Can you really become a line editor for books with no experience? That’s a great question, and one I often get from people who are looking for flexible jobs that they can do remotely. As an in-demand skill, it definitely holds a lot of opportunities for anyone looking to earn money working with words.
Personally speaking, as an editor, line editing is my favourite editorial skill. It’s a great mix of logic and creativity, and I get to do some writing. In fact, it’s the only level of editing that involves rewriting. Keep reading to learn why publishers depend on line editors to refine fiction and nonfiction books.
Key Takeaways
- What Exactly Line Editing Is
- What A Line Editor Does In Book Publishing
- What A Line Edit Looks Like
- What Line Editors Don’t Do With Books
- How To Know If Being A Line Editor Is For You
- Work Opportunities
- How Much A Line Editor Earns
- FAQs
- How To Become A Line Editor
What Is Line Editing?
Have you ever come across a sentence that didn’t read well? Something about it didn’t feel right? Maybe it was too wordy, was redundant, or even difficult to read. Writing shouldn’t give you that experience, especially in books. That’s where line editing comes in and fixes all of that.
Also known as Stylistic Editing, line editing is the only editorial skill that involves writing. Its focus is to preserve and elevate the writer’s voice and style so every sentence reads smoothly and clearly for its intended audience.
In book publishing, it’s an essential skill that all manuscripts have to pass through before being published.
Understanding a book’s audience is a crucial part of line editing. You can’t just dive into a fiction or nonfiction manuscript and start editing without knowing who is going to be reading it. You have to first know what the specific audience expects, the tone that will resonate with them, and if the language is appropriate.
Line editing doesn’t involve developing the plot, characters or pacing (that’s developmental editing). Nor does line editing fix errors in spelling, grammar, or punctuation. Those technical tasks are done by copy editors and proofreaders.
To learn more about the differences between line editing and copyediting, read this blog post.
What Does A Line Editor Do In Book Publishing?
The role of a line editor is a clearly defined one in book publishing. It is unheard of for a book to be published without going through an extensive line edit.
Line editors work at the sentence level, line by line, to refine tone, flow, clarity and expression. Their goal is to ensure every sentence not only reads smoothly, but also strengthens the overall message or story.
Think of line editing as building a bridge between the author and the reader. A skilled line editor knows how to perform edits that ensures the writer’s story connects with the reader.
When you become a line editor in book publishing, your skills and objective judgement are valued. An editor will always take time to weigh various possible edits, and then use their professional knowledge and discretion to choose the most suitable.
Here’s what a line editor does in book publishing:
- Acquire an understanding of the genre and audience expectations
- Identify and preserve the writer’s unique style
- Maintain a tone that is consistent and suitable for the genre
- Ensure the language used is appropriate
- Correct redundancies in words and phrases
- Replace repetitive words
- Flag concerns regarding plagiarism
- Communicate with authors to address any editorial issues
What A Line Edit Looks Like
A line edit focuses on the sentence itself and if it is aligned with the writer’s style and voice. It’s not about changing the story or rewriting entire paragraphs. It’s about tightening language, maintaining readability, and improving flow.
In the example above, the original sentence is not wrong. It’s simply wordy and repetitive. A line editor refines it by cutting excess and strengthening clarity. As you can see, the meaning stays the same, but the delivery becomes sharper.
That’s what line editing looks like: disciplined, precise improvements that elevate the writing without deviating it from the writer’s voice.
What Line Editors Don’t Do With Books
When it comes to line editing books, there are two things that line editors stay far away from. It’s often assumed that they take care of these tasks, but the truth is they are actually the responsibility of the writer.
#1 They Do Not Do Complete Rewrites
There’s a marked difference between editing and rewriting. I want to be very clear: Line editors do not rewrite entire paragraphs or novels. Can they switch words around, delete some, or shorten sentences to make them better? Yes, but there’s a line that has to be respected between the writer and editor.
People often make the mistake of thinking that an editor will rewrite as much as needed in order to improve the writing. This is incorrect. If an entire paragraph or multiple sentences have to be rewritten entirely, that is for the author to do, not the editor. That type of change is considered substantial.
