A simple guide
Which editor do I need?
Find the sentence that sounds most like you right now. That’s your chair. You can always come back for a different pass later.
“My story feels messy or isn’t working.”
Developmental Editor
Structure, pacing, character arcs and plot logic come first.
Margaret Ellsworth · Story maps and structural sketches
“My writing needs to sound smoother.”
Line Editor
Voice, rhythm and word choice, sentence by sentence.
Julian Bravehart · Ink pot, blotter and marked-up margins
“I need grammar, clarity, and consistency.”
Copy Editor
Mechanics, continuity and style-guide adherence.
Iris Whinnifer · Dictionaries, style sheet and colour-coded tabs
“I need someone to catch mistakes.”
Proofreader
The final pass: typos, punctuation, spacing, formatting.
Reginald Horn · Magnifying glass, notebook and red pencil
“I’m ready to query agents or submit.”
Query & Submission Editor
Query letters, synopses, pitches and comparable titles.
Nadia Okafor · Query letters, correspondence and the open doorway