Types of Editing

Confused about editing? I don't blame you. With so many terms and definitions for the various steps of the editing process, it's easy to feel a little lost. Some services break this down into 2, 3, 4, or even 5 different steps, each step meriting a separate pass through the manuscript.
After some research, here is how I interpret the different stages of the editing process:

by hcraven

Some people, especially freelancers, group the chart into two categories:

• Rough edits (developmental and content editing)
• Final edits (line editing, copyediting, and proofreading)

Additional Edits

Beta Reading should happen prior to working with an editor. Beta Reading often focuses primarily on Structural Edits (developmental and content editing). And while useful, the results of beta reading can vary wildly.
Additional steps may include sensitivity reading, which if necessary should happen early on, and formatting, which is probably best left until last.

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