COPY EDITOR JOB OFFERS PAYS $75 PER HOUR FREE TRAINING REQUIRED.. Copy editing is the last editorial phase in preparing a manuscript for publication; it occurs after content and overall structure are set. Copy editing focuses principally on language and writing, rather than on content, though content may be addressed, especially if the work has not undergone developmental editing. Both fiction and nonfiction manuscripts need copy editing to produce an accurate, polished work that creates a smooth read. Depending on the amount of editorial changes the manuscript requires, copy editing may range from light to heavy. (Very heavy copy editing is sometimes known as substantive editing.)