The Editor Author Relationship by American Book Publishing

Success. It’s what everyone wants; the Holy Grail of our quest. How it is defined by each of us is another matter entirely. For the publisher, the editor and the writer, success is a best seller. What that best seller represents, though, is different to each person. To the publisher, a best seller represents an easily balanced budget and no red numbers on the financial statement. To the editor, a best seller represents work that was well organized, readily understandable, and engaging enough to keep the pages turning. To the author, it means the message was heard, whether it was meant to instruct, entertain or otherwise touch the reader. So…how do we get there from here?

A major contributing factor to a successful publishing process is the relationship between the author and editor. A good author/editor relationship can make the editing phase of the book a fun and creative journey between two people who come to enjoy working together, recognizing the other’s talent, and having mutual respect for what each can contribute. When this happens, creative juices start to flow and the editing phase of the book can become almost effortless. A bad relationship can become a hindrance on the road to success. It can make the process a grueling obstacle course where the combatants demand their own way without consideration for the thoughts, feelings or creative talent of the other. While remaining true to their respective loyalties, each must keep in mind their ultimate goal is the same: a best seller.

As the creator of the work, the author must remain loyal to the initial vision; the idea which sparked the creative energy that produced an entire manuscript. Sometimes just getting the words on the page is a monumental effort. The personal investments of time, energy and ideas that are poured into the manuscript become a part of the author’s heart and soul. If the editor forgets that, even for a moment, he is in danger of trodding on the author’s creative toes and potentially damaging the relationship. Who among us has not felt the sting of criticism from having some favored project scorned? The editor must always keep in mind the value of the author’s contribution. If writing a book was easy, we would all be authors.

The editor’s loyalties are, of necessity, divided on several fronts among the publisher for whom he works, the author with whose work he has been entrusted, the vision he sees for the book, and adherence to the rules and strictures governing the language of the written word itself. The publisher wants a best seller brought in on time and under-budget. Each author wants his book to receive the best editing, artwork and marketing, but he also wants it to be published yesterday. However, the editor has the burden of perfecting the work with the skills and resources at hand to ensure its successful completion. The editor’s main goal is simply to make the manuscript the best it can be.

As the author and editor work together to perfect the manuscript, they must afford each other the tactful honesty, respect and consideration each deserves; the author for his creative contribution, and the editor for his special skills that will take the manuscript from the typewriter to the bookshelf.

It also helps, sometimes, to remind ourselves and each other, that we are all on the same team, that no one gets paid until the book sells, and the better the finished product is, the more likely it is to be a success.

By Vicki White, American Book Publishing Editor