Business & Craft Post: On Editors - Rankings and Learning

Hadn't really planned on writing this post right now, but since I wrote the other editor post, I thought I'd elaborate on an idea that has been churning through my mind about the types of copy & line editors I see. Please note that I realise that much of this is mixing up line and copy editing jobs together, partly because in the indie market; that's what has been happening anyway.

Rank 1 Editors & Editing

At this point, you're mostly getting a copy edit. Very little line editing. What I mean by that is that they'll be fixing grammar, spelling, punctuation mistakes. They'll be fixing the manuscript you give them to be readable so that it does not cause an English teacher's eye to twitch.

It won't make your words flow, it won't make what you've written fun or interesting to read over and above what you have there already. What they find here are often:

• commonly confused or misspelled words (homophones)

• grammar errors

• punctuation mistakes

• misused words

If you're writing simplistically - for example, for web serials or light novels or for a younger age group, this kind of editing is actually perfectly fine. Areas in high-demand where you already have a good grasp of voice and storytelling - or at least a modicum of it - and need only provide content.

Use Case 1: If you're starting out, don't know how to start writing fiction and never had a proper class on it, these editors are a godsend. I had one when I started out and they pointed a slew of things I got wrong (using proper punctuation in dialogue tags, capitalisation issues, etc.).

Use Case 2: Highly experienced writers who do not need deep line edits any longer.

Pricing: Often low. I've seen as low as $0.0035 to 0.005 per word.

Further Notes: In many cases, I would say that if you're starting out, if you can join a writer group (online or in-person) and/or read up on punctuation and grammar and the like for writing, you could find many of the errors that rank 1 editors offer. In such cases, it's still useful to run it through a human though, just to see what else you missed - or how many mistakes you've made.

Further, further note: In many cases, software like Grammarly or ProWritingAid will provide this level of fixing too. However, unlike a good editor, they will not provide notes or commentary of WHY something is wrong.

Rank 2 Editors

These are good editors, your everyday editors that work both the copy and line edit side. They will catch pretty much all the major issues in a copy edit (barring normal human error) and begin to do light line edits. I often categorise these editors by the degree of line edits they provide, which is generally light and intent on fixing the 'common' voice problems. Things they will often find and fix:

• jarring shifts in tone of piece / scene

• sentences that don't make sense or don't flow together.

• POV and headjumping and when it's appropriate or not.

• conciseness and removing overly repetitive words

• use of (and overuse) of adverbs

• lack of description in the paragraph or the occasional lack of sensory details

• repetitive words used in close context

Use case: These editors are your general rank and file and perfect for the non-beginner writer, those who have ironed out the basics of their writing. These editors can find and highlight and comment on the various common mistakes the writer has found on a copy and line basis. At this point, the work is decent and ironed out, and editors at this stage are fixing the minor issues that would stop a work from shining.

In mots cases these are your average 'good' editor. These editors might have their own blind spots or flaws, but by shifting between them for different series, an author can spend a few years improving their overall craft.

Pricing: Roughly around $0.01 per word

Rank 3 Editors

These are rare. Many of these editors can do copy editing well, but they're shifting over to more line editing and a degree of developmental / structural editing. These editors are able to focus on tone and voice, talk about some of the aspects of the work (overall) that they find missing or that is confusing them that might need updating a little. Some even provide a edit document that highlights specific areas that can be improved or the writer has already mastered.

They can tell when pacing is off in a scene and help you tighten it up - or just allow you to do so. They can improve pacing on a paragraph by paragraph level to improve the work. Or call out specific writing techniques you've been using or might want to look at using more, to provide a more powerful effect in a paragraph.

This is high-level work, and it's rare to find independent editors who can and do do this. They basically begin to drift a little into structural and developmental edits, and heavy line editing and because of that, they are generally pricier.

Use Case: I generally don't think it's a good idea to get an editor at this level for all your work. For the first book, if you've been writing for a bit, it might be useful. This is for a writer who is much further along, at the fourth or fifth (not necessarily published) book stage I would say trying to self-publish their first. An editor at this stage can highlight many aspects they can then work on, quietly with cheaper editors.

Or, and this is my view, these editors should be working with indie authors who have written a lot more. Who can afford them and who can, through their edits, the information they provide, etc. level up their craft further. These editors have a lot more to give, and as such, their pricing is significantly higher than what you'd see in your general 'editor' range.

Pricing: Generally >$0.01 per word.