Product Description

A new edition of the one and only 'must-read' for anyone training to be a successful editor. Gill Davies, whilst concentrating on essential commissioning skills, has also included other challenges which editors now face, including the demands of handling new lists following mergers and takeovers, and digital technology.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #98021 in Books
• Published on: 2004-06-24
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

From the Back Cover
This new edition of a successful and highly-praised book provides an comprehensive introduction to the job of a commissioning editor. Gill Davies offers close guidance and support on how editors should approach this job. She demonstrates the main principles and practices involved in commissioning and acquisition, and covers difficult issues connected with judgement and decision making which are at the heart of the editor's job. Individual chapters address:
* how to choose what to publish
* proposing projects for publication
* from contract to delivery
* managing the publication process
* strategic and financial aspects of list building
* developing and maintaining a list
* teamwork and professional ethics.
The new edition also includes guidance on issues that have become more pressing since publication of the first edition, such as controlling e-mail, the effect of digitisation, and inheriting other editors' lists as a consequence of take-overs and mergers. Extensive coverage is given to the perennial problems that editors face, particularly the most demanding: slippage and handling difficult authors. New case studies from a wide variety of publishing contexts illustrate the commercial and practical problems that editors must address in today's complex and challenging marketplace.

About the Author
Gill Davies worked in publishing for 26 years and became one of the leading academic publishers in her field. She held three managing directorships in that time since beginning work in publishing as an editorial secretary, and worked in New York for two years. She was the first woman to be elected Chair of the Council of Academic Publishing at the Publishers' Association of Great Britain. Professor Gill Davies is now Director of the MA in Book Publishing at the London College of Communication. She also provides training on courses for young editors run by the Publishing Training Centre and other organisations.

Customer Reviews

Excellent stuff!
I'm currently using this book as part of my publishing course and I strongly feel that it is incredibly useful for anyone wishing to become a commissioning editor. It contains many tips and advice on how to become confident and successful in the job. Highly recommended.

Useful, practical advice on all aspects of commissioning books
I read the first edition of this book on my Publishing Masters course, and it was one of the most useful books on our reading lists. I bought the new edition after starting out in a publishing job, and it's just as useful in a professional capacity as it was in an academic one. It has great practical advice on all aspects of commissioning books. I would recommend it to any Commissioning or Acquisitions Editor, and also to editorial staff in general and to anyone aspiring to editorial work.

Good solid advice
Neatly laid out and easy to follow, this book is a terrific introduction for aspiring Commissioning Editors. There is loads of solid, down to earth advice and some very useful checklists.
It will also give anyone entering or considering the publishing arena a terrific insider's view, a flavour for what goes on and an introduction to the terminology and mindsets of others in the business.