Since this is a holiday weekend we are posting a little early. Have a great Labor Day!
This series of Concept to Completion started during a Skype
session with Editor Kelly Delaney. I took a class with her and invested in the one-on-one session. (SO WORTH IT.) I asked just how many hands are on a picture book from writing
to reader. You know what I found out? WAY
MORE THAN I IMAGINED.
Thank you for coming
out today, Kelly. So we all want to know, what exactly does an editor do for picture
book manuscripts?
Editors work with authors to make
the text as clear, concise, and engaging as possible. We also work with the
design department to select an illustrator and, with the book’s designer, act
as the go-between with the illustrator and author as the sketches and final art
are developed.
After the text and illustrations are
on their way, we present the book to the rest of the company—sales, marketing,
publicity, subrights, etc.—and work with them to make sure the book finds its
way into the hands of readers who will treasure it. There are a million little
details in between, but that’s the gist of it!
That’s a lot of
people you have to deal with! What happens when you fall in love with a picture
book manuscript?
Usually I take the manuscript to an
editorial meeting to solicit feedback from colleagues about its quality and,
more importantly, its marketability (just because I love something doesn’t mean
it will sell). If we’re in agreement that it’s worth acquiring, I fill out a
form and a spreadsheet detailing how much I think it will sell and why, based
on its sales hooks and comparative titles. I use those details to craft an
offer, and present it to the book’s agent.
Do you ever have to
fight for a story you love?
Yes. Sadly, not everything with
great writing is marketable, and publishing is a business. I’ve often gone back
to an author and asked them if they’d be willing to revise based on my
editorial feedback in an attempt to bring it to where it needs to be. Sometimes
this leads to an acquisition, but often I do just need to let a book go. That’s
never easy, but in that situation I’ll usually tell the author (or agent, more
likely) that I’d love to see more work from them in the future.
How long do you edit
a picture book or, a better question may be, what were the shortest
and longest periods of time you spent editing a picture book?
I’m working on a book now that is
ready for copyediting a week after I signed it up! The edits were very spare
and didn’t require any major restructuring. Other books can take much longer,
depending on what needs to be addressed or on the author’s schedule—they may
have other projects that take priority, which we’ll factor into the book’s
schedule. And of course, more edits may come with the art. It can take anywhere
from a few days to a few months, but I’ve never worked on a book that didn’t
need any editing at all.
I’ve never worked on a book that didn’t need any editing
at all.
That is a great thing
to keep in mind. There is always room for improvement. Is there a separate copy
editor in your house or do you do the copy editing after the big picture
changes are made?
We have a copyediting team that
looks at every book several times.
A team?! Wow. Is
editing a 9-5 gig or do you find yourself doing editorial work at home?
I read at home a lot. It’s easier to
get it done away from email, a busy office, etc. I don’t think I’ve ever
brought a picture book home with me, though—just novels.
How much
caffeine/sugar/health food of choice is needed to fuel you through your
workday?
I don’t really track my diet in this
way, but I usually have an iced coffee in the morning and eat as balanced as I
can (though an abundance of treats and snacks in the office seems to be an
occupational hazard of working in children’s publishing). My energy is more
impacted by how active I am, so I try to work out daily and/or walk to and from
work.
Something we should
all try to work into our day. My hair looks like Wally's when I'm done a work out. And you can feel free to share the chocolate in your office.
Just sayin'.
So is there anything else you think authors should know?
Remember that revision is a part of
the process that doesn’t end when your manuscript is acquired—and that an
editor wouldn’t work to revise something with you if they didn’t love it. It’s
not an attack on your work, but an attempt to make it as strong as possible so
that it will appeal to as many readers as possible. We all have the same goal,
which is to get your book into the hands of as many readers as we can!
Also, I’ve talked to a lot of
writers who worry about details like how to format a manuscript submission, how
art notes should look, and things like that. That should not be a source of
stress for you. Be organized and clear, and follow any submission guidelines
that exist. The more important part is to focus on your writing and hone your
craft. If I love a manuscript, an unnecessary art note is not going to change
that.
You heard it here authors and illustrators: Editors are on
our team and want the same things for our books as we do.
Thank you so much Kelly for taking time to share your job
with us. It’s great to peek behind the curtain and see just how much work, and
how many people work, to get a picture book out into the world.
Next time...Art Director
The great part is cats are curious. All I had to do was set the book down and they all came to sniff, bat, and bite this new toy.
