Yup, that’s right there are three different stages of editing essential to producing a clean, viable manuscript. My BEFORE COPY EDITING online workshop (click the link in the left column) covers the two most often overlooked stages: substantive and line editing. But what do terms mean?

Substantive Editing, also called content editing, addresses the manuscript’s structure and content problems. Nonfiction substantive editing may rearrange sections, chapters, paragraphs–even lines within paragraphs–to ensure the material reads in a logical, slinky flow of information without non-transitioned digressions, redundancies,  or gaps.

FACT: most nonfiction rejections are due to structure and content problems
that can be resolved with a substantive edit.

Fiction substantive edit uncovers plot, subplot, and characterization problems and provides an easily followed map to correct those issues. The knowledge gained from learning nonfiction substantive editing is extremely useful when editing fiction.

FACT: many novel rejections are due to plot and character implausibilities and contrivances
that can be resolved with a substantive edit.

Line Editing, the mid-stage edit, can make all the difference in the world in a otherwise well-crafted manuscript. Nonfiction line editing addresses not only passive voice (leaving it alone where appropriate, changing it where appropriate) but the even-more-important issue of static voice

FACT: deal-breaking pacing and reader comprehension issues
are resolved by line editing.

Fiction line editing converts excessive narration (“tell”) to action and dialogue (“show”) where appropriate and converts excessive action and dialogue (“show”) to narration (“tell”) where appropriate.

FACT: deal-breaking pacing (tell v show) and comprehension (show v tell)
are resolved by line editing.

Copy Editing, the stage most people think of when they hear the term “edit,” addresses spelling, punctuation, grammar, syntax, and so forth. Nonfiction copy editing also addresses academic and publication style guides.

Fiction copy editing requires an understanding of when to NOT apply standard nonfiction grammar and syntax rules.

FACT: poor or absent copy editing is seldom a deal-breaker for a
well-conceived, well-structured, and well-written manuscript.

The only places to learn the fast, easy techniques of substantive and line editing is in my BEFORE COPY EDITING online workshop or my GHOSTWRITER TRAINING class. Click the  link in the left column.

You’ll never look at writing and editing the same way again!