Editors on Editing: What Writers Need to Know About What Editors Do [Paperback]

Gerald C. Gross (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 12, 1994 | ISBN-10: 0802132634 | ISBN-13: 978-0802132635 | Edition: 3 Revised

An indispensable guide for editors, would-be editors, and especially writers who want to understand the publishing process. In this classic handbook, top professionals write about the special demands and skills necessary for particular areas of expertise--mass market, romance, special markets, and more.

Product Details

• Paperback: 377 pages
• Publisher: Grove Press; 3 Revised edition (January 12, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802132634
• ISBN-13: 978-0802132635
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #88,556 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For potential editors as well, May 5, 2002

By 

Jeffrey Leeper "kem2070" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Editors on Editing: What Writers Need to Know About What Editors Do (Paperback)

I highly recommend this book for writers as well as for potential editors. It is a collection of essays by well known editors discussing their craft and the inner-workings of a publishing house.

For writers, this book will clear up some misconceptions on what an editor can, and can not, do for you. It lets you know what many editors are looking for, and explains the various kinds of editing. I would recommend Scott Walker's essay on small presses. After reading this, you should take a long look at which house you wish to publish your manuscript.

For potential editors, this book will give you a better view of the different kinds of editing and the way the editing world is changing. Above all else, I would read John Paine's essay on the reasonable suggestion. This will put things into perspective.

Again, I would highly recommend this book.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent introduction to editing for editors, July 26, 2005

By 

David A. Hall "David Hall" (Infinity Dental Web, Mesa, Arizona) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Editors on Editing: What Writers Need to Know About What Editors Do (Paperback)

This book is a series of some three dozen essays written by prominent editors on various aspects of editing. Their reflections range from the thoughtful to the occasionally lighthearted-comments on what makes a successful editor, the history of editing in America, the ethical and moral dimensions of editing, how books are chosen, how editors schedule their work, the editor as negotiator, copy editing, line editing, etc. There are also a number of essays about editing various genres of writing: Christian literature, crime fiction, children's books, mass-market paperbacks, fantasy, reference, romance, and so forth.
While the title of the book indicates that it is written for writers, it is every bit as useful, if not more so, for aspiring editors. Yes, it is a great help for writers who want to work with editors. But there are too few books on the craft of editing. This one will give you an excellent introduction to the subject. Coming from thirty-some authors, it will give you a balanced view of how to be a great editor.

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Editor's Tell it Their Way, November 3, 2006

By 

J. Nettles "daughter of eve" (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Editors on Editing: What Writers Need to Know About What Editors Do (Paperback)

If you are going into editing as a profession, it's a good idea to get information from people who have been around the profession for a while. The editors represented in this book are honest--editing is not all champaigne and caviar lunches with the most famous authors in the land. Editing is a job filled with politics, long hours, and sometimes very frustrating unknown authors.

What is most unfortunate about this book is that it is out of date. The last edition was created in 1995. At that point in time the publishing community was in turmoil. Many of the older publishing houses were being devoured by corporated entities that were more focused on making money than making intelligent literature. The overall sense given by the book is that the publishing field is doomed, and that true editing was being replaced by marketing strategies.

Much of this changed as the Internet took hold. Smaller publishers suddenly became important again, and the rise of on-demand publishing changed the entire publishing atmosphere. It would be nice to see a new edition featuring editors from this new wave of publishing. Still, as a historical reference to what was happening fifteen to twenty years ago in the field, it is a pretty good read.