16 Jul Increase book sales with professional editing

When it comes to editing, professional services deliver better results. The book marketplace is competitive, and to make money on a book, you must transform your manuscript, a labor of love and commitment, into a product.

Thankfully, independently published authors have access to the same powerful product development tools as traditionally published books — developmental editing, copyediting, and proofreading. Let’s explore finding the perfect editor for your books and review the different types of editing.

Copyediting Basics

Editing allows authors to deliver the best product possible and ensures a manuscript becomes a book that reflects what readers are used to seeing on bookshelves and bestseller lists. We love the inspiring, engaging, and thrilling books created by our authors, but it is through editing that a book takes on its final form. It’s our intention to help you refine the presentation of your unique content to communicate your story as clearly, effectively, and professionally as possible.

In the end, the success of a book comes down to the writing itself and rigorous editing. The first step to building a successful author career is working with a credentialed editor specializing in books. At Books Fluent, we recruit professionals who have edited for major publishing houses that have genre and industry expertise.

Finding the perfect editor

All editors are not created equal. Experience as a journalist does not always translate to experience in book editing, and likewise, some editors have niche expertise that works perfectly for some books but won’t apply to others. For some authors, manuscript editing is a rollercoaster of emotions — revisiting a text, receiving feedback and directions, learning of mistakes. A professional editor works to enhance your book, not merely correct it.

Look for an editor with a professional background and expertise in your genre or subject area. You want someone who knows your subject. Through our copyediting services, we have developed relationships with editors across every imaginable expertise. From style experts and grammar fanatics to editors with experience in every genre, we take pride in connecting authors with a great fit.

Types of Editing

At Books Fluent, we require all books to be edited by a credentialed outside editor. We consider it an investment in the quality of your final product that directly affects your book’s chance for success. A good editor provides actionable suggestions in a supportive tone and encourages authors to have the final say in their books. There are different types of editing, each with their specific purpose and focus. Let’s review a few types of editing and how they can improve your published book.

1. Developmental Edit
   Authors can engage a developmental editor as their first outside editor or during the final stages of writing. Unlike copyediting, a developmental edit is a collaborative process that does not focus on correcting grammar or stylistic mistakes. Instead, it is a partnership between an author and a qualified editor to shape a manuscript’s content and structure. Your developmental editor helps strengthen your voice as a writer and guides the flow of your narrative. This type of edit is especially helpful in understanding a manuscript’s audience, as the developmental editor inhabits the role of the reader, making suggestions that improve readability, enjoyment, and communication.
2. Copy Edit and Line Edit
   What most writers think of as a copyediting is more accurately described as a line edit. At Books Fluent, we typically offer both at the same time. A copy edit covers a wide range of technical suggestions, including highlighting grammar, punctuation and spelling mistakes, and improving tone, word choice, and readability. A line edit reviews content at the sentence and paragraph level. This edit also offers suggestions to make your writing more engaging and points out improvements to dialogue and flow.
3. Proofreading
   Proofreading, or mechanical editing, reviews the grammatical accuracy of a manuscript. Your proofreader ensures sentence structure, noun-pronoun agreement, verb usage, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling are correct. The proofreader also aligns text with style rules, including the Chicago Manual of Style, commonly used in published books. A proofreader experienced in the book industry also knows to look for common errors that detract from a book’s readability, including incorrectly formatting ellipsis and dashes.As an author, you likely know many of the rules and best practices in proofreading, but when a book reaches 40,000+ words, catching every mistake becomes a team effort. A credentialed proofreader can be a life-saver, so make sure yours is experienced, can work on deadline, and knows your voice.

What level of editing do I need?

Every book and every author has a unique journey to publication. At Books Fluent, we review our authors’ manuscripts and make recommendations on editing. We also offer a more formal manuscript assessment that pairs your work with an editor for a review of style and content. Many authors find this feedback invaluable, particularly in the late stages of writing.

Ultimately, your publishing journey is in your hands, and we’re here to support you in producing a high-quality book that appeals to readers and book buyers.

Is your manuscript ready for editing? Get started with Books Fluent and begin your indie publishing journey!