Effective Ebook Editing Services Improve Your Readership and Sales

by Peter Owen Assignment Expert, Writing Expert

A January-2018 survey found that 34 percent of people aged 18–29 had read at least one ebook in the previous year. These are millennials, and they are the customers of the future. It is unlikely this trend will change. Self-publishing is much cheaper and less demanding than traditional publishing. However, your readers expect you to offer them an ebook that is rigorously researched, thoughtfully written, error-free and correctly formatted. That is where reliable ebook editing services can help you.

Is Editing Proofreading?

No. Some people think the terms editing and proofreading refer to the exact same process. However, they are wrong. While editing and proofreading share certain aspects, they are distinct. Understanding the role each plays helps you decide which service you need. Editing is an involved process that ends with proofreading. Familiarizing yourself with the following four levels of editing is critical:

· Structural or substantive editing

· Line editing; sometimes known as stylistic editing

· Copyediting

· Proofreading

When you submit your ebook to an editor, they assess your work and decide on the level of editing the writing requires. You need to develop a clear understanding of how each of the four levels works. Possessing such information helps you make an informed decision regarding the specific service you need.

Structural Editing or substantive editing

Structural editing focuses on your ebook’s overall message. Structural editors identify all problematic areas and provide suggestions for changing them. Maybe the plot needs a little more work. Or there is an issue with characterization. They may sometimes cut some parts of your ebook. Moving and rearranging text also happens a lot. The idea here is to organize your work into a story that succeeds. Substantive editing can be quite expensive.

Stylistic Editing or Line Editing

Stylistic editing works your sentences until clarity emerges and your story flows. They help you introduce a sense of rhythm into your ebook. Also, they ensure you are not overusing adjectives. With these editors, your vocabulary suits your intended audience perfectly. Additionally, they replace complicated words with simpler ones to improve readability. Finally, stylistic editors eliminate awkward transitions and suggest simpler, more direct ones.

Copyediting

Copyediting is the level of editing most people are familiar with. Copy editors take care of consistency, grammar, and language usage issues. They make sure you don't mix up American with other varieties of English. For example, using favour instead of favor, colour instead of color and so on. Additionally, these professionals ensure everything in your story adds up.

Proofreading

Proofreaders take care of typographical errors, repeated words, formatting problems, spelling issues, and punctuation. They focus on getting your ebook ready for publishing. Ebook formatting can be challenging, but proofreaders can help. A proofreader uses an e-reading application or e-reader to see how your ebook would look like and operate. They format it in a way that makes it easy to use across various devices.

Assess your skills and decide which ebook editing services you need. Can you successfully handle your ebook’s structure and proofreading? If yes, you can request line and copyediting only. Your editor can also provide the advice you need.