Let’s break it down!✨
When I first started out, it would take me ALL DAY to go through just five pages of a developmental edit.
It would take at least six hours to copy edit 10 pages of a manuscript. Not gonna lie, it was a struggle for me in the beginning. I didn’t feel like I was being productive enough. On the other side of that, I knew that with practice, my time management would improve. And it has! MONUMENTALLY!
I was able to find my groove. Though I am still not at my goal speed, I’m getting close!
Now, editing timelines depend on a few things—how tricky the text is (i.e., complex medical language or a convoluted plot), what kind of editing it needs, and the editor’s experience, among other things.
Here’s the lowdown:
Developmental Editing: This is the big picture stuff—plot, structure, character development, and overall story flow. It’s the most time-consuming, with editors typically handling 1-2 pages per hour.
Copy Editing: we’re talking checking for grammar, punctuation, spelling, and making sure everything’s consistent. An editor can usually knock out about 5-10 pages per hour.
Line Editing: the nitty-gritty of polishing the flow, style, and readability; it’s a bit more intense. Here, an editor can handle around 1-5 pages per hour. This also depends on how complex the writing is.
Proofreading: this is the final sweep, catching typos, small errors, and making last-minute tweaks. It’s faster than the other three. An editor can typically proofread 10-15 pages per hour.
These are ballpark figures, but it’s a good starting point if you’re curious about what goes on behind the scenes!
Go get your love story on!
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