The Perfect Editor

This in response to a favorite post from http://editorialass.blogspot.com/2007/09/what-makes-dream-author_24.html

1. Gets what I write. This means that when we talk about the business and books in general, we like a lot of the same things and have a similar sense of where the industry should be headed.
2. Has a vision for my book that makes me say “yes.” Even if an editor and I agree on a lot of other books, we don’t necessarily agree when it comes to my specific book. I’ve learned over the years that some editors are really nice people personally, but trying to please them when it comes to writing is a recipe for disaster. If I don’t get excited after talking to an editor about working on the book pretty soon, that is a bad sign.
3. Connects with me on a personal level. Maybe this shouldn’t be true, but I’m not sure that I can work well with an editor that I don’t have a similar communication style to. I need to enjoy talking to this person, even if we don’t need to talk for months on end. It should be enjoyable and not a chore.
4. Keeps me updated on where the book is. I’d like to have a general idea of when the editor will get back to me with an editorial letter. After that, I would love to know if it’s gone to copyediting, when my deadlines are, if ARCs are available, if reviews have been printed (sometimes I want to see them, sometimes not), and anything that will affect sales (like a feud with B&N or Amazon).
5. Sends me love notes. I suppose this isn’t always possible, but any positive news about the book keeps me excited about it, and engaged, and that seems like a good thing. So what the sales force is saying about the book, emails from people who are excited about it, etc. can do wonders to make me feel like I’m a valuable property and it makes me want to work harder.
6. Makes sure to meet up with me at conferences. Ideally, it would be great to do programming together, to be invited to go to conferences at the publisher’s expense, but that isn’t always going to happen. So doing dinner or lunch when you’re both in the same place is nice, too. And if I need a place to stay in your city, it would be great if you would offer me your couch.
7. Communicates with my agent well. My agent keeps track of things that I don’t and don’t want to, so it’s great when my agent and editor are congenial at least and I don’t have to think about things like marketing plans, following up on contracts, and things like making sure I get my royalty checks on time.
8. Roots for my book in-house. I have seen how important this is, not only to get excitement going, but also to keep the book in the minds of the marketing arm and the business arm. If my book runs out of the first edition, the editor notices soon and makes sure it gets reprinted before all the orders end. Also, talks up the book to everyone she knows.
9. Brainstorms about ways to promote the book. I know a lot of people think this is the job of marketing, but it starts with someone in house and the best person for that is your editor.
10. Knows I am not going to take all the suggestions. There is some give and take, and while I trust my editor in general, I also trust myself and my gut. If the suggestion isn’t working, I’ll go back to the beginning. I’ll try my own ideas. I’m not saying I’m always right, but don’t be offended if I don’t always do what you say.
11. Never EVER tells me to write a book like “x.” I’m not another writer. I’m me. I can’t write a book like someone else. You can send me books to read for me to think about. I’m fine with that, but don’t pressure me to tell the story you think someone else wants. And don’t write it yourself, either.
12. I’m fine with you writing things in verbatim as an idea of how to do it. I will almost always rewrite it my own way. That’s not because you’re a bad writer. It’s just because you’re not me.
13. Ideally, it will sometimes feel like we are reading each other’s minds and finishing each other’s sentences. You can’t make this happen, but when it does—wow, that is magic!
14. Sometimes, I’d like an editor to be a little in awe or how great a passage or a certain twist is. You really can’t tell an author too much how brilliant we are. Really.