Editor

Editor

Book editors do a lot more than just read and edit raw manuscripts. They are a key part of the chain of command in publishing and have a lot of influence over which books get published and which ones don't.

If you love books and love to read, a job as an editor can be a dream come true. Be advised that much of a book editor’s time is spent sifting through manuscripts that never will see the light of day. You have to be okay with reading a lot of bad writing in order to find the few gems. One of the most important things book editors do is acquire books for publication. Usually, book editors or editorial assistants read manuscripts submitted by writers—some solicited, most unsolicited—and, based on their knowledge of a genre and its potential market, determine which works are a good fit for their publishing house.

Although an editor’s fate isn’t entirely dependent on how many bestsellers are delivered, the people who get ahead in the book publishing field almost always have some popular books under their belts.