscript means that it's fully finished before heading to print.

Proofreaders also operate from written proofs, clearly labeling mistakes and oddities as they go, even with new digital typesetting. They'll be on the lookout for:

• Spelling and design inconsistencies

• Layout and typography inconsistencies

• Incorrect captioning on some illustrations and page numbers in the contents

• Confusing or awkward page and phrase breaks

Since proofreading is the final stop on the manuscript expression, most issues should be resolved by this stage. Proofreading aims to thoroughly examine the text for any errors that previous edits might have overlooked.

6. Double-checking facts

The truth is that no matter how carefully you study your book, it can still contain contradictions in detail. While developmental and copy editors may assist with this, it is ultimately not their duty to fact-check.

That's why, if your book contains a lot of niche material, mainly if it's a subject you've never written about before, you should consider hiring a dedicated fact-checker to go over it. They'll make a list of all the factual references in your book and double-check them with outside sources; if they find any inaccuracies, they'll notify you immediately. If you're writing nonfiction, this editing style is essential, and committed nonfiction editors are often professional fact-checkers. However, having a second set of eyes on your manuscript can be highly beneficial to historical, and science fiction works.