What is Fiction Editing?
If only it were as easy as snapping your fingers or speaking a spell between a well-placed bell, book, and cauldron. But it isn’t. Writing takes time, and fiction editing often feels like it’ll never end. Some writers like the process, but many don’t—which is why professional fiction editors exist. Self-editing your fiction is all good and well, but there comes a point where you can’t tell a colon from a semi-colon anymore.
One of the benefits of professional fiction editing is the extra-polished final manuscript. Authors of all kinds (self-published, traditionally published, hybrid) emphasise the importance of hiring an editor. Why? Because professional editors are familiar with all types of fiction and editing. That’s what we’ll be addressing today: the types, processes, and manuscript editing tips.
Table of Contents
The Role of Fiction Editors
A fiction editor’s responsibility is to improve the work while maintaining the author’s voice. Fiction editors should be able to approach each type of editing a manuscript might need objectively, including:
- Developmental editing: This type of substantive editing focuses on the plot, characters, and pacing. It deals with the content rather than the language itself.
- Copyediting: A copy edit deals with the actual language. The editor revises elements like grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
- Proofreading: This type of editing focuses on going through both the content and language with a fine-toothed comb. It is the final stage of polishing a manuscript.
The Fiction Editing Process
Pre-Editing: Preparing the Manuscript for Editing
It’s the author’s job to review the plot structure of their fiction, tinker with the grammar, and ensure uniform tenses. This means working through the main types of editing before submitting it to a professional editor.
Not only will this help an editor focus on useful editing feedback during the manuscript assessment, but it’ll also make sure that authors benefit the most from professional fiction editing. What’s the use in trying to sweep an obvious plot hole under the rug until an editor drags it out and tells you to fix it?
Developmental Editing: Shaping the Story
Developmental editing takes centre stage when it comes to dealing with the plot structure of fiction, the progression of character arcs, and the overall pacing of the work.
Much like the name suggests, developmental editing examines how everything develops from beginning to end. For example, if your protagonist has a squid for a mother but eats calamari without a second thought, you might need to address that during developmental edits.
Worldbuilding and story continuity also fall under this type of fiction editing. You’d be surprised how quickly readers pick up on discrepancies when familiarising themselves with a work of fiction.
Copyediting: Polishing the Prose
Most people are familiar with copyediting but don’t really know the name for it (they usually just refer to it as “editing”—which, you know, is a comprehensive term). Copyediting deals with the actual language of the manuscript—spelling and grammar and whatnot. It also looks at the consistency of style and tense throughout the manuscript.
For instance, if you tell a story in the past tense one moment, but in the present tense the next (barring artistic liberties, mind you), then a copyediting run will address that. Or, better yet, if a manuscript is rife with passive voice, a copyediting run might prove beneficial.
Proofreading: Final Check Before Publication
The end is in sight! Proofreading is often the final step in the editing process. It’s the last run-through to ensure the language and logic of the manuscript are in tip-top shape. Proofreading is a combination of copyediting and developmental editing but not as intensive (since most of the work should have already been done at this point).
This type of editing will ask questions like “Are there any typos left?”, “Is the final manuscript coherent?”, and “Does the story progress logically and consistently?” It’s a necessary type of editing that really solidifies the work already done to help the manuscript stand out.
Self-Editing vs Professional Fiction Editing
Both self-editing and professional editing have their place in producing a finished fiction manuscript. When it comes to self-editing your fiction, you can only bring it as close to perfect as your mind will allow. Often, though, you’ll get so used to what you’re seeing—and so familiar with the work before you—that you won’t catch everything.
That plot point you’ve nudged and nipped to death? That might not even contribute to the manuscript’s pacing. Those two chapters where your character gets possessed and then returns to their childhood home? That might be better as one chapter—or possibly three, if you include a chapter from the love interest’s POV.
An editor can suggest those types of things to improve the work. An author seldom can look at their own work in that way. But at the end of the day, it’s all about finding a balance between perfecting your manuscript through self-editing and professional editing. In fact, proper self-editing makes professional editing run all the more smoothly.
