Navigating the Editing Process - What to ask and When

So you’ve poured your heart onto the page and your picture book manuscript is finally complete! Congratulations! It's a big step that deserves some chocolate or a good meal from your favorite restaurant. 

But what comes next?

The editing process - it’s the monster in the closet for a lot of us. It can feel daunting, especially when we know it will involve facing that fear of feedback. But half that battle is just knowing what the right path is, otherwise it feels a little bit like wandering around in the dark. We don’t know what to expect - and that can be scary!

With the right questions it doesn’t have to be a mountain to climb. Knowing what’s ahead can make the path a really rewarding and collaborative journey. It will pull out those threads and weave your work into something new, beautiful, and strong.

So this week I’m demystifying the editing process for picture book authors. Because you should feel empowered by your edits, know what to expect, and what the right questions are to ask and when. 

1. The "Big Picture" Edit - Aka Developmental Editing

Once you’ve got those words on paper, editing should start small. Or, well, maybe, I mean big. Think big picture, bird’s eye view analysis —what’s going on with our work when we look at it with an overhead view? Essentially, this is all about the heart of your story. Does it have a strong core and necessary lifeline to build out the rest of your story?  

What to Expect

At this developmental stage, you can expect a story analysis. This will be a manuscript evaluation of its strengths and weaknesses, what the editor sees as the overall idea (aka was your intended message conveyed?), and next steps. You’ll see if it’s ready for the next structural editorial stage or not. 

When you get this feedback, it will come in the form of an editorial letter. That is, you’ll get one to two pages of evaluations, not in-line edits or comments made directly on your manuscript. 

Questions to ask before submitting: 

• Is my character relatable and age-appropriate for my audience? 

• Does my plot have a solid beginning, middle, and end?

• Are there any confusing parts when read aloud?

• Have I defined my story’s message or theme without being preachy?

2. The Scene-by-Scene Edits - Structural Editing 

Usually, the first edit will be complete within one to two weeks. Once you get it back and have worked on those aspects you can get started on the structural edit, narrowing in on the specifics for each scene. 

What To Expect

During this second round, your editor will get into those tangles of plot elements. This will include in-depth feedback which may cover topics like plot holes (inconsistencies or ordering), character arcs and motivations, scene order and flow, pacing, or point of view. 

After some time, your edits will be returned to you in the manuscript itself and an editorial letter. They’ll take the form of detailed suggestions, in-line edits, or comments left along the side as well as detailed need-to-work-ons in the letter under specific category headings. There may be some significant work to be done here, including cutting or reordering scenes, or intense rewrites. 

But don’t be daunted! You can come prepared before your editor even gets there. 

Questions to ask before submitting: 

• Is the main character overcoming obstacles without an adult? Is it done in an inventive but age-appropriate manner?

• Does the pacing feel right for a read-aloud book?

• Can each scene stand on its own and do they all make sense in the order I’ve placed them? Do I have too many? Too few?

• Have I made general notes on basic illustrations I want for each section or scene to help balance my writing with future illustrations? 

3. The Sentence Level Polish - Copy Editing 

Contrary to popular ideas about editing only being about grammar, only at the end will you get to those pesky commas and spell-checks! Putting your book here as the last editing stage is crucial to make sure your copy is polished and shiny. We want it to be error-free for your readers, so they can take you as the professional we know you to be.

What You Can Expect 

At the last leg of your editing journey, you’ll be getting into the gritty parts of grammar. There’s two parts to this. The first aspect is known as line-editing, which focuses on style, flow, and rhythm. The second is called copyediting, where your editor is checking for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and consistency. You should definitely give your work a once-over for these things. But if you’re worried about knowing an editor’s handbook from front to back- don’t worry, you don’t have to! That’s what a professional editor is for. 

Just like the second stage, these edits will take the form in-line and in the form of comments made on the manuscript directly. For more “rule-based” work like this, turnaround can be quite quicker..

Questions to ask before submitting

• Does the language reflect and engage my target audience?

• Does the rhythm and flow of the text work well when read-aloud?

• Can I cut any unnecessary words or paragraphs?

• Are there any inconsistencies in characters, setting, names, or other details?

• Are there any spelling, sentence, or grammar mistakes I know of?

Now take a deep breath with me. One in. One out. You can do this. Knowing the specific path the editing process takes can help lift some of that heaviness off your chest. I want to help it stay that way - stress free! So, here’s a free self-editing checklist I made to help track all those questions to ask! 

Download our free self-editing checklist for a visual on what to work on before you send your work to an editor. And get excited for the work and wonder editing can bring to your story!

Before you go, I also have one other sweet free treat - my 7 Writing Prompts for When the Words Won’t Come. If you’re stuck far before you even get to the editing stage, and just don’t know where to start, this is the perfect pick-me-up!