Phase II of the editing process of my Greg Scarpa biography manuscript is underway at WildBlue Press. This phase is characterized by a focus on line edits. Honestly, I had to look up what line edits are. Turns out, they’re about what they sound like. According to www.masterclass.com, “A line editor works line-by-line, tightening up sentence structure so the language is sharp and clear. They look closely at how a writer’s word choice and syntax contributes to the tone or emotion of a piece of writing. Finally, a line editor is concerned with the overall pacing and logical flow of a piece.”
Okay, now that I know what line edits are, I’m ready. So far the editing process has been enlightening and rewarding. I anticipate more of the same on an enhanced basis given the central role that line editing will play in rendering the book marketable. It will be interesting to see how the book is improved by the process, by the skill that a professional editor at WildBlue Press brings to the manuscript. I’ve been told line editing is the longest of the various editing and proofing phases the book goes through on its way to production. When I reflected on that bit of news I kept in mind that it took me more than two years to put this book together, so even if this phase is measured in months rather than weeks or days, I’m up for the long game.
As always, I’ll keep you posted.
