First off, congratulations! You’ve done what many only dream of: you’ve written a book. Whether it’s a sweeping historical novel, a business how-to, or a memoir about your time living off grid with alpacas, you’ve taken your ideas and turned them into a manuscript. That’s no small feat.
But now comes the part most authors don’t think about until they’re staring at a Word document wondering, “Is this ready?”
Spoiler: probably not yet. Let’s walk through what happens next—and where copyediting fits in.
The Publishing Path: Choose Your Adventure
Publishing isn’t one-size-fits-all. There are several routes you can take, depending on your goals, budget, and timeline.
1. Traditional Publishing
You submit your manuscript to agents or publishers.
It’s competitive and can take time—but offers professional support and wide distribution.
If accepted, they handle editing, design, distribution, and marketing.
You may receive an advance and royalties.
2. Hybrid Publishing
You pay for some services (editing, design, marketing), but the publisher helps with distribution.
You retain more control and rights than traditional publishing.
It’s a middle ground for authors who want help but also want ownership.
But please be aware that some companies who call themselves hybrid publishers are actually vanity publishers. Selfpublishing.com has a helpful article explaining how vanity publishers work and why it’s a scam targeting new authors.
3. Self-Publishing
You’re the boss: you hire editors, designers, and formatters.
You publish through platforms like Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, or BookBaby.
You keep all profits—but also take on all responsibilities. Ask yourself: how much do you know (or willing to learn) about marketing, production, and everything about book business? How much are you willing to invest in editorial, marketing, design?
No matter which path you choose, one thing remains true: your manuscript needs to be professionally edited before it goes anywhere.
It has nothing to do with your skill as a writer. Even editors hire their peers to ensure quality and consistency. When you spend a lot of time on your manuscript, it’s easy to overlook errors. An editor can give you an objective, outside perspective and guidance to ensure that your manuscript is fully ready for publication.
Where Copyediting Fits In
Copyediting is the step that turns your manuscript from “pretty good” to “professionally polished.”
It comes after you’ve finished your final draft and (ideally) after any big-picture developmental edits. A copy editor focuses on:
- Grammar, punctuation, and spelling
- Sentence clarity and flow
- Consistency in tone, style, and formatting
- Fact-checking and timeline accuracy
- Catching those sneaky errors (like calling your character “Lisa” in Chapter 2 and “Lena” in Chapter 9)
Think of it as quality control for your words. You wouldn’t serve dinner without tasting it first, right
Other Editorial Steps You Might Encounter
Here’s a quick breakdown of the editorial stages:
| Stage | Focus |
|---|---|
| Developmental Edit or Manuscript Evaluation | Structure, pacing, plot, character arcs, chapter organization, topics |
| Line Editing (or Substantive Editing) | Style, voice, sentence rhythm (sometimes merged with copyediting) |
| Copyediting | Grammar, clarity, consistency |
| Proofreading | Final check for typos, formatting, and minor errors before printing |
GET THE GUIDANCE YOU NEED
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I’d love to hear from you. I’m here to answer your questions and guide you through your publishing journey whether you’re a new writer or seasoned bestseller.
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