Here is some detailed information about a few of the key positions in the publishing world: book editors, content editors, copy editors, and literary agents. Having some knowledge of the duties and opportunities in each will help you focus your job search, and help you find publishing jobs that might be right for you.
Book editors have many different categories but one of the best job duties for book and acquisition editors is the enviable job of finding literary talent that is still raw or unknown. They will then work with those writers to help them get their manuscript completed and ready to publish. As the title implies, editors have the responsibility to edit books and help make them into marketable products for bookstore shelves.
Technically, a true acquisition editor will work with some new talent, but they specialize in finding and signing talent. Content editors work with the author personally and make sure that the content is correct and the feel of the manuscript is right. Production editors manage the more technical aspects involved in the actual publication process.
There are always numerous editors at different levels that are associated with any of the major publishing houses. These employees will actually read unpublished manuscripts and then decide whether the publishing company should buy the work and publish it. It goes without saying that all book editors should love to read, as they must read through a large number of manuscripts – and there will be both good and bad selections that must be reviewed. While you may be looking for US publishing jobs, you should keep in mind that publishing opportunities in this industry exist throughout the world.
That volume of reading includes having to look through many manuscripts that will never be published and a larger number that will simply be trashed. An understanding of the book market is one of the big factors that drive an editor's decision to purchase an author's manuscript. Sometimes, though, you need to have faith in your perception of a particular work and be willing to put everything on the line in order to give the book and an author a chance. Editors who deliver a lot of bestsellers are the ones who get ahead in the publishing world.
The responsibilities for an editor are much more involved than just reading and editing books, however. These people will also have a role in searching for new literary talent and then developing the author's abilities. Many authors will often have only one editor during their entire career with one of the major publishing companies. For this reason, editors associated with high-profile authors are quite valuable to publishing houses. Sometimes where the editor goes in the industry, the author will follow as well.
Most book editors have college degrees, usually in English, but most important is a passion for literature and editing skill. The increasing specialization in the publishing world means that editors should be knowledgeable of the subject matter in which the publishing house for which they work specializes.
There are many jobs at publishing companies that involve workers who hold copy editor positions. Once an author's manuscript is accepted for publication, the material must be closely checked to ensure it is free of any and all grammatical errors. You might consider this position to be that of the "grammatical, quality control specialist" of the publishing world.
Copy editors must be meticulous as they read over content – or, copy, as it is referred to in the publishing industry. They must check everything from typographical errors to misplaced commas.
Copy editors work not only in book publishing houses where they work closely with book editors, but also in other media fields, such as newspapers and magazines. Virtually any company producing printed content will need a copy editor to ensure all material is grammatically correct. A love of language and a firm grasp of proper usage are essential skills for copy editors. This job almost always requires a college degree, although there have been some individuals who have literally worked, learned and earned this position without a college degree.
Literary agents are the ones whose total focus is on finding and publicizing new literary talent. In this respect, they are similar to book editors, but that is where the resemblance ends. Literary agents represent authors and work to sell their books to book editors. For their services during this representation, the agents receive a percentage of the authors' sales.
Agents should have big personalities, salesmanship, an affable nature, razor sharp business acumen, and keen marketing skills. Knowing how to package and market a writer, as well as understanding what it takes to produce a bestseller, are important job tools for literary agents. Most authors who are trying to angle for a book deal will use a literary agent to improve their chances.
A career as a literary agent generally begins by working as an assistant at a literary agency. Most of these agencies are in New York City, which also is the home of most of the major US publishing houses. Successful agents need to have ready access to the top editors; therefore, most of the top agents are also located in New York.
Some agents, after years of experience at an agency will go on to start their own literary agencies. Like editors, agents will first have to read unpublished manuscripts before deciding whether to accept a new author as a client. Because agents receive a cut of an author's sales, it is in their best interest to sign authors they think can get publishing deals and sell books.