#2 Line Editors Do Not Impose Their Own Preferences
It can be difficult for people to put aside preferences. After all, we’re only human, and when we feel passionately about something, and we have the ability to change it, why not? Well, as a line editor, you can’t have that perspective.
It would be a career crasher if you did. Here’s why: Preserving the writer’s voice and style is the number rule in the editorial and publishing industry. Imposing your writing preferences is changing a writer’s style.
If a writer uses a word you personally might not have used, but it is still technically correct and suits the audience, you should not change it. Editing a word or phrase to something you think sounds better, but isn’t necessary, is not the way editing should be approached.
Is Being A Line Editor For You?
If you’re the kind of person who reads a book or article and can’t help but notice when something could have been written more clearly, you’d make a good line editor.
Having any of the below qualities would also make line editing a suitable fit for you:
- You enjoy reading and analyzing writing
- You’re detailed oriented and notice inconsistencies
- You have a respect for different voices and writing styles
- You have an open mind and are able to keep your personal preferences separate
- You’re able to work alone and make decisions
If you’re ready to dive more into what it takes to start line editing, we have a free ecourse, Line Editing 101, you can join. When you sign up, you’ll get 5 days of lessons sent straight to your inbox.
Work Opportunities
There are numerous opportunities for line editors who work with books. Since they’re the only editors who actually make changes to writing line by line, their knowledge and skills are in demand. And it’s not just limited to book publishing.
Line editors will always be in need by publishers and authors because AI can’t replace them. LLM models simply cannot make editorial judgements, fully understand context, or rewrite in the author’s style.
Here’s where the work lies for line editors:
- Traditional publishers
- Self-published authors
- Academic or business publishers
- Entrepreneurs and businesses
- Agencies, magazines and online publications
Usually, line editing is contracted out to freelance editors. However, if you become a line editor who works in-house for a publisher, you will work the typical Monday to Friday, 9-5 schedule like most corporate jobs. Of course, you also get extra perks like pension, a medical and/or dental plan, as well as retirement savings contributions.
How Much You Can Earn As A Line Editor
Freelance line editors can earn from $50 – $60 an hour for memoirs, and fiction and nonfiction novels. If you choose to expand the content you work with and edit business or academic writing, your rate can go up to $65 an hour and higher.
Full-time editors who work in-house for publishers or businesses can earn between $50,000 – $78,000.
Side Hustle Earnings
Since line editing books is a flexible job, it can be done as a side hustle to earn extra money. Working on a manuscript can be scheduled around your regular work hours. You can earn an extra $1000 and up a month, depending on the length of the book.
Obviously, if you work on more books a month, you’ll make more. On average, as a side hustle, you can earn $3000 or more a month if you work on a minimum of two books at an average of 50,000 words each.
FAQs About Line Editing
What kind of software do I need to edit?
The industry standard for editors is Microsoft’s Word with Track Changes. This is what big and large book publishers use as it allows authors, editors and project managers to see changes, and to accept or reject them.
However, some publishers (usually the larger ones) may have their own editing software. If this is the case, they will train you to use it once hired.
Can I do this part-time or remotely?
Line editing is truly flexible. You can do it part-time and from anywhere in the world. Many of my students have started editing a few hours a week, and grown it into something more full-time. All you need is your laptop and an internet connection.
Do I have to be good at writing?
No, you don’t have to have any previous experience as a writer. While line editing is the only editorial skill that involves writing, it doesn’t involve complete rewriting of sentences. A good editor will only change what is necessary, and there are specific editorial processes to follow to help you make the best edit.
How To Become A Line Editor
Becoming a line editor is easier than you think. Like I’ve mentioned before, you don’t need an English degree or previous experience to start. However, you do need to invest in professional training so your skills meet publishers’ and authors’ expectations. You also have to be able to meet industry standards and understand the language and publishing process.
It isn’t necessary to enroll in an expensive or lengthy program. You can learn line editing through online courses at your own pace. Gaining a new skill should be a flexible learning experience.
At Edit Republic, I’ve helped aspiring editors all over the world build the skills and confidence to become professional line editors. If you want to know if line editing is right for you, join my free ecourse, Line Editing 101. You’ll learn what line editors do, how to find clients, how to get started and lots more. Sign up here.
