There are three primary types of edits you should do with fiction, both in traditional publishing and self-publishing. I'm identifying the types, covering their nuances, and giving helpful tips on what to consider when hiring outside help.
by Alexa Donne
Developmental Edits
- looking at the novel as a whole
- takes place after the first draft
- The writer and their critique partners usually do it.
- includes: characters, pacing, motivation, plot twists, big-picture stuff
- doesn't include: sentences, spelling, grammar
Line Edits
- drilling down on a prose level
- includes: sentences, paragraphs, words, sentence structure, clarity, word choice, repetition, confusion, awkward phrasing
- doesn't include: massive rewrites
Copy Edits
- the most necessary
- going through a manuscript and cleaning it up with a fine-toothed comb
- refining things based on right vs. wrong
- fixing errors
- includes: continuity issues, grammar, punctuation, timeline, factual errors, typos
- creating a style guide/cheat sheet of characters, places, proper nouns, brands, specific words
YOU ARE READING
writing 4 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜: WRITING ADVICE TO MAKE YOU A BETTER WRITER
Non-FictionWriting is hard. Being a writer is even harder. But with "Writing 4 Writers," you CAN become a better writer. Every time I sit down to write, I reference this collection of writing advice from a variety of blogs, writers, and YouTubers: Jenna Moreci...
