Sometimes when I tell people what I do for work, they hear the word “editor” and immediately start cracking jokes about me judging their grammar. But there are many types of editors, and I actually don’t work very closely with manuscripts. Copyediting is important, but so many other things go into publishing a book!
As an acquisitions editor, my job is acquiring. That does involve reading and assessment, yes, but most of my authors haven’t written a word yet. I primarily evaluate proposals, not manuscripts. Not “is this comma correct?” But “is the book in line with what we publish? Is this something I think readers would be interested in? Is this project commercially viable? What is this author looking for with a publisher and are we a good match?”
If the book seems like a good fit, I coach the prospective author through the proposal process, perform financial and market assessments, pitch the book internally, draft and negotiate the contract, and more. That’s all before work on the actual book begins!
I won’t say my writing and editing skills didn’t improve at while at K-State. (I’d somehow made it through until then without getting called out for my chronic use of passive voice.) But so many other opportunities with the English Department boosted me into my field.
My time at the K-State Writing Center gave me great experience with coaching people through the actual writing process. Some of that is spelling and grammar, yes, but it’s also sharing strategies for sitting down and letting thoughts flow. It’s helping tutees gain confidence and excitement in sharing their thoughts in written form. It’s tactics for reading, rereading, writing, and rewriting. The skills I gained tutoring students have wide applicability for book authors.
And for anyone interested in a publishing career, I can’t recommend enough getting involved with Touchstone. I served as Editor-in-Chief and got first-hand experience with all the minutiae of print runs, layouts, editorial deadlines, and a hundred moving parts. The background logistics of Touchstone was a great taster for all of the work it takes to get a book into a reader’s hands.
I learned so much in the classroom at K-State, but so much beyond it too! Make sure to explore the other opportunities the English Department has to offer. You never know what will ignite your passion or unlock a door.
— Lindsey Givens (MA ’11)
Lindsey Givens has worked in publishing since completing her MA in 2011. She got her start in academic journal management before later transitioning to book acquisitions. She currently works in Professional Technology publishing at John Wiley & Sons and humbly asks to include your editors in the acknowledgements if you ever write a book.
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