Editor, Literary

• Reads content and corrects for errors in spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
• Rewrites copy to make it easier for people to understand.
• Verifies facts, using standard reference sources.
• Evaluates submissions from writers to decide what to publish.
• Works with writers to help their ideas and stories succeed.
• Plans the content of publications according to the publication's style and editorial policy.
• Develops story and content ideas while being mindful of the audience.
• Allocates space for the text, photos, and illustrations that make up a story.
• Approves final versions submitted by staff.

• Attention to detail
• Empathy
• Initiative
• Persistence/Endurance
• Integrity
• Writing
• Time management
• Resourcefulness
• Multi-tasking
• Familiarity with electronic publishing, graphics, Web design, and multimedia production

*Note: These positions and their responsibilities vary from company to company.

• Copy Editors review copy for errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling and check the copy for readability, style, and agreement with editorial policy. They suggest revisions, such as changing words and rearranging sentences and paragraphs to improve clarity or accuracy. They also may carry out research, confirm sources for writers, and verify facts, dates, and statistics. In addition, they may arrange page layouts of articles, photographs, and advertising.
• Editorial Assistants are primarily there for fact checking. They also get to write the short blurbs introducing a story or short excerpts. They are encouraged to share story ideas at meetings.
• Assistant Editors have responsibility for a particular subject, such as local news, international news, feature stories, or sports for the publication.
• Associate Editors are responsible for writing and/or assigning (to other writers) the FOB* (Front of the Book) and BOB** (Back of the Book) columns and stories.
• Senior Editor/Assigning Editor refers to an editor who assigns stories, usually features, to freelance writers. This is usually not a title on a masthead, just a way to distinguish between to an editor who assigns stories to outside writers rather than one who edits and/or writes stories in-house.
• Managing Editor is usually responsible for overseeing the actual page production of the magazine and making sure each issue reaches the printer on time. In some organizations, they are in charge of staffing and budgets. They are also the liason between the editorial and advertising department. They usually do not edit or write.
• Editor-in-Chief is the top editorial position at most magazines. But sometimes it is the Managing Editor.

Editorial Department (When you think of an editor, this is the department you are thinking of)

Editorial Assistants spend 1-3 years learning the book publishing process. They work with the editor and their job is to fill in the gaps so that includes filing, letters, P&L forms, reading proposals, talking to authors on the phone, and doing your best to make the editor look good.

Assistant Editors spend time doing similar tasks as the editorial assistant but now they are starting to focus on how to edit a manuscript. Many are asked to work in one particular area (business, health…etc).

Associate Editors spend time editing manuscripts. That would include copy-editing, developmental editing, reading and reviewing.

Editors/Acquisitions Editors spend time editing and acquiring new material. So they:

• read new manuscripts and meet with writers
• acquire the book from a literary agent
• make sure the author stays on track with the manuscript
• edit the manuscript
• be an advocate for the book to the marketing, publicity and sales department

Editorial Director/Editor-in Chief is usually the person in charge of directing the day-to-day efforts of the editors. More managerial position.

Publisher is to be the visionary and the business head of the publishing house. The editorial staff reports to the publisher.

Managing Editorial (Production) Department
This department is in charge of copyediting, text design/layout and proofreading. They shepherd the manuscript through each of these stages to final bound book. This department is more concerned with the nuts and bolts, and their primary duty is to manage editorial schedules for the books acquired by the editorial staff.

Production Assistants assist the production editor with her tasks.

Production Editors oversee the production process and makes sure that all parts are in place. They

• manage reprints
• interact with printers and handling estimates, purchase orders, corrections, scheduling, and invoices
• conduct illustration and photo research for new cover and interior designs
• manage our freelance proofreaders, indexers, and illustrators
• review and mark up page proofs and covers and jackets of new books and resolve outstanding issues with editors, authors, and freelancers

Managing Editors are the head of the managing editorial department.

Copy Editors review copy for errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling and check the copy for readability, style, and agreement with editorial policy. They suggest revisions, such as changing words and rearranging sentences and paragraphs to improve clarity or accuracy. Many times, copy editors are freelance.

• Very competitive: it is even difficult to get an un-paid internship at a prestigious magazine.
• However, I don’t think you only need to get an internship at “Vogue” or a huge NY magazine. Sometimes it’s better to work a smaller establishment and get more responsibilities, write more so you can get more clips. Really figure out your focus. If you want to work in the big magazine world for your whole career, then it’s nice to intern and work your way up. But if you want to be a writer and write for various publications, there’s a lot of other ways to enter, survive and thrive.” Amy Westervelt, Editor and writer
• You will start off at a magazine as an intern or editorial assistant or social media coordinator. Know your place. Learn the etiquette of the magazine you are working for but strike a good balance between being humble/”no entitlement complex” but also proactive.
• Strict production deadlines, the work can be stressful and sometimes tiring.

The industry is changing so there are not as many traditional editors. Editors who have adapted to online media and are comfortable writing for and working with a variety of electronic and digital tools should have an advantage in finding work.

• Was always curious.
• Liked hearing people’s stories – genuinely interested in people and their story and interests.
• Writing!
• Loved to read!
• Had really good vocabulary.