Why One-stop Editing Doesn't Work

May 30, 2023 | Editing

If you're thinking about hiring an editor, who does it all, think again.?

Many writers seek to cut costs when it comes to publishing their books, especially their first ones, because out of all of their expenses, editing is the priciest. For this reason, some will find a go-to editor who claims to do it all: developmental editing, line editing, copyediting, and proofreading.?

Here's why this doesn't work.

A one-stop-shop editor cannot effectively perform all levels of editing on an authors' manuscript themselves because something will undoubtedly be missed. Having professionally edited for the past 10 years, I can attest to long days and even longer nights. When I first started, I tried to be all things to all people and quickly learned this was the worst idea and a huge waste of time. Re-reading the same manuscript upwards of two or three times is tiresome, and I don't care how good the story is, you get bored with it. Each time you read, you lose your zest for the material and your zeal for the process; your yin and your yang suffer.

Do you want to know why?

The first stage of the editing process is Developmental Editing. This stage focuses on the overall structure, organization, and content of the piece. The editor looks at the big picture, assessing the flow, pacing, plot (for fiction), argument (for non-fiction), character development, and other structural elements. Changes at this stage may involve rearranging or removing sections, adding or expanding content, or addressing any major issues with the overall structure.?

The second stage is Line Editing. In Line Editing, the editor focuses on the sentence level, improving the clarity, coherence, and effectiveness of individual sentences. They may suggest rephrasing or rewriting sentences to enhance the flow, eliminate redundancy, improve word choice, and strengthen the overall writing.?

The third stage of editing is Copyediting. Copyediting involves a detailed review of the text for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style. The editor ensures consistency in language usage, checks for clarity, and corrects any errors or inconsistencies. This stage also involves checking for proper formatting and adherence to style guidelines (such as APA, MLA, or Chicago Manual of Style, depending on the project). Research is often done, and hyperlinks and footnotes are also verified.

The fourth and final stage of the editing process is Proofreading. This stage of editing involves a meticulous review of the document for any remaining errors, typos, or formatting issues. Proofreading ensures that the text is clean, polished, and ready for publication. Here's where the final i's get dotted, and the t's get crossed.

Now, I will tell you, depending on who you're talking to or working with, the terminology may vary in different contexts or industries. It's like to-ma-to versus to-mo-to and po-ta-to versus po-to-to. Just be sure you get clarity from the editor about both his or her terminology and process before starting. You want to know and understand what they call their version of editing and how it's defined and/or described. No matter what they call it, you want to be in the hands of a professional.

Because...?

Whether you know it or not, there is a rhythm to writing--a method to the proverbial madness. Understanding these things, you must know for certain that your one-stop-shop-editor plans to read each file multiple times as each stage of editing requires a different level of engagement. If they attempt to do all three at once (or even the second round), something will be missed. It is inevitable.?

Your book should have its own rhythm, and if it does not get addressed at the core of the story, then who do you address it with??

Not the copyeditor or the line editor or the proofreader...

A copyeditor may catch every grammatical error and potentially overlook every structural problem. A proofreader may tighten up every paragraph, not knowing it needs to totally be cut from the entire document. Every t may be crossed and every i dotted, but you can't technically edit for content development. Line editing won't cut it either!

Developmentally speaking, here's how your manuscript will suffer:

1.?Time and money.?If your editor doesn't love every editing stage when attempting to do them all, time will be wasted and so will paying another editor to fix what got missed the first time.?

2.?Influence. Not only will your budget and timeline suffer, but so will your reputation. Taking shortcuts will cost you influence in the space you're building your audience in, and the platform you are branding yourself on will ultimately pay for it. No expert publishes a book full of errors.

3.?Creativity. When editing for structure, neither a copyeditor nor a proofreader can help you. There is a huge difference between hiring an editor to fix technical errors and hiring an editor to fix creative errors. The result might look like a perfectly written sentence in the middle of a chapter that needs to be gutted.

So you can bargain shop if your budget will only allow you to work with a one-stop freelance editor rather than an actual expert; however, unless you're working with a freelancer who has a team of experts in each of the areas of editing (i.e., an editing firm), you're taking a huge gamble.?

Your first book could be your last.?

It only takes one bad review to catch the wrong set of eyes to turn all the attention on you--good, bad, or indifferent. Unless you're trying to be a one-hit wonder, I recommend thinking again.

Find out more at www.ShaundaleRena.com.