Editor Series: What is a Line Editor?

Editor Series: What is a Line Editor?

As an self publisher, you REALLY VERY MUCH OUGHT TO have your work professionally edited in order to put out the best product you can. As the creator of the content, you can get your work as polished as possible, and it still takes new eyes to see where things need editing.

Not every reader will not know the difference between a well-edited book and not, but they’ll know the better experience in reading a book with good editing even if they don’t know why.

The Line Editor

Line editing is a meticulous process of scrutinizing a manuscript sentence by sentence. This technique aims to refine the writing to its utmost quality by eliminating redundancies, enhancing word choice, and optimizing sentence structures. The line editor concentrates on the nuances of language and expression.

  • Focuses on the style and flow of the writing
  • Works on improving the author’s voice and language use
  • Addresses sentence structure and word choice for impact
  • Enhances the overall readability and engagement of the text
  • May suggest rewrites or restructuring of paragraphs
  • Concentrates on how the content is presented

An example that shows a tightening of the sentence that gets the same thought across but makes it an easier read for the reader. Nothing is changed in the intent behind the sentence – it just reads better:

Original: “Amanda really hoped that Jason would call her after their date the night before, and so she spent hours waiting by the phone, unable to concentrate on anything, just waiting for the notification sound.”

Line edited: “Amanda spent all day checking her phone, hoping Jason would reach out to her today.

One of my line editors reads backwards, from the end of the book or the chapter, sentence-by-sentence. That allows her to analyze each sentence without getting caught up in the scene or the story.

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