In the realm of self-publishing, the journey from a draft to a published book is both thrilling and daunting. It can be a huge learning curve, too. It’s only when you finish your first draft that you suddenly realise just how much more there is to do both before and after pressing publish. As a fellow indie author, I feel your pain. But as an editor, I can share some insight into fiction editing as an independent author. I explore both the different types of fiction editing as well as why it matters for indie authors wo want their books to sit alongside traditional bestsellers.

Fiction editing comes in three distinct but equally important forms: developmental editing, copy/line editing, and proofreading. Each plays a vital role in refining your manuscript. While each does something slightly different to your manuscript, each aims to make your story shine.

1. Developmental Editing: Shaping Your Story’s Foundation

This is the big-picture review. It is known by a few different names, including substantive editing. But my favourite term is “story editing” as this sums up well what it focuses on: the story. A developmental editor provides feedback and advice on aspects such as narrative structure, character arcs, plot development, and overall pacing. Developmental editing ensures that your story is cohesive, engaging, and impactful. It keeps readers turning the page, without getting bogged down in the details of things like sentence structure and grammatical errors.

2. Copy/Line Editing: Enhancing Language and Style

Here, the attention shifts to the language you use to tell your story. Copy/line editing involves honing sentences, sharpening dialogue, and ensuring clarity and consistency in your writing style. It’s about enriching your narrative voice and making each word count. Whereas developmental editing looks at your fiction writing from a scene-by-scene basis, copy and line editing tend to focus more on the sentences.

3. Proofreading: The Final Polish

The last checkpoint, proofreading, is all about catching those minor errors. The ones that can distract from an otherwise polished manuscript. This stage is crucial for maintaining professionalism and readability. A proof reader will get into the nitty gritty of the grammatical stuff, catching issues such as spellings and comma use. They will often ask if you have a preferred style guide. But don’t worry if you don’t as they’ll normally have one they prefer to use. It’s also important to clarify with them whether you’ve written using US or UK English!

Choosing to use professional fiction editing services is not a simple decision for independent authors. They each come with a cost. That can soon add up, especially as editing can be time consuming with tens of thousands of words to be reviewed and considered. Many authors simply can’t afford it. Others, understandably, choose to keep their outgoing costs down until they’re earning money from their books.

The problem is, an unedited book is unlikely to make you money. Some readers are aware of the difficulties that indie authors face, and are keen to support them by ignoring issues such as repeated phrases and incorrect spelling. But many are of a different mindset. When they buy a book they are expecting quality – the same quality they get with a traditionally published fiction novel. Remember, these will have gone through multiple rounds of editing.

Readers are much more likely to complain about poorly written sentences or grammatical issues than story issues. In fact, some readers will even report your book on the biggest retailer site as having a quality issue if they spot too many grammatical mistakes. That can be damaging for sales.  For this reason, independent authors often hire a proof reader and/or copy editor. They tell themselves that developmental editing can wait until their books are bringing in money.

But it is developmental editing that ensures readers are hooked and continue to turn the page. While readers rarely complain about a story not being edited, they do regularly make comments such as “it’s not for them,” or “they couldn’t get into it,” unaware that these are story issues. The risk you run with neglecting a developmental edit, is that people put your book down, unfinished. If you want an author career, you need them to recommend your book to others, and to read the next one, and the next one. Unless they’re gripped, that won’t happen.

While it might not be feasible for some new authors to afford three different fiction edits on their novel, many authors (both indie and traditional) have a full time job as well as writing. This is because it usually costs you money to get started. If you can stretch to having a developmental and copy edit, as well as a proof reader, it will be an investment in your future career that you won’t regret. There are multiple benefits:

Competing with Confidence

Your book will be on shelves (virtual or otherwise) alongside traditionally published works. Quality editing ensures that it holds its own in terms of professionalism and polish. As you market your book and put it “out there”, you will be able to do so with confidence, assured you are offering a quality product.

Making a Lasting Impression

 Readers often equate the quality of writing with the credibility of the author. Well-edited books create a positive, lasting impression, encouraging readers to return to your future works. And authors rarely make money on their first book. If you want writing to be your career, then you need readers to return. 

Honouring Your Vision

Your manuscript is a reflection of your creativity and hard work. Editing respects and refines your vision, ensuring that the story you want to tell shines through. That isn’t to say you should get caught up in perfection-itis. But most authors, want to produce their best work. Fiction editing supports you to do this.

For independent authors, fiction editing is more than just a step in the publishing process; it’s an investment in your work’s quality and in your growth as a writer. Whether it’s through developmental editing, copy/line editing, or proofreading, each stage of editing is crucial in transforming your manuscript into a work that captivates and endures.

Remember, in the world of self-publishing, your story is your legacy. Let fiction editing be the tool that helps you craft it to its finest form.