What to fix, in what order
A manuscript editing checklist that admits what software cannot do
Editing in the wrong order wastes work. Line-editing a scene you later cut is time spent on nothing, and no tool can tell you which scenes those are.
- Structure first
- Polishing prose you will cut is wasted effort.
- Then the countable
- Mechanics and repetition, which is what tools are for.
- Then a human
- Some judgements are not automatable. Say so.
Most editing advice is a list of things to check with no order to it. Order is the part that matters, because each pass invalidates work from the pass before if you run them backwards.
1. Structural, and do it first
Does the story hold together, is the middle doing work, is the ending earned. Software cannot help here and neither can a checklist. This is what beta readers and developmental editors are for.
2. Scene level
Does each scene change something. Cut what does not. Everything you cut here is prose you no longer have to line-edit.
3. Line level, where counting starts
Repetition, echoes, crutch words, sentence-length variation, adverb density, passive constructions. All countable, all worth measuring rather than eyeballing on a fortieth read.
4. Proofreading, last
Spelling, doubled words, dialogue punctuation, inconsistent dashes and quotes. Last because every earlier pass introduces new typos.
How it goes
- 1
Rest the draft first
A few weeks if you can. You cannot proofread prose you still remember writing; you read what you meant instead of what is there.
- 2
Work top down
Structure, then scenes, then lines, then characters on the page.
- 3
Measure the last two passes
Line-level and proofreading problems are countable, which means a tool beats a tired author every time.
Questions
What is the difference between line editing and copy editing?
Line editing is about how the prose reads: rhythm, repetition, clarity, word choice. Copy editing is about correctness: grammar, spelling, consistency, house style. Line editing comes first, because a copy edit of a paragraph you are about to rewrite is wasted.
How many editing passes does a novel need?
Enough that each pass has one job. Trying to fix structure and typos in the same read means doing both badly. Three or four focused passes usually beat eight unfocused ones.
Can software replace a developmental editor?
No. Whether a story works, whether a character earns their arc, whether the ending lands: none of that is countable. Software handles the mechanical layer so a human editor spends their time and your money on the part that needs judgement.
When should I stop editing?
When passes stop changing anything meaningful. If a full read produces only comma preferences, the draft is done and further passes are avoidance.