Line Editing: Elevate Your Writing

You’ve written your story. You’ve taken copious notes that you can reference when you need to make story revisions, and you’ve had developmental editing done.

On the other hand, maybe your process didn’t look like that. That’s okay too!

Line editing, also known as stylistic editing, focuses on the style in which you write at every level in which you’ve written. Are your scenes cohesive, and how well do they transition from one to another? How are your paragraphs constructed? Are they focused? Are perspective shifts clear and intentional?

Does every word and the way that you’ve pieced those words together match your intentions for your story?

Effective line editing can make the difference between competent, standard prose and captivating, resonant writing.

When you’re looking for an editor, it’s important to be clear about what your needs are. Let’s see if line editing is for you!

Line Editing: The Big Myth

A lot of people use “line editing” and “copy editing” interchangeably. Sometimes, their roles can overlap, but the scope of these services are very different. 

Copy editing is concerned with accuracy, with clarity, and with consistency. A copy edit will ensure that your text is correct, that it’s written with correct conventions. If this applies, a copy edit will make sure that citations are correct and that your text adheres to the preferred style guide. 

Again, some copy editing tasks apply in line editing. The way that a reader will understand a text can be dependent on accuracy. 

Line editing is focused, more so, on the writing in and of itself. If there are fragments that are unintentional or not well-placed. If elements don’t appear to be well organized or contain effective transitions, if a common saying falls flat or reads as cliche, or if the words you’ve chosen don’t appear to fit the context, that’s a line editing task. 

While line editing and copy editing tasks are dependent on one another, they have different purposes. So, when you’re working with your editor, make sure that you know what you’re asking for!

Common Focuses of Line Editing

• Word choice. Are you using the best possible word to fit the situation? What kinds of verbs are you using, and are they the best possible words to take the responsibility of both the mood and action you are trying to convey? What about your adjectives? Do your adjectives paint a picture that readers can impress themselves upon?

• Sentence structure. Are you repeating sentence patterns and rhythms? Do some sentences need to be broken up or combined to improve pacing?

• Readability and movement. How well do you move from one sentence to another? How about one paragraph to another? When you need to switch perspectives from one character to another, how do you make that work?

• Tone and voice. Is your unique authorial voice coming through in every sentence, and is the tone right for your message and your audience?

• Consistency. Do you refer to your main character as “she” on one page and “the girl” on the next? Do you shift between academic and casual language without any clear reason or pattern?

• Impact and engagement. Are you achieving the kind of emotional or intellectual impact you want? Is every paragraph, every sentence, every word working to achieve your goals?

When do you need line editing?

Line editing is most often requested after a developmental or other content-focused edit. In other words, this would take place after the writer is confident that the structure, characters, research, and the overall foundation of the work is in place. 

Usually, the first or second draft of the manuscript is finished. However, there are some writers who prefer to begin the editing process when only small sections of their work are done. Specifically, they might ask for line editing to ensure that their manuscript is headed in a productive direction. 

There is no wrong answer to this question, but here’s my recommendation. 

If you’re anxious about your specific writing style and are concerned about how your writing is affecting the progression of your story, the feedback from a line edit might help you.

If you’re confident about your story and you feel prepared to complete a draft, a line edit after your draft can help you to refine what you’ve written. 

In short, the best time for a line edit depends on your mindset as a writer!

Who is line editing for?

• Authors of all stripes. Whether you’re writing fiction, non-fiction, a memoir, a novel, blog posts, or short stories, line editing can make all the difference. 

• Businesses, entrepreneurs, and marketers. Businesses have to write website copy, whitepapers, articles, and marketing copy. Line editing ensures your message will be resonant to your intended audience.

• Academics and researchers. Stylistic editing in an academic context means cutting the fluff and making your work as accessible and impactful as possible. A well-written piece of scholarship can further your credibility and the opportunities that come up in the future.

If you want your words to have the impact you intend for them, line editing is your stage.

Don’t let subpar prose and editing keep your words from being the best they can be.

If you want to know what editing stage your work needs, Purposeful Prose can help you go over your options!

Contact us today for a free, no-obligations, no-pressure consultation. We can’t wait to help you unleash the full power of your words.