From Jeff Herman’s Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, and Literary Agents

(Three Dogs Press, 2007). © 2007 by Susan A. Schwartz

BOOK DOCTORS

The Real Deal

Susan A. Schwartz

Most writers are aware that publishers have become much more business-oriented and competitive in this age of consolidation. What these writers may not know is that the movers and shakers in the publishing industry increasingly rely on independent editors — sometimes called “book doctors” — to transform promising material into publishable books and magazine articles and provide writers with their professional expertise.

The Editors Circle is the newest of several currently thriving alliances of top New York publishing professionals who provide independent editorial services to publishers, literary agents, book packagers, content providers, and — most importantly — directly to writers. Collectively the members of the Editors Circle have more than a century of on-staff, behind-the-scenes experience with the publishers, editors, and literary agents who make today’s book publishing decisions. We meet regularly to discuss new industry contacts, publishing trends, and current projects. The Editors Circle also offers a website that lists our members, their e-mail addresses, credentials, and recently completed projects. A writer accessing our website can approach any editor directly or send a general query to determine which editor or editors are best suited to and available for a particular project.

The editors affiliated with the Editors Circle have diverse publishing backgrounds; each specializes in a different writing category, including fiction, nonfiction, memoirs, reference materials, and proposal writing. We are conscientious line editors, and some of us also function as project developers, matching subjects with appropriate writers and finding agents and in some cases publishers to handle projects. We offer ghostwriting and other collaborative services, as well as general consultation to writers.

Independent editors who make up groups such as the Editors Circle can save writers time and heartache by steering them in the right direction at the outset. We can shape their material, give advice, and meet regularly with the on-staff professionals who are making today’s publishing decisions. By tapping our expertise, writers acquire the tools they need to navigate the submission and publishing process. While we can’t guarantee that every writer’s project will find an agent or result in a sale to a publisher, our track record speaks for itself in the number of projects that come our way, are rewritten or reshaped, and then sold.

If engaging a freelance editor, or “book doctor,” you might consider these questions:

• Does the editor have on-staff experience? The best book doctors spent decades on staff at major New York publishers and have inside knowledge of what publishers are looking for, how they view manuscripts and proposals, and what it takes to make them notice yours.
• Does the editor’s experience mesh with the kind of project you are attempting to publish? Do his or her initial comments about your project make sense? The best editors don’t necessarily tell writers what they want to hear; they evaluate material with a clear idea of the competition and marketing climate facing the project, and can often suggest ways to reshape and restructure to enhance marketability.
• How many projects did the editor complete in the past year, and what kind of assignments were they? The best independent editors receive assignments from a wide variety of sources: literary agents, publishers, other editors, and directly from writers who contact them via a personal recommendation or over the Internet.
• What specifically does the editor’s fee include? Many independent editors charge a reading or consultation fee up front to determine your project’s needs. After making that determination, the editor negotiates fees, depending on the time and level of editing the project requires. Some editors charge by the hour; others offer a “package deal.”
• What other services can the editor provide? Not only do independent editors have the expertise to help you shape a project, but, once an agent is on board, that editor can be helpful in guiding the project through the submission process to successful publication and beyond. One of my clients calls me her “secret weapon” in dealing with her agent and her publisher. Another client (a medical doctor and president of the regional chapter of his professional association) referred to my behind-the-scenes editorial efforts on his behalf in the acknowledgments to his book: “Susan A. Schwartz worked closely with me as an editor and writer, and much of what I like best about the book reflects her skills.” Originally contacted by his publisher, I worked with him not only on his manuscript, but also with his editors to ensure that the copyediting, proofreading, illustrations, and marketing materials reflected the high standards of his profession. In both cases, I helped authors get the most out of the professionals involved in their books’ success.

In an increasingly competitive marketplace, the difference between capturing a publisher’s attention or being relegated to the “slush pile” often rests on the kind of professional polish and presentation that only industry professionals can provide. Independent editors groups, such as the Editors Circle, provide the services that writers need before they approach agents or publishers with their projects. We have the credentials and the track record vital to getting writers’ work noticed and gaining entry into the sometimes baffling, always formidable world of publishing.
 

Copyright © 2007, The Editors Circle, All Rights Reserved / Web design by www.will-harris.com