What is Line Editing and do I need it?
What is the difference between developmental and line editing?
Line editing is where we get into the details and start polishing. At this stage, your plot is solid and your characters have compelling, clear arcs. If a developmental edit fixes the foundations and underpins the house, this is the part where we replace the old windows with brand new triple glazing and get a better front door. We’re redoing the kitchen or the bathroom at this stage. We’re not rebuilding from scratch at this point, but we’re still making pretty significant improvements. Line editing can help tackle certain developmental issues like pacing and tension, but it won’t remedy a plot with no stakes.
The clue is in the name here: an editor will go through your manuscript and look at every line. This is about flow and clarity. It’s where we look at word choice, repetition, imagery and dialogue. It’s where the writing starts to shine. Not every author needs a line edit, but I do think it’s particularly useful for newer authors as developmental issues are often linked to issues at a line level, particularly when it comes to character and pacing.
Credit: @kellysikkema, Unsplash
Do I need a line edit?
In reality, this is the stage that gets skipped in traditional publishing most often, especially where there’s a tight schedule to be met. Sometimes it’ll be bundled into a different stage. For example, if a book is pretty polished on a structural level and significant changes aren’t required, the editor might incorporate a line edit into that round, or a light line edit might be done as part of an enhanced copy edit, but it can make a huge difference for authors who are less confident in their craft or newer to writing!
What does line editing focus on?
Line editing isn’t necessarily about typos or grammatical errors, and if you’re looking for advice on structure and character, you’ll want to look into developmental editing instead. Line editing is often quite specific and tailored to different authors, but looks at things like:
Repetition
Filter words
Point of view/ perspective
Pacing
Unnatural or confusing wording
Redundancy
Dialogue
Sentence structure
Line editing focuses on readability and improving flow. Whether you need line editing will depend on your experience and confidence in your craft. Some authors may be fine skipping a line edit and going straight to a copy edit. A line edit or a combined line-copy edit will help to polish your manuscript and ensure you can publish or submit to agents with confidence.
Ready to polish your novel on a sentence-level? Get in touch to discuss your options today.
