I was meeting with a potential client last night about her book project. She came well prepared with an outline of what’s been done and what’s to be done on her manuscript. Amen. This is someone who understands how to organize! I can’t wait to get to her story.
In the conversation, I asked her what kind of editor she needed. It was pretty clear to me that this person, who’s already published a few times, needs less of a grammarian and more of a structural person to help her. I still went over the various types of editors to make sure there wasn’t something else she was looking for, as well.
So what kind of editor are you? Do you know the differences? Here are a few of the editors I’ve come across in my day:
1. The line editor. Easy one to figure out. This editor goes through your manuscript line-by-line in search of mixed messages, grammar errors, and problems with conveying ideas.
2. The structural editor. This person looks at the piece as a whole and helps identify areas where your copy would best work. This editor is best known for shifting copy, building transitions, and bringing more order to your manuscript.
3. The extensive editor. Here’s where things get deep. This editor does practically everything the first two do as well as suggesting changes, making revisions, suggesting rewrites, handling small rewrites, etc.
4. The justify-my-existence editor. Not the editor any of us want. This editor’s looking at your copy and suggesting useless things like changing a word because “I’d rather it said this.” That’s not a useful edit. If the worst thing your editor can say about your manuscript is “I changed all your ‘said’ references to ‘replied’, you’re either an excellent writer or you’ve found an editor who’s looking for job security. Think the latter, for any good editor can find flaws in any writer’s work.
What other editors have you come across?
I’ve worn all these editor hats, except for the last one–I hope. What’s interesting about these different types of editing is that most clients are clueless as to what kind they actually need. And in most cases, they’ll grossly underestimate the level their writing requires. That’s why I never quote a price without seeing a writing sample first.
Excellent point, Kathy. You have to see a sample first. It’s the only way to understand what work is involved.