What Does an Editor at a Publishing House Do?

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  • čas přidán 29. 08. 2024
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    If you get your book traditionally published, you'll work closely with an editor at the publishing house. But what does a book editor do and how do they help you achieve your goals? Here are the key responsibilities that a book editor has and how they work with authors throughout the publishing process.
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    RELATED LINKS:
    Traditional Publishing Pros and Cons: • Traditional Publishing...
    How to Choose a Book Editor: • How to Choose a Book E...
    WHAT DOES AN EDITOR AT A MAJOR PUBLISHER DO?
    02:14 - Review submissions from literary agents
    04:20 - Edit books contracted for publishing
    06:38 - Consult on cover design
    08:42 - Help to craft book jacket copy
    10:20 - Gain awareness for the book
    ABOUT ME:
    My name is Alyssa Matesic, and I’m a professional book editor with 7+ years of book publishing and editorial experience. Throughout my career, I’ve held editorial roles across both sides of the publishing industry: Big Five publishing houses and literary agencies. The goal of this channel is to help writers throughout the book writing journey-whether you're working on your manuscript or you're looking for publishing advice.
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Komentáře • 60

  • @jingchaoye
    @jingchaoye Před 7 měsíci +4

    proofreader here, nice vid.

  • @Chiefmismaker
    @Chiefmismaker Před 4 měsíci +1

    It must be so exciting to be told how to design your cover, working together with the designers and having your scenes changed, working together with the editors and perhaps even being given a new title for 'your' book, working together with the marketers!

  • @Kwahzutah
    @Kwahzutah Před 3 lety +25

    Thanks so much for the insight! I come from an acting background, so I love how closely the developmental stage resembles an actor and director collaborating and improvising. It's surprising how many hands really touch a book before it's out.

  • @timothylyon8175
    @timothylyon8175 Před 3 lety +13

    I've been watching your videos the past months and the quality keeps improving. Keep up the awesome work!

  • @reymondatienza8427
    @reymondatienza8427 Před rokem +2

    Thanks for everything you've shared in this video, Ms. Alyssa! I'm starting my work as a Math textbook editor on Tuesday. I don't know anything about editing but I graduated with a math degree. I never knew that there are so much to do besides "editing" the manuscript! This sounds a lot of work but really interesting! I hope I can be my best self with this new job I got.

  • @kirtiomart
    @kirtiomart Před 3 lety +4

    Really helpful... I was wondering what you just answered. Thank you.

  • @nusrathkhan2435
    @nusrathkhan2435 Před rokem +1

    Can you do a video about tips on applying for a role as an editor.

  • @jiltedlittle6868
    @jiltedlittle6868 Před 2 lety

    Please do a deep dive video on just editors! Maybe you already have, but I really want to go back to school to become an editor and I would love to hear about all the fine, nitty gritty details that make up the full job description!

  • @ChaEditor19
    @ChaEditor19 Před 4 měsíci

    Awesome facts! Love it ❤

  • @thetruthis5633
    @thetruthis5633 Před 3 lety +7

    Alyssa, I've just watched this video
    And you've become a breath of fresh air,
    I've struggled to learn this very thing
    And looked around and you were there
    I've heard that 'poetry' is hard to publish
    And I'm just a dumb old boy from the south,
    But there's a poet who lives inside of me
    And I can't get him to shut his mouth
    But I'd bet if someone would take a look
    And see some of what he's wrote,
    It might just raise an eye or two
    And it won't seem like such a joke
    So I subscribed to your channel
    And now I'll watch a few more of these,
    And hope I can find me a publisher
    Who'll take a look at -The poet inside of me

  • @norebangfra
    @norebangfra Před 3 lety +4

    Very informative video!!! It would be nice to have tips about how to enter the industry! Thorugh internships?

  • @annabelcosta652
    @annabelcosta652 Před 3 lety +10

    This was great to learn more about! I am looking to make a transition into the publishing industry and wanted to see if you have any tips for people who are looking for courses or how-to guides that cover the Editorial process?

  • @rowan7929
    @rowan7929 Před 3 lety +4

    Didn't know the editor does so much besides polishing books. I was told that the cover is decided by the publisher how it looks. So good to see that you have at least some influence.
    An off topic question.
    Since I'm looking for agents, I have to expect rejections. But if you still aim to get your book traditionally published and pretty much every agent that represents your genre rejects your book, what other options are there?
    Makes it hard to know what is wrong with your book when majority of agents keep saying 'its not the right fit for me', I can't see myself representing your book', etc. Regardless the research you do about them, knowing that they represent/like similar books.

    • @AlyssaMatesic
      @AlyssaMatesic  Před 3 lety +4

      It can be really tough if you get a lot of rejections. First I’d check that you really did exhaust all your options-remember there are hundreds of agents out there! Second, another option is to revise the manuscript according to what you think may be a reason for the rejections and reach back out to let the agents know you’ve revised the manuscript substantially.

