THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY SCHREYER HONORS COLLEGE DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH IT’S MORE THAN THERE, THEIR, AND THEY’RE: THE ROLE OF THE BOOK EDITOR IN DECADES PAST, PRESENT DAYS, AND THE AGE TO COME EMMA SHELLHAMER SPRING 2017 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a baccalaureate degrees in Advertising/Public Relations and English with honors in English Reviewed and approved* by the following: Gregg Rogers Interim Director, Program in Writing and Rhetoric Thesis Supervisor Marcy North Associate Professor of English Honors Adviser * Signatures are on file in the Schreyer Honors College. i ABSTRACT Today’s book editor finds him or herself in a matchless moment of publishing history. Over the course of the last century, the demands of the job have shifted to compliment the ever- growing changes in our society, and they will only continue to change as we embark upon a future of technological advancement. Such revelations beg the question: What does it mean to be an editor in the publishing world today? What did it mean one decade ago, three decades ago, or six decades ago? How have the requirements of the job altered over time, and how are they transforming now? What do those currently immersed in the industry predict the career will look like just ten years into the future? What is the necessary skillset for someone interested in entering the industry in its current state? Drawing from historical and editorial theory research and interviews with current editors and professionals in the industry, this thesis aims to engage with, analyze, elucidate, and celebrate the career of the editor at a most unique point in its history. In depicting how editors manage their complex roles as supporter, advocate, marketer, copyreader, modifier, designer, and businessperson, readers will gain an introspective and widespread overview of the career path through the lenses of the past, the present, and the future. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................... v EPIGRAPH .................................................................................................................. vi Chapter 1 Introduction ................................................................................................. 1 Chapter 2 The Past ....................................................................................................... 5 Maxwell Perkins .............................................................................................................. 9 Saxe Commins ................................................................................................................. 19 A Bygone Era ................................................................................................................... 28 Chapter 3 The Present .................................................................................................. 30 Who is an Editor: Titles and Types .................................................................................. 38 The Managing Editor ............................................................................................... 40 The Acquisitions Editor ........................................................................................... 40 The Developmental Editor ....................................................................................... 42 The Technical Editor ................................................................................................ 43 The Copyeditor ......................................................................................................... 43 The Line Editor ........................................................................................................ 45 The Proofreader ........................................................................................................ 45 The Editorial Assistant ............................................................................................. 46 The Freelance Editor ................................................................................................ 47 Advancement in the Field ........................................................................................ 48 The Editor’s Toolbox ....................................................................................................... 50 Personality ................................................................................................................ 50 Linguistic Knowledge .............................................................................................. 52 Education .................................................................................................................. 54 Market Awareness .................................................................................................... 55 Business Skills.......................................................................................................... 57 Social Skills .............................................................................................................. 58 Tangible Tools.......................................................................................................... 61 You Get A Book—Now What? ....................................................................................... 62 The Modern Editor ........................................................................................................... 67 Chapter 4 The Future ................................................................................................... 69 The Role of Technology in Publishing ............................................................................ 70 Editor: Becoming a Misnomer ......................................................................................... 80 The Future of the Beginning ............................................................................................ 83 The Editor of the Future ................................................................................................... 88 iii Chapter 5 Conclusion ................................................................................................... 90 BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................ 95 iv LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Print Books Prevail ................................................................................................... 73 v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Writing this thesis has been wonderful and laborious, and the number of individuals who rallied around me through the process was overwhelming. Endless thanks to my parents and sister for the love, support, and prayers that propelled me through this project, as well as my entire academic career; to my friends and roommates for the prayers, laughter, cups of coffee, and draft readings that led to the completion of this thesis; to the editors, agents, and other professionals who were so kind and willing to answer my questions and share about their work experiences; and to my own editor and thesis supervisor, Gregg Rogers, for his attentiveness, encouragement, humor, editorial intelligence, inspiration, and consistent enthusiasm since day one—I am so blessed by you all, and I simply could not have done it without you. Finally, all praise and glory to my Heavenly Father, who planted a passion for words and books inside of me and lavished the grace upon me to know Him and serve Him all the days of my life. The opportunity to write this thesis was ultimately a gift from Him, and it was a joy to accomplish this work in His strength. vi EPIGRAPH “To write is human, to edit is divine.” ― Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft 1 Chapter 1 Introduction It is a magnificent day in New York City. You look to your left and spy a sharply dressed individual sipping a latté and staring introspectively upwards. A large collection of papers lay open on the café table. Perhaps she’s wearing a modern pair of glasses, or he’s sporting a nifty watch. An air of sophistication, culture, and intelligence exudes from his or her being. A phone buzzes to life on the table, and a pleasant conversation ensues. “Hello, Molly. It’s great to hear from you. I’m actually working on your manuscript at this very moment, and I believe I’ve had a revelation.” There is a nervous pause, a quick rechecking of papers, and then: “What if we changed Carl to Carla? He’s such a supportive presence in your protagonist’s life, and there seems to be a lack of female characters in your novel. While I know it would take plenty of reformulation on your end, I’m confident this change would improve the marketability of your work. It also creates the possibility for a romantic relationship later in the series. What do you think?” The lightbulb sparks above your head and you, of course, understand. Your chic café neighbor is a book editor! What a life, you sigh with envy. “You love the idea? Why, that is remarkable to hear. Your enthusiasm for my suggestion is so rewarding. I look forward to receiving a new draft in a month’s time. Thank you, Molly, and happy writing!” The editor sets the phone aside and resumes work on the manuscript. The leisurely pace of the process strikes a chord with you. You ponder the lovely life of reading all day, the 2 excitement of meeting with authors and other influentials,