a guide for everyone who writes
macro edits
macro - 'large scale; overall'. as the name suggests, macro-edits are large scale edits, that you often do after completing your first draft. it can also be known as structural editing, or developmental editing. this is the most general editing stage, although arguably the most important.
while editing you should;
• rewrite your draft (to make a better second draft)
• look at the big picture
• fill plot holes and other major gaps
• make any plot or character changes if needed
some authors prefer to hire an editor at this stage for developmental feedback, in order to get another opinion on what the book needs in order to be published. it is highly recommended you at least get one other person's opinion on your story, including the plot, characters, and overall consistency of the draft.
line edits
unlike macro-edits, line editing focuses on a much smaller scale. instead of looking at the whole plot and flow of the draft, line-edits focus on, well, each line of the story.
while editing you should;
• make medium sized edits
• look for repetitive language or scenes
• check for appropriate language use
• check for clunky sentences and phrases
if desired, a line editor can also be hired for this stage. they'll look at your word choice to see how it contributes to the overall tone, and tighten up sentences to make them more sharp and clear.
copy edits
copy edits are the final stage of editing, and the most nit-picky. by now, the majority of your editing should be done. copy editing is on such a minor word by word scale, that sometimes readers won't even notice the mistakes! however, it's still highly recommended you do copy edit, as without it there could be quite a few unseen errors in your book.
while editing you should;
• check punctuation
• check spelling
• check grammar
• other minor word by word edits
just like the other types of editing, at this stage a copy editor can also be hired. although this is not necessary, it does allow for someone with a fresh outlook on your book to review the tiny details - after all, they might pick up on something you didn't!
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