Common Challenges in Fiction Editing
While the benefits of professional editing can’t be understated, it isn’t without its trials and tribulations. Authors and professional editors face various challenges when it comes to fiction editing.
The Author’s Voice
When you overhaul a manuscript, it’s important to maintain the author’s voice. Don’t step into the editing vs rewriting pitfall. All authors do not sound the same, which is why readers gravitate towards some and not others.
It can be tempting, as an editor, to chip away until the language is clean enough to taste—but it won’t be the greatest experience if a reader expects brain candy and fluff, only to be served beef consommé.
Structural Issues and Plot Holes
The bane of an editor’s and a writer’s existence. Issues with plot and structure are not intentional. More often than not, they require a lot of work to fix. Sometimes, entire sections need to be rewritten because of them.
For example, say Barbara’s sister dies and is resurrected by a magic weasel statue standing in their yard. Several chapters later, Barbara suddenly kicks the bucket, too. You’d think someone would bring her back the same way, right? Wrong! No character even mentions the weasel statue that could’ve saved her. Isn’t that irritating? That’s a plot hole.
Communicating issues with structure and plot is always tricky for editors, simply because the writer will have to put a pedal to the metal and push out some solution. In the case of Barbara, the solution might be as simple as creating rules for the weasel statue.
Perhaps it can only bring someone back every blood moon or what have you. At other times, though, it could be way more complicated—say, a character must be removed from the story to benefit the pacing. Yeah, that’s not going to be quick.
Consistency
Any type of fiction editing needs to consider consistency. It’s one of the things readers crave when they start a story. That’s not to say there can’t be surprises along the way. But language, plot, and character all contribute to immersing a reader in fiction—consistency helps them become familiar with what they’re reading and who they’re reading about.
The best twists are aligned with the established plot and characters—with the consistency of the established genre, if you will. Imagine reading a historical romance and, three-quarters in, aliens attack. No set-up, no indication that this was where the plot was going. That’s inconsistent. While an alien attack might be exciting in science fiction—even in some subgenres of fantasy—it doesn’t lend itself well to historical romance.
Sensitive Content
There’s a right and wrong way to handle sensitive content in fiction editing. It’s the author’s responsibility to give the editor a heads-up for any scenes that might be…well, somewhat adult (don’t want your sweet romance editor dying of a heart attack because a sexy demon decided to crash the bachelorette party). Most of the time, though, editors know what they’re signing up for.
When editing sensitive content, always keep the entirety of the project in mind. How will the audience respond to this? Is it appropriate to the genre? If not, does it benefit the story? Just because sex sells doesn’t mean it should be injected into every single scene.
Tips for Effective Fiction Editing
Fiction editing is a collaborative process. It’s important to understand that if you want to be as effective as possible when tackling any form of manuscript editing. Here are a few tips we can share to help:
- Practice makes perfect: This is as true in writing and editing as it is in life. The more you do it, the better the entire process will get.
- Communication is essential: Establishing a good relationship between the author and editor will make the editing process less strenuous for both parties.
- The end goal is the audience: The author and editor must agree on this. Why work on editing a manuscript at all if you’re not doing it for potential readers?
- Use the tools of the trade: There’s no shame in using the available resources to elevate a manuscript. AI editing tools should never replace an editor, but they can be very useful in assisting them.
Fiction Editing Rumination
Let us reiterate once again that fiction editing is a lot of work—but, boy, is it worth it. Self-editing lays the foundation for a great manuscript, but very little elevates the final product as much as professional editing services. When it comes to reading fiction, isn’t it the worst when you pick up a book and realise that the author would’ve benefited from a specific type of editing? An unedited story can be so jarring sometimes. It yanks people out of the fiction they’re supposed to be immersed in.
One typo every now and again is forgivable, but three or more in every chapter? And what about continuity errors? Don’t get us started on those. A reader’s trust can only go so far before it’s broken. That’s why, when it comes to fiction editing, it’s essential to realise the impact that quality has on sales and success. Professional manuscript editing helps a story reach higher.
Blue Leaf Team
The Blue Leaf Editing team has over 10 years of combined editing, publishing, and book industry experience. We’re passionate about content and storytelling, and sharing our knowledge with others.
info@blueleafediting.com