How many rounds of editing does a non-fiction book need?

One of your biggest challenges as a non-fiction author is knowing how much editing your book needs. If you’ve already published a few books, you’ll be familiar with the process.

But if you’re a newbie or exploring a new genre, the path may be less clear. Do you invest in developmental editing or launch straight into copyediting? And what if you’ve self-edited multiple times? Would proofreading be enough?

Whether you’re publishing traditionally or independently, this article shows you what each editing round involves and how many you might need to get your book publication-ready.

What exactly are editing rounds?

An editing round is when you do a full review of a manuscript to address errors or issues. This can fall into three main categories:

• Developmental editing: Providing feedback on the structure and content.

• Copyediting: Addressing clarity, style, grammar, spelling and consistency.

• Proofreading: Checking for outstanding and introduced editorial or design errors.

Some editors may use different terms for these stages. For example, developmental editing is also known as structural or substantive editing. And many US editors address clarity and style issues in a service called line editing.

Also, a book may be copyedited or proofread twice, depending on its needs. Each time would be considered an additional round. For example, an indie author once requested three copyediting rounds (i.e. another full read-through, not just checking corrected sections). Sure, it cost more, but they wanted to ensure the writing was as polished as it could be before publication.

Note: Manuscript appraisals, book coaching and beta reading aren’t classified as editing rounds because they don’t involve marking up a manuscript. However, they can be included as part of your editing workflow if desired.

Is a round the same as a pass?

There is some confusion around the terms ‘round’ and ‘pass’. Sometimes they’re used interchangeably, but this is inaccurate. In short, a pass occurs within a round. This is when you review a manuscript with only one task in mind. For example, as a copyeditor, I may include the following passes:

• A pass to correct formatting errors.

• A pass to run PerfectIt and pick up inconsistencies.

• A pass to mark up errors with Track Changes.

• A pass to review my own edits, queries and comments.

• A pass to re-read the manuscript to ensure I didn’t miss anything (if time and budget allow).

A developmental editor might have different passes. For example:

• A full read-through to get a feel for the manuscript.

• An analysis pass where issues are marked up in the file and/or noted in an editorial letter.

• A final read-through to ensure nothing was missed.

How many editing rounds do you need?

In general, you should go through all three editing rounds listed above – at a minimum. As soon as you skip one, errors creep in. Ultimately, the time spent on each round depends on the author’s experience, the genre, the complexity of the topic and how clean the manuscript is.

More experienced authors may only require a light developmental round, or this round may be combined with the copyedit. Less experienced authors (or authors of books that are more complex) may need multiple developmental editing, copyediting or proofreading rounds. (For more on what’s included in these services, see Copyediting vs. proofreading: What’s the difference?)

Should you use the same editor for all editing rounds?

Authors often ask me if they can hire me to do all three editing rounds. My answer is usually no. I’m simply too close to the book to read it objectively the second or third time around.

In most cases, it’s best to get a different editor for each editing round. Sure, it can be inconvenient to hire three different contractors, but trust me, it’s worth it: you’ll get a fresh perspective on the book.

And let’s not forget that publishers have been doing it this way for decades: it’s a tried-and-true formula that ensures error-free texts. That said, some editors are happy to do multiple rounds (such as a developmental edit and a copyedit of the same book), particularly if there’s been a long gap between each round.

What if you don’t have the budget for all three rounds?

In traditional publishing, editing rounds are paid for by the publisher. But if you’re an indie author, you’ll need to pay for them yourself. And sadly, most authors can’t afford all three. (For more on editing costs, see Why are book editors so expensive?)

If you had to choose one service, go with a copyedit. It addresses most of the issues that trip up readers, and it may also address light developmental issues, such as an inconsistent voice or weak transitions.

That said, I highly recommend a proofread afterwards, even if you hire an early-career editor (which should be cheaper). That’s because your copyeditor will request tweaks or clarifications that can introduce errors. Plus, if you’re not confident using Track Changes, you may reject or overlook an error that should’ve been accepted.

And if you do include a final proofreading round, make sure it happens after the book has been typeset. This will also pick up design errors, such as missing full stops, wrong fonts or incorrect formatting.

Top tip: Don’t forget to send your full cover to a proofreader! (Many indie authors drop the ball when it comes to checking their cover proofs.) I recently spotted a book where the title on the spine had a missing space between two words (oops), making it difficult to read. This is usually the first thing readers see on this shelf, so don’t overlook this crucial element!

How do you know your book has had enough editing?

As the saying goes, a book is never finished, just abandoned. So whether you’re writing or editing, there has to be an endpoint – or you may keep tinkering indefinitely! In general, a book has usually had enough editing when:

• the content or story delivers on its promise

• there is no structural confusion

• the language supports the ideas rather than distracts from them

• grammar, spelling and consistency errors have been addressed

• all three editing rounds have been completed.

Does that mean the book will be error-free? Unfortunately, no. Editors aren’t perfect, but they’ll get your manuscript as clean as they possibly can, and the more rounds you invest in, the cleaner it’ll be.

Takeaways: How many rounds of editing does a non-fiction book need?

Each book has different requirements, and the number of editing rounds depends on the experience of the author, the complexity of the book and how much editorial intervention is required.

Ideally, you should complete all three editing rounds – developmental editing, copyediting and proofreading. This will ensure the book is in the best shape possible.

You could add a further developmental round if the manuscript demands it, or combine a light developmental edit with the copyedit. But if you’ve got a tight budget, invest in a copyedit from a professional editor, and then – to keep costs down – hire a student editor to proofread it.

If you’re unsure about how much work is required, ask an editor: they’ve worked on dozens of similar books and they’ll advise you on the best course of action based on your needs, budget and timeline.

Got a manuscript ready for editing? Get in touch through my contact form or request a sample edit.