STRUCTURAL AND SUBSTANTIVE EDITING

A structural editor is the “big picture” editor.

Structural (or substantive) editors check the overall architecture of a book, document, or website.

Whether it’s a fiction manuscript or a complex business report, we ask as many questions as necessary to thoroughly understand your intent; then we work with you to shape your material into the best possible structure. We make sure your message caters to your particular audience and medium by checking your text’s logic, organization, relevance, and accuracy. We can even identify what may be missing from your creation.

A structural edit can involve the following tasks:

• Reorganizing and clarifying content
• Editing for length
• Cutting redundant material
• Suggesting material to be added
• Identifying inaccuracies
• Recasting material that is better presented in another form
• Commenting on characterization, setting, plot, theme, and so on
• Checking reading levels
• Positioning visual elements
• Flagging material that needs permissions, and obtaining them if necessary