The following descriptions of what editors do and how we work may help.

What's the difference between an independent editor and an editor employed by a publishing house?
In-house editor: works with authors on a publisher's behalf, editing books prior to publication to her/his own taste but also to publishers' standards. Books acquired by legitimate publishers are edited in-house at no charge to the author.

Independent editor: an independent contractor working directly for and paid by the author who determines the kind and extent of editing.

Developmental editors develop a book or project from the initial concept onward. They work closely with the author to study competing works and create a standout product. Project editors/managers supervise the editorial process from start to finish and hire copy editors, proofreaders, indexers, and other editorial workers when necessary.

Substantive/Line editors. These two terms are often used interchangeably for editors who make significant changes to a manuscript, such as rewriting or reorganizing the text.

Production editors see the manuscript through the production process, starting with the edited manuscript and ending with approval of the final product. Production editors often hire other editorial staff, such as proofreaders.

Picture editors/researchers arrange for photographs, drawings, maps, and other illustrations, and negotiate permissions and fees for art work being used.

What other kinds of editorial services are available?
Copy editors have a broad and important role. They correct spelling, grammar, usage, and punctuation, ensure manuscript consistency and accuracy, check cross-references, and prepare style sheets.

Proofreaders check text for errors, including typographical errors and problems with typesetting specifications and page makeup. They compare the latest stage of the project to earlier stages and make sure changes have been made correctly.

Desktop Publishers use personal computers to create materials that are ready to go on press. The client often (though not always) provides the text, and the desktop publisher then creates a design, lays out the pages, formats the text, adds the illustrations, and creates the final product. Many newsletters, brochures, and other short publications are now done using desktop publishing.

Indexers create an alphabetical list of references to important terms and concepts in the text. This work is usually done near the end of the project when the final layout is available.