![Developmental or Copy Editing. Which one is right for you? [Updated 4/20/17]](https://spdstorystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Dev-or-copy-editing-1-858x675.jpg)
For a lot of indie writers, simply finishing their book can seem to be such an insurmountable task, and then you have to think about editing. What type of editing is right for you? What are the different types? In this article we’re going to take a look at the three most common types of editing you’ll be looking for, Developmental Editing, Copy Editing, and Proofreading.
You’ve finished your first novel, done the self-editing, and now you’re looking for the next step. Of course, you’re going to need another set of eyes on your book, but where do you even begin?
You may be one of many who looks at the title of this article and wonders just what in the world I’m talking about. Alpha and beta readers? Isn’t a reader just a reader? Not exactly. Alpha and beta readers are real, and they’re a vital inclusion to the pre-publisher writing process that you may not have thought of.
Whilst writing your book, an editor may seem like one of those ‘workhands’ a publisher will simply assign to you after they hand you your six-figure cheque and your shiny new ‘Author’ badge, however, the reality is decidedly less ‘red carpet’.
It can be a headache when you start to look for editors if you’re unsure what one is truly worth. As an indie author, you probably don’t have much of a budget, especially for your first novel, but it is very important to not only hire an editor but find the right one.
If you’re indie or professional, editing is the most important step in the publishing process, but how important is hiring a professional?
Before you scour the internet looking for submission guidelines and how you can make your work ‘stand out from the crowd’, before you worry about choosing the right font that combines professionalism with personality, and before you start telling people you’re a novelist because, “y’know, the real definition of a novelist is that you’ve written a novel,” and you have, so there. Before doing any of that, remember that, without proper editing, they are all as useful as gilding a lily or a turd.
![Introduction of the Second Draft Series [Second Draft Part 0]](https://spdstorystudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Stack_of_Copy_Paper-1-1080x675.jpg)
Welcome to Second Draft, a series all about the process starting from the moment you finish your first draft to being ready to publish! The goal is to teach new and old writers alike how to get from first draft to final draft within budget and without being taken advantage of.
