The 4 Levels of Book Editing: Developmental, Line Editing, Copyediting, and Proofreading
A clear guide to the editing process: what developmental editors fix, when you need line editing vs copyediting, how much editors charge, and how to evaluate sample edits.
Asking a proofreader to fix a story with plot holes is like repainting a car with a broken engine. Understanding the four distinct stages of editing ensures you spend money on the right service at the right time.
The Four Editing Stages
- 1. Developmental Editing: Focuses on the big picture — plot pacing, character motivations, narrative arc, and structural plot holes.
- 2. Line Editing: Focuses on prose craft — voice, cadence, sentence rhythm, readability, and emotional resonance.
- 3. Copyediting: Focuses on technical mechanics — grammar, punctuation, spelling consistency, and continuity facts.
- 4. Proofreading: The final quality control sweep on formatted pages to catch stray typos and layout glitches before print.
How to Work With an Editor in Storello
Instead of emailing DOCX files back and forth, you can invite your editor directly into your Storello manuscript. Suggestions, margin comments, and track changes occur in real time right in the chapter.