What to Expect from Editing and Proofreading
Once your publishing project begins, one of the first major stages is editorial. This is where you and your Atmosphere Press editor work together to strengthen the manuscript before it moves into proofreading, design, and production.
The process is collaborative by design. Your editor brings an experienced outside perspective to the manuscript, but you remain the author and retain final say over your work.
At Atmosphere Press, the standard editorial process includes two developmental editorial reviews and meetings, followed by professional proofreading.
How Is My Atmosphere Press Editor Chosen?
Your Book Production Manager matches you with an editor based on your manuscript’s genre, the areas you want to work on, and editor availability.
The goal is to pair your book with someone whose experience and editorial approach suit the project and the kind of feedback you are looking for.
You can learn more about Atmosphere Press’s developmental editors and their backgrounds on our Developmental Editing and Editors page.
How Does the Atmosphere Press Editorial Process Work?
The basic process looks like this:
Editor selected → manuscript review → first editorial call → written feedback → author revisions → second editorial review → second editorial call → final revisions → proofreading
Here is what happens at each stage:
1. Your Editor Reads Your Manuscript
Once your editor is assigned, they begin by reading your full manuscript and preparing their feedback.
This is developmental editing, which means the editor is looking at the book as a whole rather than simply correcting spelling or punctuation. Depending on the manuscript and your goals, that feedback might address areas such as structure, pacing, characterization, clarity, organization, or other elements that could make the book stronger.
Your editor will typically spend about a week reading the manuscript and preparing for your first meeting.
For a more detailed explanation of what developmental editing does—and how it differs from proofreading and other forms of editing—see Explaining the Role of a Developmental Editor in the Publishing Process.
2. You Have Your First Editorial Call
After reviewing the manuscript, your editor will reach out to schedule your first editorial meeting.
Atmosphere Press intentionally begins the feedback process with a conversation. We want authors and editors to connect as people, not simply exchange documents. The call gives you an opportunity to talk through your book, your goals for it, and the editor’s response before you begin revising.
That conversation can also provide useful context for the written feedback that follows.
3. You Receive Your Written Editorial Feedback
After your first call, your editor will send you their written feedback.
Most authors use this as a guide for the revision period that follows. Your editor may identify areas that deserve another look, suggest possible solutions, ask questions, or point out opportunities to strengthen parts of the manuscript.
The purpose is not to turn your book into the editor’s book. Atmosphere’s approach to developmental editing is collaborative: the editor is trying to help you create the strongest version of the book you want to write.
For more about that philosophy, see What a Great Book Editor Really Looks Like.
Do I Have to Accept All of My Editor’s Suggestions?
No. Your editor’s recommendations are just that—recommendations, there to give you another informed perspective on the manuscript. You retain final authority over your work.
Some suggestions may immediately resonate with you. Others may lead you to a different solution than the one your editor proposed. Occasionally, you may decide that a recommendation simply does not fit your vision for the book.
That is part of the editorial process. Your editor is balancing two priorities: helping the manuscript become the best version of itself and respecting what you want the book to be. Atmosphere Press authors retain creative control and final say over their content throughout publication.
What Happens After I Make My Revisions?
Once you have worked through the first round of feedback, you will send your revised manuscript directly back to your editor.
Your editor will review the changes, typically taking about another week to read the revised manuscript and prepare any additional feedback.
You will then have your second editorial call.
During this meeting, you and your editor can discuss how the manuscript has developed, address any remaining concerns, and talk through anything that still needs attention.
After the call, you can make any final revisions you would like before the manuscript moves forward.
For a broader look at how editorial fits into the rest of production, see Your Book’s Production Timeline.
What Happens During Proofreading?
Once developmental editing and your resulting revisions are complete, most manuscripts move to proofreading.
At this point, the focus changes. Developmental editing looks at the larger substance and effectiveness of the manuscript; proofreading focuses on errors and consistency at the sentence and word level.
Atmosphere Press uses two back-to-back rounds of proofreading by two separate proofreaders.
Having two different proofreaders review the manuscript gives the book two independent sets of eyes and helps us catch as much as possible before it moves deeper into production.
Proofreading may address issues such as:
➜ spelling and typographical errors
➜ punctuation and grammar
➜ capitalization
➜ word usage
➜ consistency in names, numbers, and other details
➜ style and formatting inconsistencies
Authors who want to understand the conventions our proofreading and production teams generally follow can consult the Atmosphere Press House Style Guide.
Will Proofreading Catch Every Error?
Proofreading is thorough, but it is also an iterative process.
Our proofreaders catch most issues during their reviews. Authors may notice additional items when reviewing the manuscript themselves, and sometimes a small error becomes easier to see after the text has been placed into its designed pages.
The physical proof can provide another useful perspective as well: seeing your book as an actual book rather than a manuscript often makes details stand out that were easier to overlook on a familiar Word document.
For that reason, proofreading is best understood as a series of increasingly focused checks rather than a single moment when a manuscript becomes permanently error-free.
What Happens After Proofreading?
Once proofreading is complete and the manuscript is approved, the book continues into the later stages of production, including interior design and proof review.
You will continue to have opportunities to review your book as it takes shape and identify corrections before publication.
Can I Get More Editorial Help If I Need It?
Yes. The standard Atmosphere Press editorial process includes two developmental editorial meetings, but not every manuscript or author needs exactly the same amount of support.
If you finish your second meeting and feel you would benefit from additional time with your editor, you can add further developmental editorial meetings before moving on.
Current Atmosphere authors can view available publishing services and add-ons, including additional editorial meetings.
The simplest way to think about the Atmosphere Press editorial process is this: your editor helps you step back and see the manuscript with fresh eyes, you decide how to revise it, and proofreading then gives the finished text another careful layer of review before design and publication.
The process is collaborative throughout, with the same goal at every stage: making your book as strong and polished as possible while keeping it recognizably yours.
Atmosphere Press Editorial Process FAQ
How long does my editor take to review my manuscript?
Your developmental editor will typically spend about a week reading the manuscript and preparing feedback before your first meeting. After you complete your revisions, they will generally take about another week to review the revised manuscript before your second meeting.
How many editorial meetings do I receive?
The standard Atmosphere Press editorial process includes two developmental editorial meetings. Additional meetings can be added if you would like more editorial support.
Do I have to make every change my editor suggests?
No. Your editor’s feedback is professional guidance, but you retain final say over your manuscript and can decide which recommendations best serve your book.
Is proofreading the same as developmental editing?
No. Developmental editing focuses primarily on the substance and larger structure of the manuscript. Proofreading comes later and focuses on errors, mechanics, and consistency after the major revision work is finished.
How many times is my book proofread?
Atmosphere Press uses two back-to-back proofreading rounds completed by two separate proofreaders.
Can I upgrade my publishing package after the process has started?
Yes. Atmosphere Press authors can upgrade their package later if their publishing needs change.
Atmosphere Press is a selective hybrid publisher founded in 2015 on the principles of Honesty, Transparency, Professionalism, Kindness, and Making Your Book Awesome. Our books have won dozens of awards and sold tens of thousands of copies. If you’re interested in learning more, or seeking publication for your own work, please explore the links below.Â