So you wanna be an editor? (Yeah, me neither.)

It's much easier to let someone else do the hard part.

But in case you are wondering why it takes so long to hear from editors (assuming you have an agent) then this might help:

Publishers Marketplace recently posted two job openings for editors, one at Penguin Putnam and one at Random House. If you ever wondered what it is an editor does all day, the job description (for a Senior Editor position) covers a good portion of it (editors do a lot more than this):

Razorbill is looking for someone who will:

1. Act as the acknowledged ‘go to' editor for all the biggest YA titles on submission

2. Acquire and edit approximately 10-15 original titles a year, as well as oversee additional paperback reprints of hardcovers from previous Razorbill lists

3. Help strategize with Publisher to make each new Razorbill list commercial, high quality and appropriately placed in the marketplace

4. Formulate campaigns for lead books and know the market

5. Present titles at launch meetings for sales and marketing

6. Communicate, brainstorm and regularly liaise with sales and marketing teams on best publishing strategies for upcoming titles; liaise between marketing/publicity and authors; attend regular sales/marketing imprint focus meetings and is accountable for results from those meetings

7. Build strong relationships between Razorbill and agents and authors; search for new authors

8. Attend conferences a few times a year as a direct representative of Razorbill (ALA), and attend writers' conferences external to the company such as SCBWI events, to look for authors and connect with agents

9. Mentor editorial staff

10. Create TI's and catalog copy for books; generate jacket and cover copy


Please apply to join Razorbill if you have:

• At least 7 years' relevant experience including experience editing middle grade and teen or adult fiction

• Excellent written and oral communication skills

• Strong contacts in the adult and young adult industries

• Excellent interpersonal skills

• Proficiency with Microsoft Word

• Ability to travel up to 5 times per year via airplane, train and/or automobile a plus

Ooh, probably had most of you until the seven years of experience came in, eh?

So this editor is responsible for approximately 25% of the imprints titles. Geez, that's low stress, huh?

Now, over at Random House they have a position open for an Associate Editor (much further down on the food chain) which requires much less:

Your tasks:

Morgan Road Books, a division of Doubleday Broadway, seeks an Associate Editor. Responsible for heavy developmental and line editing of books (non-fiction) acquired by Morgan Road. Manage production of interior as well as jacket schedules. Major contributions expected to TIs, checking and writing copy, managing author and agent relationships. Evaluating and taking over submissions as well as some agent relationships.

Our requirements:

Strong background in how-to as well as general non-fiction, three to five years of editorial experience necessary. Need editing and writing samples.

Required skills:

- Do you have a Bachelor's Degree?

- Willing to relocate for this job at your own expense?

- Do you have any prior office experience?

- Do you have at least 2 years of editorial experience?

See that? You need to have editorial experience and the ability to relocate yourself at no cost to that massive German conglomerate. How could you resist?

All for lousy pay and lousy hours. Next time you see an editor on the street or in a bar, give her a hug (and please, for the love of stones, leave your manuscript in your trunk.)

Lastly, Kensington has an opening for an Editorial Assistant (this is the bottom of the food chain) and you probably qualify instantly. In fact, any writer who has received several dozen rejection letters (we all have) could probably deftly craft some new ones for good ol' Kensington. The post:

Editor-in-Chief of midsize commercial trade publisher seeks editorial assistant. Looking for a self-motivated, high-energy beginner with a strong interest in commercial fiction. Job responsibilities consist of providing administrative support and reading manuscripts, drafting reject letters, and contacting agents and authors. Qualifications include a bachelor's degree and proficiency in MS Word and Excel.

Sure, send those resumes out now. Then start trying to figure out how to live in Manhattan on $30K a year.