Someone who's “looking for an editor” is most
likely referring to the need for a copyeditor. There are, however, a few types
of editors to choose from, and it’s best to know what you’re looking for if you
want to get your publishing budget set up accurately.
Developmental editors work with you from the very
beginning. If you have a concept or a great
story idea but aren’t sure how to execute it, a developmental editor can help
you organize your thoughts, give suggestions to aid your research, and help you
get a handle on the big picture. They’ll spot when
your writing isn’t clear, your characters are weak, when your plot has holes,
and when timelines don’t add up properly.
Line editors/copyeditors come into play when the text is nearly
final—or as final as an author can get it on his own. This type carefully reads each sentence, correcting structure, typos, spelling, punctuation, word
usage, and grammar. They’ll alert you to stilted dialogue and inconsistent
character details.
Proofreaders take the final look at
your project. They ensure all the copyeditor’s changes were implemented , and
fix any typos that may have been missed during the initial copyedit.
Each type of editing comes with its own price
structure, so it’s best to know what you need before rushing right out there. Many
authors think they only need a "light proof," but actually need a developmental editor for a manuscript that’s not yet ready for even the copyeditor. Know
your strengths, but also recognize your weaknesses and set your budget
accordingly.
