Knowledge · Editing & Revision
Editing & Revision
Developmental, line, and copy edits, in that order.
Chapter i·What this topic covers
Editing is three passes in a fixed order: developmental (does the story work), line (does each sentence work), copy (is each comma right). Running the passes out of order is the most common revision mistake — polishing prose that gets cut wastes weeks. Each pass has its own toolkit, its own price range when hired out, and its own honest test of whether AI can safely help.
What you’ll find here
- Developmental editing: structure, pacing, character arc, plot mechanics.
- Line editing: rhythm, clarity, voice, sentence-level redundancy.
- Copy editing: grammar, style sheet, continuity, fact-checking.
- Proofreading and the difference between a copy edit and a proofread.
Who this is for
Writers entering revision and writers preparing to hire an editor.
In WriteLoom
WriteLoom's Edit studio runs critique on the structure first, then the line, then the copy — the same order a paid editor uses — so you arrive at your editor with a stronger draft.
See the Edit studio