Profession book editor

Book editors find manuscripts that can be published. They review texts from writers to evaluate the commercial potential or they ask writers to take on projects that the publishing company wishes to publish. Book editors maintain good relationships with writers.

Personality Type

• Artistic / Enterprising

Knowledge

• Literature

  The body of artistic writing characterized by beauty of expression, form, and universality of intellectual and emotional appeal.

• Publishing market

  The trends in the publishing market and the type of books that are are appealing to a certain audience.

• Copyright legislation

  Legislation describing the protection of the rights of original authors over their work, and how others can use it.

Skills

• Assess financial viability

  Revise and analyse financial information and requirements of projects such as their budget appraisal, expected turnover, and risk assessment for determining the benefits and costs of the project. Assess if the agreement or project will redeem its investment, and whether the potential profit is worth the financial risk.

• Develop professional network

  Reach out to and meet up with people in a professional context. Find common ground and use your contacts for mutual benefit. Keep track of the people in your personal professional network and stay up to date on their activities.

• Suggest revision

  Suggest adaptations and revisions of manuscripts to authors to make the manuscript more appealing to the target audience.

• Consult information sources

  Consult relevant information sources to find inspiration, to educate yourself on certain topics and to acquire background information.

• Network within the writing industry

  Network with fellow writers and others involved in the writing industry, such as publishers, bookshop owners and organisers of literary events.

• Implement marketing strategies

  Implement strategies which aim to promote a specific product or service, using the developed marketing strategies.

• Read manuscripts

  Read incomplete or complete manuscripts from new or experienced authors.

• Attend book fairs

  Attend fairs and events to get familiar with new book trends and to meet with authors, publishers, and others in the publishing sector.

• Manage budgets

  Plan, monitor and report on the budget.

• Provide support to authors

  Provide support and advice to authors during the whole creation process until the release of their book and maintain good relations with them.

• Establish collaborative relations

  Establish a connection between organisations or individuals which may benefit from communicating with one another in order to facilitate an enduring positive collaborative relationship between both parties.

• Select manuscripts

  Select manuscripts to be published. Decide if they reflect the company policy.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB