| As a writer and editor, I work with many clients | | | | the work. Think of a developmental editor as a |
| who come to us when they are thinking of | | | | writing coach or mentor for aspiring authors who |
| publishing a book. My team mates and I enjoy | | | | want to improve their overall writing skills. |
| helping writers become authors and authors | | | | Developmental editing is just shy of a ghostwriting |
| become better writers. We may find that a | | | | service. The difference is a ghostwriter does just |
| manuscript needs a lot of work or only a little | | | | about everything for the author and the author |
| tweaking before it is ready to present to the | | | | simply approves or requests changes. The learning |
| world and make a great impression. | | | | component is missing in the ghostwrite. |
| There are three types or levels of editing that we | | | | Medium Copyediting still carries some |
| offer: developmental (or substantial), medium, and | | | | developmental components. An editor will mark |
| light. In each of these services, our editor will | | | | mechanical, grammar, and usage errors, red line |
| analyze a book manuscript or document and | | | | for spelling, punctuation, and grammar, comment |
| mark all technical errors, and then return two | | | | on awkward transitions, redundancies, and |
| electronic copies of the manuscript to the author. | | | | hyperbole, and note inconsistencies with |
| One will be a red line copy tracking the changes | | | | formatting, alignment, and spacing of text. |
| we made. This allows the author to approve or | | | | However, we do not rewrite for the author at |
| reject each change. A red line copy can get | | | | this level of edit. Instead, the author is responsible |
| pretty messy and difficult to read, so the other | | | | for making these changes. This cuts down on the |
| file we provide is a clean copy showing how the | | | | editor's time and therefore, the total cost of the |
| text would read if the author accepted all our | | | | editing service. |
| suggestions. | | | | Copy or Line Edit is a service used on a |
| I'll walk you through these three types of editing. | | | | near-perfect document. The author has done a |
| Developmental or Substantial Editing is used to | | | | great job with the development, mechanical, and |
| coach or guide an author's work to the next level. | | | | formatting aspects but needs someone to make |
| We not only mark errors in the text, we assist | | | | sure they have everything needed to present the |
| the author with making changes necessary to | | | | document for publishing. Our editor will mark or |
| strengthen their writing and develop the story. | | | | note any errors and the author is responsible for |
| This includes: | | | | correcting them. Think of a line editor as a |
| - Correcting mechanical, grammar, and usage | | | | teacher grading a paper. |
| errors | | | | We will assess a manuscript and let the author |
| - Correcting spelling, punctuation, and grammar | | | | know what level of editing is needed before we |
| - Checking for proper alignment and spacing of | | | | start the project. We will give a total project price |
| text. | | | | so there are no surprises at the end-other than |
| - Marking inconsistencies regarding format of | | | | how surprised the author is when they see the |
| dates, headlines, numbers, and alphabetized, | | | | results. We have edited many books for authors |
| bulleted, and numbered lists. | | | | and publishers; several have made bestsellers in |
| - Note awkward transitions, redundancies, and | | | | their category. |
| hyperbole | | | | The money spent on editing may actually save a |
| - Note any biased language or stereotyping | | | | writer the embarrassment and money spent on |
| We may rewrite some sections that really need it. | | | | trying to promote a book that does not have |
| We assist the author on all elements of book | | | | literary quality. Whether your project is a simple |
| development including front matter, back matter, | | | | proofread of a business document, or a major |
| formatting, transitional segues, flow of thought, | | | | book edit, we are happy to work with you. |
| historically accurate content, bibliography, end | | | | Note: Our Grammatika-certified chief editor |
| notes, and all those bothering but necessary | | | | Barbara Milbourn oversees the editing projects for |
| things needed to strengthen writing and make it | | | | the WITS team. Other editors include Yvonne |
| marketable. The editor may ask the author to | | | | Perry (the author of this article), and Sarah Moore. |
| rewrite some sections in order to learn from the | | | | If you would like more information about our |
| process. Our editors will respect and preserve the | | | | editors, you may meet our team members on |
| author's personal voice and style while polishing | | | | our Web site. |