Before you hire a professional editor, it's important to understand what they do. At Reedsy, we offer five different types of professional editing services. These are:

1. Editorial assessment
2. Book coaching
3. Developmental editing
4. Copy editing
5. Proofreading

Some editors will specialize in only one type of editing, while others offer multiple types. See below for a detailed breakdown of each type and when you should get it.

We'll also cover two additional services that can help authors prepare for publication. These editing services are less generally applicable, but they can be extremely useful for certain types of projects:

Editorial assessment

An editorial assessment helps authors figure out how to proceed with editing — which elements they need to address, and in what order. These assessments are popular with writers whose manuscripts are still in the early stages of revision and/or who want a cost-friendly alternative to a full developmental edit.

For this service, the editor will read through the entire manuscript and provide:

1. A detailed letter with in-depth feedback concerning elements such as plot, characterization, structure, consistency, and pacing;
2. Suggested next steps for revision and editing.

Unlike most other editorial services, there is no direct editing or annotation of the manuscript.

Here's an example of what authors can expect from an editorial assessment:

Will an editorial assessment tell me if my book is commercially viable?

Yes. An editorial assessment will identify your manuscript's strengths and weaknesses and recommend revisions based on that. That said, most books will not be commercially viable right away — but if you follow the advice of your editorial assessment, it will help align your book with market demands.

Learn more about editorial assessment

Book coaching

A book coach will mentor you toward achieving a specific writing or editing goal. In most cases, this goal will be to finish a draft of your manuscript.

Favored by writers at or near the start of their journey, book coaching is something of a crash course in publishing. Authors can develop their writing skills "on the job", with the guidance of an industry expert.

What can you expect from a writing coach?

Each writing coach will have a specialty genre (or genres), stylistic skills, and a unique teaching style — some are more nurturing and encouraging, while others are brutally honest. You can, and should, select a book coach whose teaching/feedback style is compatible with how you like to receive feedback.

All Reedsy writing coaches offer: 

1. Video call sessions to discuss your needs, develop your ideas, and build concepts;
2. Concrete, practical feedback on your writing; and
3. Motivation and accountability to keep you on track.

Will my coach edit my manuscript?

A writing coach will not directly edit your manuscript. However, they will help get your manuscript ready for the next stages of editing. If your coach also offers editing on Reedsy, you can discuss continuing your work together after you've finished drafting.

Learn more about book coaching

Developmental editing

Developmental editing focuses on a manuscript's "big picture". It can involve clarifying your book's core concept, restructuring the material, and delving into matters of writing craft (such as plot, characterization, and pacing).

This service is popular with authors who have already revised their manuscripts, but have taken them as far as possible by themselves. If you feel like there is a big "hole" in your book and you're unsure how to fix it, developmental editing is the service for you.

What can I expect from a developmental edit?

In most cases, a developmental edit should prepare the author to substantially rewrite their manuscript — with new themes, characterization, plot changes, etc. A developmental editor will also counsel the writer on their target audience and provide insight into industry standards and expectations for their genre.  

For this service, the editor will carefully read over the manuscript and provide:

1. A detailed report with in-depth feedback on those "big picture" elements;
2. A returned copy of the manuscript with comments and edits suggested through track changes; and
3. Suggested next steps.

Here's an example of what authors can expect from a developmental edit:

Learn more about developmental editing

Copy editing

Once the major narrative elements of a project are nailed down, it's time for copy editing. This involves sentence-level edits to improve a manuscript's readability. The job of a professional copy editor is to ensure that a book's language is clear, correct, and communicates precisely what the author intends.

What can I expect from a professional copy edit?

A professional copy editor will correct any mechanical errors (spelling, grammar, etc.) and ensure your manuscript’s tone and style remain consistent throughout. 

For this service, your copy editor will carefully read over the book and provide:

1. A version of the manuscript with all copy edits, recorded with track changes; and
2. A style sheet explaining key editorial decisions, which proofreaders (see below) can use to double-check standard spellings, elements like character names, etc.

Here’s an example of what authors can expect from a copy editor:

What’s the difference between line editing and copy editing?

