Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
Book editors are paid to help prepare book content for final publication. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that over 57,000 editors were employed as either book editors or editors of other publications, like magazines and newspapers, in 2010. Salaries for book publishers tend to be right around the national average for all publishers nationwide, but the average starting salary for those working in this field tends to be significantly lower.
Book acquisitions editors evaluate book proposals and manuscripts, persuade their editorial boards to publish commercially viable manuscripts and negotiate publishing contracts with authors and their agents. In most companies, they also edit manuscripts, shepherd them through the production process and work with marketing and sales departments to promote the books and maximize sales. Some book acquisitions editors are hired after working in other fields or in other publishing positions. Most, however, start as editorial assistants, learn the acquisitions process and editing craft, and work their way up to become an acquisitions editor.
Authors face many challenges from the time they begin the opening lines through to getting a book published and into the hands of readers. Whether you have an agent and a major publishing house behind you or you are an indie author planning to self distribute an eBook or POD version, having an editor is a good idea. A fresh set of eyes and an objective stance can enhance the quality of the end product. You may spend tedious months or years composing the perfect fiction or non-fiction book. Before you use any editor, be sure you negotiate fees you…
When writing a book or article you will often not need the services of a professional editor, but there are several situations where a pre-submission edit is beneficial. Sometimes it is helpful to get the advice of a professional editor when you've written about half of your piece. At that juncture an editor can identify serious or recurring flaws in your manuscript. A good editor can also give you advice that could increase your chances of getting a publisher and could eventually help increase sales. There are many ways to hire a professional editor.
Some fiction book editors work as copy editors, catching typos and other mistakes before books go to print. Other editors are in the business of deciding which potential books to accept and turn into published pieces of writing. If you enjoy reading fiction, are detail oriented and have a head for business, working as a fiction editor may be for you. Editor positions are senior level positions; most editors must gain their position through experience.
Getting a book published requires that you understand not only the mechanics of writing but also whether or not you have a viable product to sell. An editor can help you evaluate a manuscript for book mechanics such as grammar and the book's market potential. The role of a book editor is not only as a proofreader or developmental, substantive, or copy editor but also as someone who can advise you about your ability and career as a new and aspiring writer.
If you find yourself drawn to children's books--from picture books to young adult novels--a career as a children's book editor may appeal to you. The path to becoming a children's book editor and earning a steady income is a long one, as most editors begin their careers with unpaid internships and work their way up with a combination of hard work and networking skills. While the job does not have many specific requirements in terms of degrees, it does require publishing industry knowledge and a fair amount of determination.
A book editor ensures that the grammar, spelling and content of manuscripts meets his company's specifications and the reading public's expectations. This role requires the necessary education and experience to help develop books that sell.
In the publishing world the role of an editor is to ensure the manuscript is in the best possible shape for publication. From the initial acquisition to the printed page, an editor is constantly monitoring the status of the work for any flaws that could compromise the final product. Though different types of editors may work in the same company, they all share the same goal of producing quality, and profitable, written material.
The modern publishing world has some generally accepted rules for formatting a manuscript. Fancy formatting tells the agent or editor that you've spent time making your manuscript look good, as opposed to making your writing good. Agents just want to read the great words you've written. If your writing is good enough to send out, then you don't need to wow an agent with fancy fonts or styles. Do not try to make your manuscript look like a book with tighter or justified margins or frayed edges, or landscape format with two wide columns.
If you have a true passion for the written word and a drive to help authors put their best works forward, a career as a professional copy editor for a publishing company might be your calling. Here's how to get started.
