Not sure where to start? 

Here is how each step of the editorial process works.

Developmental Editing – Often referred to as DE, this type of editing is the first step after you’ve completed your piece of writing. Whether it’s a full manuscript, a short story, or documents in need of a smoother flow, this stage in the editing process looks at the big picture you’re looking to tell. These edits are general, large-scale edits that aim to improve how your story works together. Think about your goals with your writing. Who is your reader? Would this manuscript reach your target audience? Does your writing style stick to genre conventions or take inspiration from other genre tropes? Through a DE, an editor provides feedback on character development, relationship, world building, and story arc to help make your story leap off the page.

Copyediting – After your story has been finalized, you’re ready for copyediting! Not quite as intense as developmental editing, a copyedit aims to correct grammar and word choice so that your writing is as clear as it can be. Here we focus on consistency, clarity, and accuracy to minimize distractions for your reader. 

Proofreading – The final step! Much less invasive than copyediting, proofreading is a close look at your words on the page. Here we look for missing or unnecessary punctuation that slipped through the cracks in the previous editorial stages. This is also where we ensure that everything is in its place on the page. For this we check for correct layout, make sure no stray code was introduced, and double check for accurate page references as needed.