    • @rowan7929
      @rowan7929 Před 3 lety

      @@AlyssaMatesic Hard to tell what could be wrong with my MS when beta readers give positive feedback after i have fixed the flaws they have found, so as the editor.
      Some agents only want a query letter and say it's not for them.
      Still many more agents to come but was curious what I can do. Unless none of the agents like the story, then it makes it impossible to please them, regardless the changes I would make.

  • @henriettepaulamugisa
    @henriettepaulamugisa Před 7 měsíci

    This was so so helpful
    Thank you

  • @TheSneha8
    @TheSneha8 Před 3 lety

    Really valuable information...i really loved the simple " no -nonsense" approach ,in which conveyed everything ....in a crisp n clear manner....
    Oops !!how could i forget ,that you yourself are one of the members of editorial team n ought to know,how to deliver an accurate and straight forward piece of info !!
    Loved it...n subscribed the channel to hear more from you...keep up the good work!! Stay blessed

  • @waynegathers587
    @waynegathers587 Před 10 měsíci

    Thank you for taking me through the process of what a book editor does in promoting the author's novel. I look forward to being a part of the writers & editors process in creating best sellers.
    Q: Can you explain what the process is like when a book transitions into a movie series. Ex: Netflix, Hulu, Disney etc.

  • @a.w.sawtooth9469
    @a.w.sawtooth9469 Před 4 měsíci

    As someone who’s near to the end of proofreading/revising my first ever novel, I found this video extremely helpful. So, thank you!
    Question, though, if you don’t mind: Exactly how “perfect” does my manuscript need to be, before sending it off? I know it sounds dumb to even ask- believe me, I feel ridiculous for even typing this. But I’m somewhat frustrated with myself as a writer.
    I’ve just gone through my entire novel, even proofread all of my chapters, more than once. Yet, I always find stuff I don’t like…

  • @pr5pr
    @pr5pr Před 6 měsíci

    thanks.

  • @hardnewstakenharder
    @hardnewstakenharder Před 2 lety

    I'm talking to an editor this week (they're going into the second round of acquisitions) so this video was so helpful! Thanks! I'm nervous lol.

  • @beny9253
    @beny9253 Před 3 lety +6

    Another good one from the publishing perspective. Thank you so much! Also, digging the Sunday video posting schedule of late. A quick and possibly inane question about editing prior to traditional publishing if you don't mind. Do you tend to see more problems in books that make it past the querying stage with regards to developmental or line edits? I've wondered, for someone with a restricted budget, if it's more helpful to go with developmental or line editing if querying. One one hand, developmental editing is bigger in scope and thus would lend to broader problems that an agent might reject, but on the other hand, are books with larger problems are less likely to be able to make it past that stage at all?

    • @AlyssaMatesic
      @AlyssaMatesic  Před 3 lety +6

      Good, thoughtful question. Keep in mind that if you publish traditionally, the manuscript will go through copy editing and proofreading as part of the standard process. So in my opinion it’s more worthwhile to fix (or at least start to attempt to fix) the bigger-picture issues via a developmental edit.

    • @beny9253
      @beny9253 Před 3 lety +2

      @@AlyssaMatesic Thank you so much! This was my thinking as well, but I honestly didn't know how agents look at this stuff. Such as: is it more important to say CAN this person write well by nailing fundamentals and understanding the mechanics of writing rather than DID this person write well by making an enjoyable story. I suppose, of course, writing is both of those things, though! Thank you again!

  • @babazanipambana5509
    @babazanipambana5509 Před rokem

    Thanks Dear... Great advice!

  • @sanityone649
    @sanityone649 Před 2 lety

    There was a pretty good video on Random House and their internal workings. It's worth watching. Once you do you will never confuse what these cottage industry supposed traditional publishers are doing with real traditional publishers. Random house has multiple editors and other book experts looking at your work...so that it's perfect when it goes to market. So many of these supposed new trad publishers are nothing more that book peddlers...taking your work and putting it in several online book stores...like Amazon and then hoping for a big hit. And, they charge for what they're doing, so it's no risk to them. (I'm sure there are exceptions...but it's buyer beware when it comes to dealing with the cottage industry surrounding indie publishing. I've long said that there's more money being made from those offering help than those publishing indie books.)

  • @gervaiselantier
    @gervaiselantier Před 2 lety +2

    This was very helpful, thank you. I’m wondering how an editor learns to identify plot, structural, character problems and how can the writer do that before submitting?

    • @AlyssaMatesic
      @AlyssaMatesic  Před 2 lety +2

      Glad it was helpful! The best way I've learned to identify features in manuscripts is honestly just by reading a lot of books, and reading them carefully. While this answer feels a little obvious, reading outside my usual genres helps me see how novel tropes and conventions can change. Re-reading old books I used to love or hate also is a great way for me to see my change in tastes and knowledge.

