How Having a Professional Outside Editor Review Your Manuscript Boosts Potential
Think of a book, any book. It can be your favorite, one from your childhood, or a new release you read last month. Why did you enjoy it so much? It was probably the characters, plot, genre, writing style, or dialogue. What might be less obvious, however, is what made your reading experience so enjoyable. That was the editing.
Before your book goes out to the general public, you must make sure it is truly ready to go. That means making sure it is structurally solid and free of typos and poor grammar. The most common way to deal with this editing process is to hire an outside editor. This is a hired professional who is an expert on editing.
Editors are truly the unsung heroes of the publishing industry. This article summarizes the role editors and copy editors play in the publishing process.
Editing vs. Copy Editing
There are two main forms of editing available in the publishing industry: editing and copy editing. They sound similar, and they do work in tandem, but each has a specific focus to tailor your work. Both an editor and a copy editor are invaluable on your journey to publication. Understanding the different roles they play will help you every step of your process.
An editor helps structure the bones of your book. They are less concerned with the nitty gritty of your manuscript and more with the big picture. Part of an editor’s job is to read a manuscript and offer their critiques, suggestions, and opinions. A good editor never forces you to make changes, but guides you when revising drafts. The final changes you make are up to you.
On the other hand, a copy editor is more detail oriented. They read your draft and suggest specific grammatical and stylistic changes. Again, it is usually up to you to approve and implement the changes. Cody Editors are not as engaged with the meaning contained in your words, just that they are used correctly.
The Importance of an Outside Editor
When you have an idea for a book, it is understandable to want to talk all about it. Part of your writing process could be brainstorming with friends and family to get ideas. From there, you can start writing until you finish your first draft. But, who will read your draft to suggest changes? As mentioned before, that would be an editor.
You may wish to have family and friends review your manuscript, which is a great idea. The people who you trust and who know you best can provide great insight into your book. However, they should not be the only other people to read your drafts. Unless they are professionals in the publishing industry, their insights are limited to personal experiences. Their perspective should just be one of many you consider in the publishing process.
Editing Your Book
No matter how good your first draft is, there will be changes made before it is published. There can be as few or as many changes between drafts as needed. Sometimes, an editor will suggest dramatic changes between drafts, and other times there will only be minor typos.
Therefore, it is imperative that your manuscript is professionally edited by someone who is outside your orbit. An outside editor does not go into your book with any preconceived notions. It is a blank slate to them, and they will go into the material as any other reader. Their suggestions hold different weight for that reason.
At Cloverly Publishing, we offer full-service book editing services after you sign your publishing agreement. We have a team of professional editors that will review your entire manuscript and flag any potential corrections. You have final control over any changes made; these are just suggestions.
Crucially, Cloverly puts the human touch in editing. Artificial intelligence (AI) will never be used to edit your book; humans will read every sentence. AI editing services lack a natural understanding of nuance in human speech and behaviors. Cloverly’s editors will keep the integrity of your work and support you every step of the way.
