The Benefits of Copy-Editing
By amy wilson
editor and writing teacher.
Writing is an art form, and so is copy-editing. Professional copy-editing takes time, effort, and practice, and it’s a supportive craft that will allow writers to shine. After all, as a writer, you want to create beautiful prose that resonates with readers. It’s no surprise, then, that many writers seek out copy-editing to ensure their work is polished and error-free before submitting it for publication or self-publishing. But what exactly is copy-editing? How can it help you improve your writing? And when should you hire a freelance copy-editor? Let’s take a look at the benefits of investing in a professional copy-editing.
What Is Copy-Editing?
A copy-editor is a professional who reviews your writing and makes suggestions on how to improve it—the process of this is called copy-editing. The editor does all kinds of nitpicky things like correcting errors in grammar, syntax, punctuation, and spelling; suggesting changes to make the text clearer or more concise; checking for inconsistencies in plot and character arcs; and evaluating the overall structure of the story, article, or essay. In addition to these editorial writing notes, copy-editing is concerned with providing feedback that will help you improve your writing style.
The Benefits of Using Copy-Editing
You won’t just get a polished and compelling manuscript back from your copy-editor that you can then send to literary agents or self-publish. You will also learn something! Working with a professional on copy-editing can help you become a better writer because you can take their corrections and internalize them, which will allow you to learn and grow your craft.
By receiving constructive criticism on your work from an expert in the field, you can learn about common mistakes you may be making and find ways to correct or prevent them in the future. Additionally, good copy-editing will be able to quickly identify weak spots in your plot or characters and the editor can suggest ways to strengthen those areas of your writing before you submit your manuscript or publish it.
Lastly, having someone else review your work for typos and errors can help ensure that your submissions are free of any embarrassing mistakes that could cost you publication opportunities. Writers are notoriously bad at catching errors in their own work, and professional copy-editing is like having a second set of eyes.
When Should You Invest In Copy-Editing?
While professional copy-editing can be invaluable in helping you polish up your work prior to submission or book publication, it’s important to note that not everyone is ready for this level of critique. If you’ve gotten some confused feedback on your project or suspect that you’re not communicating clearly, it might be wise to level up your craft by yourself before submitting your piece for review by another person. Copy-editing involves writing feedback, and it behooves you to do some self-editing first, so that you’re not overwhelmed once notes come back.
It’s common sense but you’d be surprised how often writers do things out of sequence—do not ask for copy-editing before the majority of your revisions are done. If you’re still playing around with story structure, you might want to hold off. If you’re going to delete large sections of prose or repurpose it, you’ll make your copy-editing moot or reintroduce new errors.
Take some additional time working on your piece before seeking out professional assistance, because ideally, you want copy-editing to be one of the later stages of your manuscript’s life-cycle. Once you have achieved a level of maturity in your craft where the idea of revising based on rigorous feedback doesn’t overwhelm or discourage you anymore—then it’s time for professional copy-editing!
unlock your writing potential
As an agented writer and highly experienced editor, Amy Wilson can quickly identify strengths and opportunities for growth in your plot and prose, help you build a compelling submission package, and provide the encouragement you need to reach your writing goals. Take your writing to the next level with Amy’s professional eye.
