News New report suggests self-published authors earn more – and their incomes are rising substantially

[AgentPete]

Given the first statement, it would seem that all copyediting, AI based or not, will result in a loss.

Often true.

A good editor / line editor will first seek to preserve your voice.

 

[JohnBertel]

A good editor / line editor will first seek to preserve your voice.

Maybe I misunderstand, but I thought that when it comes specifically to copy editing it is a rather "mechanical" process of comparing a text to style guides etc.

 

[Hannah Faoileán]

Maybe I misunderstand, but I thought that when it comes specifically to copy editing it is a rather "mechanical" process of comparing a text to style guides etc.

Style guides are to make sure you stick to the right type of formatting for your MS e.g. fiction follows the Chicago style. The guide will also include "mechanical" information such as writing "sixteen" and not "16" (which is in the APA style for journals/academic papers). The copy editor will make sure the MS adheres to the correct style guide, but that is different to an author's actual writing style (e.g. Stephen King's shunning of adjectives and adverbs or Maggie O'Farrell's pointed use of them) and it is different to voice. If your MS already adheres correctly to the style guide, it makes the copy editor's work a lot easier because they just need to look for flow (clunky sentences or ones that veer from the author's usual voice) or inconsistencies (e.g. Henry become Harry/the child has aged two years in only fourteen months etc.). The author can self edit a lot of this, but an author will also be too close to the work and not notice things that the copy editor (or perhaps beta reader) will pick up. The author can, of course, turn down copy editor suggestions but not when in reference to adhering to e.g. the Chicago style.

 

[Jake E]

but not when in reference to adhering to e.g. the Chicago style.

How many styles are there?
Is there a UK version, or does everyone use the Chicago manual?

 

[Hannah Faoileán]

How many styles are there?
Is there a UK version, or does everyone use the Chicago manual?

Check out Copy Editing: The Cambridge Handbook for Editors, Authors and Publishers.

 

[Hannah Faoileán]

Also important to use a copy editor who's very familiar with your genre (or both genres if yours is a combination).

 

[E G Logan]

Is there a UK version, or does everyone use the Chicago manual?

Absolutely not.

See Hannah's comments on Cambridge. Many University publishers, like OUP for example, have their own style guides. As do publishers of academic periodicals. Both in the UK and US.

Many US outlets, mostly news, but not all – writing American English, BTW – use AP style, together with the Merriam Webster dictionary. Implementing that in detail is h-a-r-d work.

I don't think you need to get too into all that, though. Just choose American or British English and go for it.