Authored by Autumn Cleymans, UNG Press Intern
The editing process can seem intimidating, with complex moving parts and different titles used for some steps. Alternatively, it might seem like a straightforward job of an editor fixing up a manuscript at their own whim. In reality, the task of editing falls somewhere in between. Each stage involves a qualified editor with valuable insights into the publishing industry, and the final product is a well-supported manuscript that preserves the author’s voice and vision. To demystify the process, this post provides a simple breakdown of the four main steps followed here at the UNG Press.
1. Developmental Editing
The Focus: General story issues such as plot and character
During developmental editing, also known as structural editing, the editor points out elements that require big fixes on the author’s part. At this point, the editor doesn’t make any changes themselves, just offers detailed suggestions to make the manuscript more publishable. In other words, the editor aims to correct problems like plot inconsistencies and overall clarity that decrease a manuscript’s appeal. The author can discuss any concerns with the editor, and once an understanding is reached, the author makes the necessary rewrites.
It’s important for this step to come first, since a manuscript’s main problems have to be taken care of before the smaller details can be examined. However, as the MasterClass article “Editing Essentials: What Is Developmental Editing?” points out, rewrites can be substantial and time-consuming. To keep the author from getting discouraged, the editor should explain exactly how their suggestions make the manuscript better, and above all, stay supportive.
2. Line Editing
The Focus: Structure, style, and flow at the sentence level
After developmental editing comes line editing, also known as substantive or stylistic editing. At this stage, the editor polishes up sentences for better flow, making sure to keep the author’s voice intact. After all, the editor’s role is improving the manuscript from a technical perspective, rather than saying, “This is how I would’ve written it;” their influence should be a light, guiding hand that improves the text without overshadowing the original tone or meaning.
Line editing is often confused for copyediting, probably thanks to its name, but there are clear differences between the two steps. Namely, line editors focus on elements like word choice and clarity, without as much focus on grammar or punctuation (yet). Their work helps clear up any awkward or ambiguous wording that would have negatively affected the reading experience.
3. Copyediting
The Focus: Spelling, grammar, punctuation, and stylistic consistency (Lee 99, 100)
After line editing improves overall flow, the copy editor scans for typos, grammatical and punctuation mistakes, and factual inaccuracies, to make the text more readable (Lee 99, 100). It’s natural for these things to happen in the writing process, but even the smallest errors can be distracting for readers or can completely change the author’s meaning.
The “right” spelling of a word isn’t always obvious; books can involve made-up words, and some words might need to be looked up, such as foreign words or words with different forms. To handle this, the copy editor follows a style sheet, which tracks spelling and formatting choices that are specific to that manuscript or publishing house (Lee 100). That way, the style remains consistent across the manuscript.
4. Proofreading
The Focus: Catching any remaining errors in spelling, formatting, and punctuation
In the last step of editing, the proofreader takes a final sweep through the manuscript, fixing any errors that weren’t already caught (Lee 105). Like the copy editor, the proofreader refers to a style sheet to search for inconsistencies (Lee 106). Even though many errors have already been fixed in previous stages, the proofreader still needs to be diligent and thorough, since this is the last chance to catch mistakes before it becomes too costly to fix them.
Some writers proofread on their own to save money, but a fresh pair of eyes can be helpful, since an errors can slip past someone who has read the same words over and over again. Once proofreading is complete, a manuscript has undergone every stage of editing and is ready to be reviewed for print.
Final Notes
There is no set assignment for these stages; they can be performed by the same editor or by several different people (Lee 39). In any case, it’s important for an editor to establish their expertise and skill, so authors know that their work is in good hands (Lee 93). It’s a leap of faith for an author to turn over their work for critique, and when they know those critiques come from a place of understanding, the process will likely go much smoother. Each stage of editing ensures that a manuscript reaches its strongest, most publishable form with the full support of the publisher behind it (Lee 279).
Editing is a thorough process and requires great attention to detail, but it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. If you have any questions related to editing, let us know in the comments—we’ll be happy to answer!
Sources:
Cypher, Sarah. “The Four Stages of Editing.” The Threepenny Editor, The Threepenny Editor, 3 Apr. 2013, threepennyeditor.com/library/2013/04/the-four-stages-of-manuscript-editing.
“Editing Essentials: What Is Developmental Editing? – 2025.” MasterClass, MasterClass, 16 Aug. 2021, www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-developmental-editing.
“How to Copy Edit: A Guide to Copy Editing Everything – 2025.” MasterClass, MasterClass, 29 Sept. 2021, www.masterclass.com/articles/a-guide-to-copy-editing-everything.
“How to Proofread Your Writing: 5 Tips for Effective Proofreading – 2025.” MasterClass, MasterClass, 23 Aug. 2021, www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-proofread-your-writing.
Lee, Marshall. Bookmaking: Editing, Design, Production. 3rd ed., W.W. Norton, 2009.
“Types of Editing: An inside Look at What Editors Do.” Edited by Martin Cavannagh, Reedsy, Reedsy Ltd, 5 May 2023, blog.reedsy.com/guide/editing/.
“What Is Line Editing? Line Editing vs. Copy Editing – 2025.” MasterClass, MasterClass, 28 Sept. 2021, www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-line-editing.
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