What Kind of Novel Editor Do I Need?

You finally wrote your novel. Congratulations! Completing a full manuscript is a challenge, but you stuck to it and finished! Now you may be wondering, “What’s next?” Is it time to send out a query letter? Start soliciting for literary agents?

While the next steps of publishing a book are exciting, it’s important to slow down. Before querying, it’s essential to edit your manuscript to make sure your story is engaging. For that, you’ll need a professional novel editor to help you refine your ideas, structure, style, and more. Let’s take a look at what a novel editor does and how to find the right one for your manuscript.  

What is a Novel Editor?

In short, a novel editor works with authors to improve their manuscripts for publication. Editors have a keen eye for detail, understand how a novel should be structured, and are trained to be familiar with the basic elements of novels. Editors should work in collaboration with authors so their unique voices are preserved. 

Hiring an editor for a novel is a normal part of writing and publishing a book. Having another set of eyes to analyze your manuscript can help identify potential problems, like plot holes, flat characters, stylistic issues, and structure or story arc mistakes. Even the best editors need someone to review their manuscripts for mistakes! 

Different Kinds of Editors for Novels

Now that we know why hiring an editor is beneficial, let’s go over the different types of editors. Each type can help strengthen your manuscript for publication in various ways.

Developmental Editor

Developmental editors, also sometimes called substantive or structural editors, focus on the “big picture” of your manuscript. This phase happens early in the editing process and may require significant revisions by the author. 

Developmental editors focus on:

• Content
• Structure
• Organization
• Narrative coherence

Their tasks include:

• Helping to resolve major plot holes
• Correct pacing problems
• Locate character development inconsistencies
• Analyzing the overall structure and flow

This type of editing ends with a substantial editorial report or letter, along with in-manuscript comments. These two deliverables help the author during the rewriting and revising process. 

Line Editor

Line editors focus on the creative content and writing style of your manuscript at the sentence and paragraph level. Some areas they’ll analyze include style, tone, flow, clarity, and word choice. Line editors handle: 

• Revising awkward phrasing
• Eliminating redundancy
• Improving sentence structure
• Ensure the author’s voice is consistent
• Polishing your prose

A line editor is especially important if you wrote your draft over a long period of time. Your writing style may have evolved during that time, and a line editor can make sure that your refined style is consistent throughout the manuscript. 

Copy Editor

A copy editor focuses on the mechanics and consistency of your novel. This includes checking grammar, spelling, punctuation, style, and simple fact-checking. A copy editor’s goal is to make sure the text is correct, clear, and consistent. 

Proofreader

Proofreaders typically come last in the editing process. They perform the final, detailed check for typographical errors and formatting flaws and will catch errors that arose during the other editing and revising stages. They also look for:

• Typos
• Incorrect punctuation
• Missing words
• Inconsistent formatting
• Poor word breaks
• Layout issues

Proofreaders make minimal and essential corrections–they will not rewrite or suggest stylistic changes. 

What Kind of Novel Editor Do I Need?

The best way to determine what kind of editor you need is to do a self-assessment of your manuscript. Another alternative is to ask a critique partner or beta reader for their input. Some questions you can ask yourself include:

• Have I already self-edited my manuscript?
  • Either way, you might need a developmental editor or a line editor.
    
• Have I extensively revised my manuscript for story, structure, plot, character development, etc.?
  • If yes, you might need a copy editor or line editor.
    
• Am I confident in my story and characters?
  • If not, you might need a developmental editor.
    
• Are multiple readers pointing out similar issues?
  • If yes, you might need a developmental editor.
    
• Do I need help with grammar and style?
  • If yes, you might need a copy editor and a line editor. 

How Do I Choose an Editor?

Choosing the right editor is essential to the development and success of your manuscript. Since there are no required qualifications for book editors, you must be careful when choosing someone. You can even have a virtual or face-to-face meeting with potential editors, so you can get a feel for their personality and skills. 

Here are some tips on finding the right novel editor:

• Look at recommendations from professional organizations, like the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) or The Society for Editing (ACES)
• Choose an editor who specializes in your manuscript’s genre
• Look at their background and qualifications 
• Ask for recommendations from other authors you know
• Ask for a sample edit to make sure they are compatible
• Clarify the process for their editing style and format
• Discuss cost and contracts

These simple tips can help guide you to the right editor that will make your manuscript engaging to readers and keep them excited for more!

Ready to Edit Your Manuscript? Contact J. Berry Editorial Today!

J. Berry Editorial is a professional editing service that specializes in manuscript evaluations, developmental edits, and a unique tether service that combines line editing and copy editing along with other editing packages. My passion lies in helping fiction indie authors strengthen their manuscript through collaboration, ensuring their unique voice remains untouched. 

Need to request a sample edit? Fill out my contact form here with your manuscript’s details and I will reach out to you soon!