What is line editing and do you need it?
Writing a post about line editing and what exactly it involves is something I’ve been putting off! Why? Well, because amongst editors, there is often debate and discussion about the definition, which can be very confusing for writers.
I’m a member of various groups as an editor. Recently, a thread was posted by an editor claiming that line editing doesn’t exist. This thread received a huge number of replies, with other editors (myself included) chiming in to argue against that point.
But not to worry! There is a general consensus among editors and writers about what line editing involves. (And yes, it does exist.)
What is line editing?
The clue is in the name: an editor will go over your manuscript line-by-line, looking at each sentence. But a line edit won’t fix things like grammar, spelling, or punctuation errors. That’s because it’s stylistic, focusing on helping you improve your writing craft.
This is how I define it, too. It’s like having a writing teacher in the sidebar of your manuscript. If you’re looking for an edit that will improve the readability of your work, teach you about sentence-level craft, and help you become a better writer, line editing is probably for you.
A line edit isn’t for you if you want broader help with your plot, your characters, your setting or world-building, or anything else concentrating on the big picture. In that case, you want developmental editing.
So what does line editing involve?
Because line editing is so stylistic, it’s usually tailored to the author’s own writing, and their strengths and weaknesses. There are a whole variety of areas covered by a line edit – but that doesn’t mean a line edit will cover every single one! Some writers might need a lot of help with point of view for example, while their grasp on writing dialogue is very good.
Here are some elements a line edit might cover:
- Flow (such as how sentences and scenes flow together)
- Word choice and sense/logic, including any confusing sections
- Point of view/perspective
- Head-hopping
- Readability
- Sentence and paragraph structure
- Pacing
- Unnatural changes in tone/mood
- Redundancy
- Repetition
- Scene or chapter length
- Confusing sentences or scenes
- Inconsistencies and continuity issues
- Dialogue
- Transitions and scene/chapter breaks
What’s the difference between copyediting and line editing?
Lots of writers end up unsure of the difference between a copyedit and a line edit, especially as there can be some crossover. I have a whole post explaining the difference between the two types. To sum it up in a nutshell, line editing is stylistic (think mini writing coach), whereas copyediting is technical, focusing more on correcting errors.
Do I need line editing?
Whether or not you’ll need (or want!) line editing depends on your goals as a writer, including the publication path you’d like to go down.
If your goal is to self-publish your work, having both a line and copyedit might be a good call, particularly if you’re a newer writer and are still learning. That way, you’ve covered all bases and you can make sure your book is as polished as possible. That said, more confident or experienced writers who end up with fairly clean drafts might only need a copyedit.
If you hope to traditionally publish, copyediting is something a publisher would do for you. Some literary agents do line edits when they sign authors – others don’t. Line editing can be beneficial before submitting your work to agents/publishers if you don’t feel confident in your writing craft and feel you need some help. But it’s by no means required!
I hope this post helped you figure out what a line edit involves, and whether it might be right for you!
If you’d like some help with your manuscript, check out my editorial services – I’d love to hear from you about your project!
