Guide
Editing a book: how to edit and proofread your manuscript
Short answer
Edit a book in layers, biggest first. Fix structure and story (developmental edit), then sentences and flow (line edit), then grammar and consistency (copyedit), and last the typos in the formatted pages (proofread). Let the draft rest first, read it aloud, and get fresh eyes before you publish.
What are the stages of editing a book?
- Developmental edit: does the story or argument work? Structure, pacing, character, what each chapter is for.
- Line edit: does each sentence read well? Flow, clarity, rhythm and voice.
- Copyedit: is it correct and consistent? Grammar, spelling, punctuation, names and facts.
- Proofread: is the finished book clean? Typos and layout slips in the formatted pages.
Work in this order. Polishing sentences in a chapter you later cut wastes time.
How do you edit your own book?
- Let it rest for a few weeks so you read it as a stranger would.
- Read it in one or two sittings and note big problems before fixing anything.
- Check the shape: chapter lengths with the chapter length calculator and the total with the book word count checker.
- Cut what repeats: scenes, explanations and favourite words.
- Read it aloud, or have your computer read it, to hear clumsy sentences and missing words.
- Keep a style sheet of names, spellings and choices such as serial commas, so the book stays consistent.
How do you proofread a book?
Proofread last, on the formatted interior, because layout introduces its own errors: bad line breaks, missing lines, wrong headers, widows and orphans. Print it or change the font so it looks unfamiliar, read slowly, and check one thing at a time: text first, then page numbers, headers and chapter openings. Order a printed proof copy before you publish.
How much does professional editing cost?
Median fiction rates from the Editorial Freelancers Association survey, checked October 2026, for an 80,000-word novel:
| Edit | Per word | 80,000 words |
|---|---|---|
| Developmental edit Structure, plot or argument, pacing, character | 3¢ to 3.5¢ | $2,400 to $2,800 |
| Copyedit Grammar, spelling, consistency, style sheet | 2¢ to 2.7¢ | $1,600 to $2,160 |
| Proofread Typos and layout slips in the formatted pages | 1.2¢ to 2¢ | $960 to $1,600 |
Individual editors charge well above and below these medians. For the rest of a publishing budget, see how much it costs to publish a book.
Which edit does a self-published book need?
If you are unsure the story or structure works, start with a developmental edit or honest beta readers. If the story works but the writing feels rough, a line and copy edit. If it has already been edited, a proofread of the formatted book. With one budget, a copyedit usually does the most for a book that already works.
How do you choose a book editor?
Ask for a sample edit of your own pages, experience in your genre, the level of edit in writing, tracked changes so you keep control, and a schedule. Our professional book editing services start with a sample edit if you would like one.
Rather have a pro handle this? Our studio can: book editing.
Questions authors ask
Can I edit my own book?
You can and should self-edit before anyone else sees it, and many self-published authors do several careful passes. But writers miss their own mistakes because they read what they meant to write. At least one fresh reader, and ideally a professional copyeditor or proofreader, catches what you cannot.
What is the difference between editing and proofreading?
Editing improves the book: its structure, sentences and consistency. Proofreading is the last check for typos, missing words and layout errors, ideally done on the formatted pages just before you publish.
How much does it cost to edit a book?
Editors usually price by the word. The Editorial Freelancers Association's fiction medians, checked October 2026, are 2¢ to 2.7¢ a word for a copyedit, so an 80,000-word novel costs about $1,600 to $2,160.
How long does it take to edit a book?
Self-editing a novel often takes as long as writing the draft. A professional copyedit of a full-length novel usually takes a few weeks, and a developmental edit longer; ask each editor for dates.
Do self-published books need editing?
Yes. Readers notice errors and say so in reviews, and a clean book earns better reviews and more read-through to your next one. If you can afford only one professional edit, a copyedit usually does the most for a book that already works as a story.
Should I use editing software?
Grammar checkers catch some typos and repeated words, and they are a useful first pass. They miss problems of meaning, voice and consistency, and suggest wrong fixes, so treat each suggestion as a question, not an answer.
Sources
Every number in this guide comes from our spec data, last verified against the official help pages below. Retailers change their terms, so check the source before you rely on a figure.