What editors do : the art craft and business of book editing [This book] gathers essays from twenty seven leading figures in book publishing about their work. Representing both large houses and small and encompassing trade textbook academic and childrens publishing the contributors make the case for why editing remains a vital function to writers and readers everywhere. Ironically for an industry built on words there has been a scarcity of written guidance on how to actually approach the work of editing. This book will serve as a compendium of professional advice and will be a resource both for those entering the profession (or already in it) and for those outside publishing who seek an understanding of it. It sheds light on how editors acquire books what constitutes a strong author editor relationship and the editors vital role at each stage of the publishing process a role that extends far beyond marking up the authors text. This collection treats editing as both art and craft and also as a career. It explores how editors balance passion against the economic realities of publishing.