In some circles, "line editing" refers to editing with a greater emphasis on word choice and writing style. On Reedsy, however, this description falls under the "copy editing" umbrella. If you need a line edit, simple search for copy editors on Reedsy.

Can I get a developmental edit after my copy edit?

Copy editing should always come after developmental editing.

This is because developmental editing, as noted above, often results in major rewrites. You don't want to tweak your sentences until you know that scene or chapter is going to stay in the book! Otherwise you'll end up doing copy edits for no reason.

That said, if you're 100% done with developmental edits, a copy editor can make your writing read like a dream. 

Learn more about copy editing

Proofreading

Proofreading is the final editing check for typos and other small mistakes. It's typically the last stage of the editing process — after which time the manuscript is ready to submit or publish.

Note that proofreaders often work on typeset pages, to ensure errors haven't been introduced during the formatting stage. In the world of traditional publishing, it's not unusual for there to be multiple rounds of proofreading. After all, the last thing you want in a polished, printed book is an errant typo.

What can I expect from a professional proofread?

A Reedsy proofreader will carefully read your finalized manuscript and provide:

1. A returned copy of the manuscript with all spelling, punctuation, and formatting errors identified and corrected in track changes;
2. A short report detailing the suggested changes.

Here’s an example of what authors can expect from a proofreader:

Do I need to get my manuscript proofed before I query agents?

If you publish traditionally, your manuscript will likely undergo many changes before it finally hits the shelves. In that vein, you probably don't need a proof before you query.

However, many first-time authors still find it beneficial to work with the other types of editors discussed above. Most agents probably won't pass on you for typos, but they may indeed pass due to story or prose issues — which can be remedied through developmental and copy editing.

Note: For proofreading, we suggest hiring a brand-new editor to review your manuscript (i.e., don't just hire the same copy editor again). It's extremely valuable to have a fresh set of eyes examine your work for overlooked errors and typos.

Learn more about proofreading

Other editorial services

Query letter review

Some Reedsy editors also review query letters to help authors capture an agent or editor’s interest. The process involves making detailed recommendations on the structure, tone, and content of the query letter.

For authors of fiction and children's literature, if you've written a book in either of these categories, you will need to query with your full manuscript and a query letter. If you write nonfiction, however, you may only need a book proposal.

What can I expect from a query letter review?

A query letter review will help you strengthen your hook, refine your story synopsis, select suitable "comparable titles", and add in relevant personal details.

Each editor will have a different approach to query letter reviews. Depending on the request and the freelancer, this service may include:

1. Detailed suggestions and edits of the author’s query letter (with track changes); and
2. A review/edit of the book’s sample pages, which may be somewhere between 10 and 50 pages (optional)

Here is what writers can expect from a query letter review:

Will a professional review guarantee that my query letter will be read?

No, not necessarily. Nothing can absolutely guarantee you representation (or even a response) from a literary agent. But in a highly competitive environment where agents receive hundreds or thousands of letters a year, a brilliant query letter — one that's based on the advice of an experienced editor — can certainly help you stand out.

Learn more about query letter review

Indexing

Finally, in nonfiction, indexing is the process of creating a "back matter" section which alphabetically lists the names and topics covered in the book. It also includes the page numbers on which these mentions occur. 

What does an indexer do?

A professional indexer will methodically read through a completed and fully formatted book to:

1. Identify which topics are worth indexing;
2. Catalogue mentions these topics across the entire work; and
3. Cross-reference and subcategorize these references within the index

The author can expect their professional indexer to deliver a completed index that meets the standards expected in trade publishing. This will ensure easy, comprehensive navigation for their readers.

Does my book need an index?

If it's nonfiction — especially dense nonfiction — the answer is probably yes. Most library systems (and many booksellers) will only shelve nonfiction titles that include a professional-grade index.

However, there are exceptions. If your book is personal nonfiction like memoir, or very "light" nonfiction like a children's picture book about science, you don't need an index to succeed.

Can I still change my book after indexing?

Ideally no, as these changes may then require re-indexing. With this in mind, if you need an index for your book, try to tackle all other editing stages first.

Learn more about indexing