Many new authors confuse developmental editing with line editing, but the two serve very different purposes.
Developmental editing focuses on the big-picture elements of a manuscript. This includes plot structure, pacing, character arcs, and the overall organization of ideas.
Line editing, on the other hand, focuses on sentence-level improvements. A line editor refines language, improves clarity, and enhances the style of the writing.
Both editing stages are important, but they happen at different points in the publishing process. Developmental editing typically occurs first because it addresses structural issues that could affect the entire manuscript.
Once the manuscript structure is strong, line editing can polish the writing and prepare the book for copyediting and proofreading.