Background: I want to be an editor (this is the time when you can start scrutinizing every sentence I type for errors). I would love to work in the Christian publishing business, especially in non-fiction, but I'm not picky. On my path to becoming an editor, I want to go to law school and be on the law review. This Senior Academy class (which is what I created this blog for) is for me to research and learn as much as I can about the career I am pursuing, and how to pursue it.
Let's just get right into it -- I'm reading a book right now called Editors on Editing. It's basically about 40 essays written by around 35 editors. They write mainly to authors who want to get their own books published, so that they can kind of learn the rules of the game, before they plunge into the highly competitive and risky cycle that is the publishing business.
Here are some interesting (and probably obvious) little factoids that I have already learned about the editing business:
- Did you know that editors DON'T actually edit in the office? During office hours, they sort of act as a liaison between the author and his/her agent and the publishing house (herein referred to as "the house" to make myself sound more official). I learned that most of the actual manuscript editing is done at home.
- I don't know if I've mentioned this already, but I want to edit non-fiction works. I read that most non-fiction book concepts were actually created by the editor, and the author was just hired to write. Well, gosh I have so many ideas! For instance, someone PLEASE write something that people will find intriguing that lets restaurants know that air blow-dryers for your hands are extremely unsanitary... they just blow your germs all over the room... this is another topic entirely...
- Another point that keeps reoccurring in this book is the strong bond that forms between the author and the editor. It even refers to editors as a "therapist-nag" and as a "meddler." Maybe my past career choice of being a psychiatrist will come in handy...
- Also, each and every essay I've read has doted on this, apparently, infamous Maxwell Perkins character... After some intense Yahoo-ing (don't get me started on Google), I found out that Mr. Perkins edited The Great Gatsby and many, if not most, of Ernest Hemingway's works. The guy was an editing genius and is the role model of most aspiring editors.
- Finally, and probably the most important thing I learned, or should I say, was reassured of, so far is that editors are not in it for the money -- they love their jobs and are deeply devoted to the books that they are trying to publish.
