Even more so than with writing, the devil is in the details of editing – especially if ChatGPT wrote your copy. The editing phase is your final chance to make sure that your readers feel like they’re being addressed by a warm, accurate, human voice rather than a cold matrix of rules and patterns (possibly with errors embedded).

 

​

 Exactly What Is Editing?

 

I know of at least five different levels on which an editor can help you.

 

1) Conceptual editing: This is the very first step of writing a book. For a conceptual edit, you engage an editor for one or more brainstorming consultations based on your outline. It’s the time for reviewing ideas before there’s much (or any) actual text to review.

 

2) Developmental editing: A developmental edit is an editorial assessment of an early draft (generally a book). It’s an overview of what works and what might work better, an extremely helpful conversation for the author to have before digging deeper.

 

3) Line or structural editing: For a work of any length, this is the phase when your editor reviews the text for structure and clarity. A line edit might also include a specialized area of focus such as:

     a) Fact checking: verifying the writer’s accuracy on predetermined range of information

     b) Technical editing: fact checking for a highly specific detail set related to an industry or subject matter area

 

4) Copy editing: This is where your editor becomes your own personal language cop, enforcing the rules of grammar, punctuation, spelling, and consistency.

 

5) Proof editing or proofreading: Here your editor makes a final pass before publication, catching any last typos and formatting issues.

 

In my practice as an editor, I will usually save a few steps by combining the line, copy, and proofing edits, sometimes with a bit of technical editing if the industry or subject matter details are obvious to me.

 

 

What Should You Expect From an Editor?

 

A successful editor starts with understanding and respecting the author’s intent and likely audience. This means the editor needs at least a basic sense of the subject matter – not necessarily full expertise, but certainly not total bewilderment. It’s always helpful to have some prior discussion with your editor. An ongoing rapport would be even better.

 

Once an editor begins the work, they should be mindful of any aspects they may not fully understand. A successful editor won’t be afraid of a little on-the-fly research to verify spellings, acronyms, etc., or of checking in with the author, who should be considered the ultimate authority. These check-ins might take the form of ASAP emails or texts, a cumulative list of questions, or whatever system works best for both parties.

 

Again (because this bears repeating), beyond the manuscript itself and the words it contains, the successful editor respects the author’s tone, purpose, and intended audience.

 

 

What Can You Expect From Me?

 

I’ve always been a writer, in part because I’ve always been a reader. As a reader, I’m interested in how other writers practice their craft. One day, it dawned on me that editing would be an ideal way to collaborate with other writers, to find what’s great and unique in their written work, and to help them make it even better.

 

My guiding principle is something that I call “the mind’s ear.” I read while listening to the language in my head, hearing how it would flow if read aloud. This might mean balancing precise construction with a natural, engaging tone. Specifically, I balance getting it “right” (no obvious grammatical lapses) with how people really speak (minus the annoying misspeaks that many of us make when extemporizing).

 

Using the mind’s ear doesn’t work as well for extremely formal writing, such as academic, legal, or technical. However, if I can enhance the author’s objective by subtly delighting or satisfying the reader, engaging them to go deeper and learn more, a conversational approach feels best to me.

 

 

But wait! There’s more! This is the first blog in a three-part series about editing. Please also read:

• Part 2: Issues That I Help Writers Avoid

• Part 3: Some Thoughts About AI and Written Language