The Editing Process
It is important to note that each of our publishing groups handles the workflow slightly differently, and the following information is a generalized description of the editing process. For specific information about your experience, contact your editor.
This part of the Author Kit describes who you will be working with as you create your manuscript, what their roles are, and what you can expect while working with them. As mentioned above, the specifics of the editing process can vary by imprint, but generally editing takes place between the time you submit an element and when you receive it back for author review. This will usually take a few weeks.
There are a few different types of editors. Here is a list of the most common editors and what they will be commenting about and changing:
Technical editor (TE): The TE (sometimes called a technical reviewer) looks at the technical accuracy and technical completeness of the material. Usually a TE is an expert Pearson has contracted from outside. The TE might test code and configurations and should comment on the technical accuracy of the material. The TE should keep the audience level of the book in mind and comment when the material diverges from that level. Generally the TE will comment about necessary changes rather than make direct changes to the text and figure. The TE might comment on dated material even if technically accurate.
Development editor (DE): The DE considers the organization and the goals of the individual elements and entire book and makes edits and comments of an instructional design nature. The DE edits and comments on the completeness of a chapter relative to series guidelines, the intended audience, and the book proposal. The DE checks that the chapters for organized consistently across the book. If there are matters of consistency to work out (such as whether all questions should include answer explanations or how a term should be spelled throughout a book) you will see a query from the DE. The DE helps make sure the entire book is presented consistently, is cohesive, meets the proposed goals, speaks to the target audience, and makes use of all elements that the disposal of the design (such as sidebars, a summary, review questions, callouts in figures, tables and lists, etc.). The DE is an advocate for the reader and the author. An author will sometimes see an initial review by a DE of their first chapter.
Project editor (PE): A PE manages the book through the editorial and production process and might ask queries or make changes related to illustrations, indexing, composition, book conventions, and so on.
Copy edit (CE): The CE checks grammar, capitalization, and spelling and makes sure the figs and text conform to any conventions stipulated for the book.
Formatter: The formatted makes sure the element has the proper styles applied for the book's design. The formatted might ask queries of the author where they are not sure how something should appear. Sometimes the CE or DE formats the chapter.
Proofreader: The proofreader goes over the composited material from production to check that it is presented as the original element and book design stipulate. Often there are changes the proofreader must make due to the specifics of the composition process.
Editors will make their comments and queries with the Microsoft Word Track Changes feature on. The default settings for Track Changes in normal view will display deletions in strikethrough and additions with underline. The changes are colored by author. Word is the most common application used for editing, but you may make other arrangements with your editors to use a specific application that you are more comfortable with. For instance, some authors use OpenOffice, while others skip word processors altogether and submit their manuscript pre-formatted.
No editor will make a change that is not routine or straightforward. For example, a CE will make spelling and capitalization changes without querying the author. The formatter or DE might change styles or the way a table is presented to match design specifications. However, if a change seems necessary but will require the author to consider various factors to do so, an editor will simply address a query to the author about the material in question. The editor might offer suggestions and/or explain the concern in detail, but will not make a change. In this case it will be up to the author to consider the editor's comment and make any final changes to the element.
The author review process is where an author will generally see the most changes and comments from the editor. Contact your signing editor for details on when an author can expect to see these various edits.