EDITOR IN BOOK PUBLISHING

Kick off your publishing journey! Meet your instructor, get a rundown of the course, and set expectations for what you’ll gain, and what this course isn’t. We'll also touch on using AI responsibly in your editorial workflow (think cautionary tales, not shortcuts).

• Instructor introduction
• General housekeeping
• Class and assignment overview

Assignment #0 (Optional): Write a 4–5 page fiction piece (~5,000 words) to use in upcoming assignments.

Step inside the world of publishing, from the Big Five to indie upstarts, and see where editors really operate. Explore the ecosystem of print, digital, and audiobooks, and dive into case studies on bookseller revitalization that show publishing in action.

• Game design: Genres & platforms
• Core overview
• Book formats
• Case study: Bookseller revitalization

Assignment #1: Read 3–4 author profiles and recommend their ideal publishing path.

From acquisitions to line edits, this class is your editorial roadmap. We’ll explore the “life of a book,” tools for tracking projects and reading, and how to read like an editor, not just a reader. Learn the subtle art of giving feedback that goes beyond “boring” to “here’s why it’s not working.”

• Types of editors
• “Life of a book”
• Tools for editors
• Editor role
• Discussion: What is the difference between an editor and reader?

Unpack the magic behind acquisition: what draws an editor to a manuscript, and how vision, market awareness, and value drive decisions. Demo a query letter, explore comps, and see how to translate assessment into acquisition strategy.

• Assessing manuscripts
• Demo: Query Letter
• Evaluation criteria
• Demo: Approaching the first chapter/short story
• Publishing vision
• Value & acquisition

From first offer to final signature, learn how editors negotiate, collaborate with agents, and understand contract nuances. A P&L breakdown demo will show you how acquisition decisions make dollars and sense.

• Offer & contract process
• Types of negotiation
• Working with agents
• Demo: In-depth P&L breakdown

Time to roll up your sleeves. Discover how to give feedback that’s insightful, actionable, and respectful. Practice your editorial voice on sample manuscripts and see the instructor demonstrate a live editorial discussion.

• Edit Letter
• Writing to a “real” person”
• Editorial assessments & critiques
• Constructive feedback
• Workshop: Conduct an editorial assessment of an excerpt of a sample manuscript
• Demo: Mock editorial discussion

Assignment #2: Using an assigned manuscript, conduct an editorial assessment, evaluating strengths, weaknesses, and initial impressions on publication.

Learn how to diagnose plot holes, strengthen characters, enhance pacing, and polish narrative structure. You’ll also see how developmental edits fit into the overall editorial letter.

• Pre-edit conversation with author
• Developmental/content editing
• Finding inconsistencies:
• Integrating developmental edits into the edit letter

Assignment #3: Read, evaluate and write a 1-2 page editorial letter focused on developmental and line edits for a manuscript.

Line editing refines the manuscript’s rhythm, clarity, and style. Focus on word choice, pacing, dialogue, and audience perspective, all while honoring the author’s voice.

• Style & maintaining author voice
• Developmental edits
• Cutting text
• Pacing
• Editing dialogue
• Audience perspective
• Demo: Line edit a manuscript excerpt

Editing is more than notes on a page – it’s empathy, trust, and collaboration. Hear directly from New York Times bestselling author Delilah S. Dawson on what makes editor-author relationships thrive (and survive).

• Relationships
• Editing as an act of empathy
• Initiating & cultivating author relationships
• Pre and post acquisition
• Pre and post the start of editorial work
• Guest Speaker: Author, New York Times Bestselling author Delilah S. Dawson, discussing the importance of author/editor relationships.

Explore scheduling, production workflows, and cover design elements. Learn how to coordinate between designers, authors, and teams to ensure a smooth book launch.

• Building effective schedules
• Parts of the production process
• Demo: Managing production timelines
• Handoffs to other teams & meeting deadlines
• Cover design
• Cover designer & author liaising

Put theory into practice: build a cover brief, present ideas to the class, and get feedback on audience targeting and visual storytelling.

Pre-class assignment: Read short story, build inspirations for a cover brief to use in the workshop.

Editors aren’t just story shepherds—they’re ambassadors for the book. Learn to support sales, marketing, and PR teams, craft TI sheets, and write copy that converts.

• How Sales “sells” books
• Supporting M&PR
• Title information sheets
• The tenets of effective book copy
• Setting up internal sales & marketing/pr teams

Assignment #4: Create a TI sheet + Internal Launch Script

Explore the 4 Cs – clarity, coherence, consistency, correctness – and see how copyediting strengthens narrative without erasing the author’s voice.

• The 4 Cs
• Style and maintaining author voice
• Grammar & mechanical errors
• Guest Speaker: Abby Duval, Production Editor, Penguin Random House

Handle tricky conversations, negotiate critiques, and learn from a second author’s perspective

• Build on concepts from Class 7
• Handling difficult conversations
• Guest speaker: Fiction author's perspective

Read, discuss, and critique student edit letters with a focus on clarity, tone, style, and substance – negotiating revisions like a pro.

• Resolving feedback
• Peer-to-peer edit letter review
• Practical application & negotiation

Learn how to build meaningful industry connections, ace informational interviews, and approach job applications with editorial savvy.

• Effective networking
• Informational interviews
• Open job ads
• Cover letter & resume tactics
• Case Study: Job ads & resume/cover letter review

From BookTok influence to AI ethics, understand the trends that will shape the books of tomorrow.

• Impact of book bans
• Social media trends
• Tech and ethical trends
• Case Study: Decline in US reading