WHAT IS AN EDITOR DOING WHEN SHE'S NOT READING?

By Deb Werksman
 Editorial Manager
Sourcebooks Casablanca

Naturally, I love to read. When I'm not reading you may find me:

 *   submitting a list of title ideas to retitle a project
 *   submitting options for a new tagline
 *   writing, revising or rewriting back cover copy
 *   calling an author to discuss editorial notes during a developmental edit
 *   emailing an author with a recap of our editorial notes discussion
 *   reviewing a revised manuscript and contacting the author for further revisions
 *   accepting a revised manuscript and turning it over to be prepped for copyediting
 *   making notes for the copyeditor
 *   meetings to review schedules, publication dates and seasonal lists
 *   mapping a season's list (starts with a batch of sticky notes on the wall, results in a spreadsheet and database entries)
 *   making sure manuscript delivery dates allow for sufficient time for the sales department to sell in to the retailers and wholesalers
 *   reviewing synopses
 *   meeting with buyers
 *   preparing database entries for submitting launch material for approval
 *   preparing database entries for presenting launch material at launch
 *   researching cover comps
 *   writing catalog copy
 *   researching specific market trends while thinking about a particular author's career
 *   researching general market trends to present to colleagues in sales, marketing, PR and design
 *   reviewing book covers
 *   looking at photos of proposed models for book covers (it's a tough job, but someone has to do it!)
 *   reading submissions
 *   responding to submissions
 *   corresponding with authors about materials we need from them
 *   asking authors for title ideas
 *   sending authors' feedback on their cover designs to the art department and discussing same
 *   answering authors' and agents' questions about sales, marketing, planning, proposals and market conditions
 *   negotiating contracts
 *   preparing contracts to be negotiated
 *   preparing submissions to be presented at our weekly acquisition meeting, including researching author track record and category and other market research
 *   reviewing sales numbers as soon as they are updated each week
 *   writing blogs :-)
 *   taking pitches
 *   reviewing/revising metadata
 *   attending a conference
 *   planning to attend a conference
 *   arranging travel to attend a conference
 *   following up after a conference
 *   phone calls with my authors, prospective authors and agents to discuss authors' project ideas
 *   phone calls with agents to talk about what I'm looking for
 *   answering emails
 *   I know I'm forgetting about a dozen more things...
 *   Lather, rinse, repeat. :-)

And then, I get to read, escaping into the world YOU created, hanging around with heroines who become my imaginary friends, falling in love with your heroes, and loving every minute of it!