1. Manuscript Evaluation (also known as Manuscript Critique or Developmental Edit - light):

• Focus: This is an early-stage assessment of the big picture aspects of the manuscript. It focuses on the overall structure, plot (for fiction), argument (for non-fiction), character development, pacing, clarity of purpose, target audience suitability, and market potential.

• What it involves: Avery reads the entire manuscript and provides a detailed written report. This report typically includes:

  • Strengths: Identifying what works well in the manuscript.

  • Weaknesses: Pinpointing areas that need improvement.

  • Suggestions for revision: Offering broad recommendations on how to address the identified weaknesses. This might involve restructuring chapters, developing characters further, clarifying the central argument, adjusting the pacing, or suggesting changes to the overall focus.

  • Market analysis (sometimes): Assessing the manuscript's potential within its genre or subject area.

  • Tone and voice: Evaluating the consistency and effectiveness of the author's voice.

• Level of Intervention: Low to moderate. The editor provides feedback and guidance but doesn't directly rewrite or make detailed changes to the text.

• When it's typically done: After the author has completed a full draft of the manuscript, but before significant line-by-line editing. It helps the author understand the fundamental issues that need to be addressed before moving on to more detailed work.

• Goal: To ensure the manuscript has a strong foundation and the potential to succeed.

2. Line Edit (also known as Stylistic Edit or Deep Edit):

• Focus: This level of editing delves into the style and clarity of the writing at the sentence and paragraph level. It focuses on how the author expresses their ideas.

• What it involves: The editor works directly on the manuscript, making suggestions and changes to improve:

  • Clarity and conciseness: Eliminating jargon, redundancy, and awkward phrasing.

  • Flow and transitions: Ensuring smooth connections between sentences and paragraphs.

  • Word choice: Suggesting stronger, more precise, and more evocative language.

  • Sentence structure: Varying sentence length and structure for better rhythm and impact.

  • Tone and voice: Ensuring consistency and effectiveness of the author's voice.

  • Figurative language: Examining the effectiveness of metaphors, similes, and other literary devices.

  • Pacing (at a more granular level): Ensuring the rhythm of the prose supports the narrative or argument.

  • Show, don't tell: Identifying areas where more vivid description or action is needed.

• Level of Intervention: Moderate to high. The editor makes direct suggestions and may rewrite sentences or paragraphs to demonstrate improvements.

• When it's typically done: After the author has addressed the major structural issues identified in a manuscript evaluation. The focus shifts to refining the language.

• Goal: To make the writing clear, engaging, and stylistically effective.

3. Copy Edit:

• Focus: This is a detailed examination of the manuscript for technical correctness and consistency.

• What it involves: The editor meticulously checks for:

  • Grammar: Correcting errors in verb tense, subject-verb agreement, pronoun usage, etc.

  • Spelling: Identifying and correcting misspellings.

  • Punctuation: Ensuring correct use of commas, semicolons, apostrophes, etc.

  • Capitalization: Applying consistent capitalization rules.

  • Usage: Ensuring adherence to standard English usage and style guides (e.g., Chicago Manual of Style, AP Stylebook).

  • Consistency: Checking for consistency in spelling, hyphenation, capitalization, numbers, and other stylistic elements.

  • Fact-checking (sometimes, depending on the editor and agreement): Verifying factual claims.

  • Cross-referencing (if applicable): Ensuring accuracy of internal references.

  • Formatting (basic): Checking for consistent headings, subheadings, and other basic formatting elements.

• Level of Intervention: High. The editor makes numerous direct corrections to the text.

• When it's typically done: After the line edit, when the language and style are largely finalized. The focus is on ensuring accuracy and adherence to conventions.

• Goal: To produce a clean, error-free, and consistent manuscript ready for publication.

4. Heavy Edits:

• This is a more general term that can encompass different levels of substantial revision beyond a standard line edit. It often implies a more significant intervention by the editor. This might include:

  • Substantive Edit (Developmental Edit - heavy): This goes beyond a manuscript evaluation and involves more direct work on the structure, plot, character development, and overall content. The editor might suggest significant rewriting, reordering of chapters, or even the removal or addition of entire sections.

  • Rewrite: In some cases, the editor might essentially rewrite significant portions of the manuscript to improve clarity, flow, or impact. This is often done in close collaboration with the author.

  • Restructuring: This involves significant reorganization of the manuscript's content to improve its logical flow and impact.

  • Content Enhancement: Adding detail, examples, or explanations to strengthen the manuscript's content.