Authored by Vanessa Reyes, UNG Press Intern
Once you are lucky enough to have your manuscript picked up for publication, it may sound like a happy ending, but it is rather a beautiful beginning. From this point on, your writing will go through the four stages of editing and become the best piece of writing your publisher can possibly make it. These four stages consist of developmental editing, line editing, copyediting, and proofreading. While some publishers have an editor responsible for every stage of editing, others designate an individual to one specific stage. Despite the different structures, they all have the same goal: to improve your manuscript.
Developmental Editing
The developmental stage marks the beginning of the editing process. A developmental editor works closest with the author. According to Lapeyrolerie, an editor herself, this stage focuses on the bigger picture asking for authors to refine plot structure and character development. Because these decisions will fundamentally change the entire piece, it is essential a developmental editor keeps close contact with the writer.
Line Editing
Instead of focusing on the larger picture, line editors instead look at the sentence level prioritizing style and tone. Previous UNG Press intern Madelyn Huff wrote a guide to the line editing process noting how line editing differs from the other stages because of its fixation on style. The relationship between the editor and author at this stage allows for the writer’s intention and voice to remain intact despite the several revisions going on. As the manuscript progresses, the editors’ concentration narrows down to smaller elements moving from paragraphs to sentences then from sentences to words.
Copyediting
Copyediting is the point where grammar is addressed. It takes place after line editing, but before being handed off to proofreaders. Typically copyediting and proofreading are confused for one another, but according to Reedsy the distinction could be found in the tasks each role is responsible for. A copy editor addresses style and consistency alongside grammatical issues. Within the Reedsy article, Cavannagh describes the process as “improving the clarity, accuracy, and flow” of a piece. Copy editors constantly refer to style guides, such as the Chicago Manual of Style, and copy editors can also assist in improving the transitions in piece of writing, such moving from one paragraph to another.
Proofreading
Proofreading is the last stage of editing and typically handed off to interns (like yours truly!). Checking for grammatical issues may be part of the copywriting stage, but for proofreading it is the sole and main focus. Reedsy describes it as the final “safety net” before publication. This stage is the last round of editing a manuscript will receive, so it is vital to catch any final grammatical errors that may hinder the reading experience.
Conclusion
Why go through all this trouble? In a webinar for the English Honor Societies, Angie Cruz described the revision process as “love in progress.” It may be intimidating to leave the fate of your story or research in the hands of strangers, but it is important to keep in mind how each editing stage is meant to improve your writing. Publishing houses are dedicating this much time and effort to your manuscript, because they believe in your writing and the manuscript you submitted.
Works Cited
Cavannagh, Martin. “Copy Editing vs. Proofreading: What’s the Difference and Which Do You Need?” Reedsy. 15 Oct. 2025, https://reedsy.com/blog/copy-editing-vs-proofreading/.
English Honor Societies. “Webinar with Angie Cruz, Author of How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water.” YouTube, uploaded by Englishmatters, 9 October 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGMayzDDASM.
Huff, Madelyn. “Line Editing in Publishing: A Breakdown.” Notions, 24 April. 2026, https://ungpressbooks.com/2026/04/line-editing-in-publishing-a-breakdown/.Lapeyrolerie, Jamie.
“Different Types of Editors – Guest Post by Jamie Lapeyrolerie -.” The Steve Laube Agency, 10 Feb. 2025, stevelaube.com/different-types-of-editors-guest-post-by-jamie-lapeyrolerie/.
Leave a Reply