    • @gervaiselantier
      @gervaiselantier Před 2 lety

      @@AlyssaMatesic Thanks for your response. Much appreciated. :-)

  • @animaleducationandrescue

    Thank you!

  • @GayleBarry
    @GayleBarry Před rokem

    thank you for this informative and well presented video. Of the 5 tasks areas described, what percent of the total job would the editor typically spend on each?

  • @purezentity6582
    @purezentity6582 Před 3 lety +1

    I have lots of question?
    1rst, how do you write a book that can not be define a genre, a book consist of coded images, that form a set of patterns, in turn, its create an idea of a reader?

  • @anandaferraresi
    @anandaferraresi Před 6 měsíci

    If the writer has an idea of what they want the cover to be like, can they join the others in the meeting and give their suggestion?

  • @y.t1670
    @y.t1670 Před 4 měsíci

    nowadays every book on sale, either novel or nonfiction, is a #1 bestselling book on this or that list 😂🤣😅

  • @samp4050
    @samp4050 Před 11 měsíci

    Alyssa, I've asked this question before but no answer yet. What are my chances as an 'outside', debut author from South Africa please? Mine is a historical romance, family drama story. I don't want to try our publishers here. Thanks. 😊

  • @christinacreech1974
    @christinacreech1974 Před 2 lety +1

    Thank you so much. I have a applied for as an editor at publishing house, and now my application is under review so I'm trying to do as much prep as I can incase they want to call me. Do you have any videos with interview questions that you were asked?

    • @AlyssaMatesic
      @AlyssaMatesic  Před 2 lety +1

      Congrats on landing the interview! I don't have a video up at the moment, but be prepared to talk about the industry--why you're interested in publishing, what books you've been reading recently, some basic situational questions. Best of luck!

  • @singinginmycar9014
    @singinginmycar9014 Před rokem

    hi, i’ve always wonder if being an editor at a publishing house will be a good choice financially? Does this job pay well?
    Please let me know!

  • @zhugeliang4617
    @zhugeliang4617 Před 2 lety

    You are very beautiful. Thanks for these writing tips.

  • @ds8249
    @ds8249 Před 3 lety +1

    Question, is it a bad idea to approach multiple agents at the same time? I am (literally at this moment) sending out a query letter. I know that I am expected to wait 7-10 weeks, so I was just wondering if it is odd to send out letters to multiple people at once? Each will be personalized of course!
    Sorry, I know this is a random question in the context of your videos but I really appreciate and value your feedback. I thought this would be the best place to leave a question.
    Liked, subscribed, commented :)

    • @AlyssaMatesic
      @AlyssaMatesic  Před 3 lety

      Not bad at all! Agents will expect that you’re reaching out to multiple people simultaneously. Best of luck and thanks for the support! :)

  • @douglassnodgrass7002
    @douglassnodgrass7002 Před 2 lety

    I have seen some of your videos. I understand what you are saying. But I need professional publishing advice on my current project. I can go 3 different ways and I am kind of lost on the best way forward. But I will look deeper, because you seem way to busy to help a individual overcome the hesitation on the 2nd work they are experiencing after self publishing. But thanks anyway

  • @justuskeaton9532
    @justuskeaton9532 Před 2 lety

    Do you have any advice on editorial internship applications? I'm applying to the Penguin Random house summer internship this month.

  • @jaydean7
    @jaydean7 Před 5 měsíci

    I was heading to your page to ask if I should find an editor before submitting my manuscript. And this article was here. Now I still feel like I should ask. Would it be helpful?

    • @AlyssaMatesic
      @AlyssaMatesic  Před 5 měsíci +1

      It's by no means a requirement to work with an editor before querying, but I do highly recommend getting some sort of external feedback on your work, whether that's from beta readers, a critique partner or a professional editor. I have another video about some reasons to work with an editor that you might find helpful: czcams.com/video/SyCCrCb5NH0/video.html Good luck!

    • @jaydean7
      @jaydean7 Před 5 měsíci

      Thanks I'll check it out

  • @gerardtyson2274
    @gerardtyson2274 Před 3 lety +3

    They edit stuff

  • @briandoeslife7182
    @briandoeslife7182 Před 3 lety +2

    Here before 1k subs. Remember me when your famous :D

  • @LisaZoe86
    @LisaZoe86 Před rokem

    Thank you for the video and the insights. I just thought that I felt a little uncomfortable listening and I think it's because I feel slightly screamed at. Is that just me or is that the american way of talking or something else? It's okay, I just think maybe this is a cultural thing? That would be interesting.

  • @irfanimp
    @irfanimp Před 2 lety

    bla bla bla blaaaaaaaaaaaa.....

  • @TheEccentricRaven
    @TheEccentricRaven Před 5 měsíci

    Thank you for the knowledge and insight you share.🤗