Victor Editorial House · A note from the margins
Developmental: does the book work?
This is the structural view. In fiction, look at plot, stakes, point of view and pacing. In nonfiction, look at the central claim, evidence and chapter progression. Big changes belong here.
Line: does the language carry it?
Once the shape is stable, read for voice, rhythm and clarity. A line edit can sharpen an image, reduce repetition or help a paragraph arrive at its strongest thought without flattening the author's style.
Copy and proof: is it consistent and final?
Copyediting checks correctness and consistency in a largely settled manuscript. Proofreading checks the final formatted version for remaining surface errors. Neither replaces a structural revision.
These ideas are a starting point, not a diagnosis of your manuscript. The useful question is what your particular readers need from your particular book.