Look, friends. THIS—understanding the difference between the kinds of readers and the kinds of editors—is really important for you as an independent author. When we use the words and roles interchangeably, we muddy the waters. When the water is murky, it is difficult to sift through misinformation to get what we need, and that’s when the sharks infest the water. So let’s be really clear about what each role in the development of a book for the marketplace entails.
Each role is defined below.
Let’s define these roles so we have a common framework. I am going to define them in the order they might present as a book is created from beginning to publication.
Alpha Reader
An alpha reader is an early reader of a manuscript before it has been polished with rewriting and revision. This reader is often used as a writer develops the story, and is often the role of a critique partner—and sometimes a developmental editor. The alpha reader is looking at the manuscript in its roughest form, supporting the author early through the process. The purpose of this reader is to articulate to the author where the gaps are in the work, where it needs development, to pose questions that the author hasn’t addressed. The function of the alpha reader is to support the author through the first rewrite.
Developmental Editor
It’s in the name: development. A developmental edit is the phase of the writing process when the story is examined by an editor who is looking at the “big picture” elements of the manuscript through the lens of its category: fiction (and its various categories), narrative memoir, nonfiction, essay, poetry, or play. Every manuscript rides structural lines from genre specifications, storytelling strictures, organizational foundations, or category requirements. A developmental edit will examine the work and explore the ways to reorganize, reframe, enhance, expand, or refine areas of the manuscript to not only tease out the best approach to telling that story, but also ways to make it marketable.
Not every editor is a strong developmental editor. Be sure to ask questions when looking to hire this kind of editor. What kinds of questions? Email me for help.
Beta Reader
As an author, when I get to a point in the writing process where the manuscript feels “done,” I reach out to beta readers. These readers are reading as readers not writers or editors. Their purpose is to function as a marketing focus group. Is the story hitting the right beats? Are there things missing in the story? Are there questions left unanswered? Is the character(s) likable, relatable, believable? This read through becomes very integral and important for the next phase of manuscript’s development: the revision. I use a beta readers Q&A sheet to help guide my beta readers through their read, mostly to keep the feedback focused. I list all of the questions I have as an author about the manuscript which provides direction. This also provides for detailed feedback I find helpful when sitting down for the revision.
Line Editor
Though line editing can often be confused with copy editing, there is a very BIG distinction between these two forms of editing. A line editor is often employed after an author has reached a finished draft. The author knows the work isn’t ready for publication, and maybe has a sense that a bit more work needs to go into a revision, but they aren’t sure what that looks like.
This is where a line editor can help. A line edit is the examination of HOW the language is being utilized to tell the story. From sentence structure and fluency, to organization, to word choice, to the employment of literary devices for depth and meaning, a line editor helps refine the language. A great line editor helps take a work of fiction from solid to fantastic.
Again, not everyone can line edit. Not sure what kinds of questions to ask? Email me.
Sensitivity Reader
At some point in the writing process (I have found this happens for me AFTER the beta read and revision), especially if the manuscript on which you’ve been working, presents diversity on the page, it is a good idea to get that work sensitivity read. This read is to help avoid any pitfalls of dangerous stereotyping or misrepresentation. Though keep in mind each sensitivity reader can only offer a singular perspective. It is a good idea to compensate a sensitivity reader for their time.
Copy Editor
As you near the end of the process, a copy edit is the nitty gritty examination of the nuts and bolts of writing. This is the grammar and writing rules edit. A copy editor is looking at the agreement of your subjects and verbs, at the verb tense, at the stylistic use of voice. They are studying your commas or maybe the overuse of the semicolon. This edit is the edit that polishes your work to make sure it is professional. There may be some minor rewriting to adjust flow and transition, but most editorial comments will be focused on the conventions of language.
Not everyone is a great copy editor. Copy editors are extremely attentive to detail.
ARC Reader
The final reader is the ARC reader. First, ARC stands for Advanced Reader Copy. This is a copy of the book that has been formatted, but might still need its final proofreading. Publishers often send this version of the book out to begin the marketing process of acquiring early reviews. Media outlets, review sites like Kirkus, Indie Reviews, Publisher’s Weekly, Booklife, and social media influences among them as well as Netgalley or Edelweiss might receive these copies. With the exception of paying for a review like Kirkus (a leader in the industry), it’s unethical to pay for reviews, and it’s unethical to ask for a review even when sending an ARC copy. The book is in itself the compensation, but DO NOT ask for a review or pressure readers to leave one in exchange for that free copy.
Proofreader
When the book has been through the first three edits and the first three readers, and after it has been formatted and has reached a point of being so close to complete, a proofreader edits for typographical errors. This isn’t an edit to make sweeping changes to the manuscript. This edit looks for a missed period, a failure to indent a paragraph, a missed quotation mark. It is the final application of polish and buffing it so it shines (the spit-shine of the editing world). Sometimes copy editing and proofreading are used interchangeably, but they are distinct tasks and should be recognized as such especially if you are contracting work for them. Rates of pay are very different.
Keep in mind that these roles might shift based on a various book’s journey through the writing process. It might hang out in the developmental/alpha phase for a while. It might go through Beta Reader and get kicked back to development. It might go through a sensitivity read and get kicked back developmental. Having a common understanding about what each role entails helps each of us be very clear about the expectations of each role in a book’s creation cycle.
To Pay or Not to Pay?
Here are the roles I have paid for: Editing.
Here are the roles I haven’t paid for: reading.
There are a lot of listings on Fivver advertising beta reading as something to pay for and there are sites out there devoted to beta reading as a service for indie authors. Here’s what the NY Editors say, “Most beta readers are not paid for their services. However, you should send your beta readers a free copy of your finished book, whether in the form of a hardcover or an eBook. It’s also a nice gesture to autograph the copy. If you want to proclaim your never-ending gratitude, you can also list their names (not necessarily the role that they played) in the ‘Acknowledgement’ section of your book.”
Sensitivity reading, however, is a reader that one should compensate for their work. Here’s a link to a blog exploring sensitivity reading in more detail.
ARC readers shouldn’t be compensated; they are receiving an ARC copy, but along with that, it doesn’t give an author the right to insist on a review. That’s bad form.
Not sure what kind of edit you need? Email me, and we can work through figuring that out and designing some questions to get you started on the hiring process.