Where a book editor can go next
12 destinations recorded, ranked by how much of the target role a book editor already meets. The closer to the top of Table 1, the less there is to learn.
Book editors find manuscripts that can be published. They review texts from writers to evaluate the commercial potential or they ask writers to take on projects that the publishing company wishes to publish. Book editors maintain good relationships with writers.
Also known as editorial director of publications, acquisitions editor, commissioning editor, book editor and consultant, manuscripts editorial director, senior book editor, book editorial director, book editor and publisher, children's book editor, book editor and project manager.
Professionals 32 skills on file 12 career moves 0 above 60% overlap Closest: book publisher, 55%
- 70% and above · short step
- 50 to 70% · real move
- Below 50% · substantial retraining
Table 2 · A bigger jump
Possible, but expect real retraining rather than a sideways step.
- speechwriter 40% covered · difficulty 57.3
- writer 38% covered · difficulty 63.5
- lexicographer 34% covered · difficulty 61.7
- magazine editor 32% covered · difficulty 66.9
- publishing rights manager 31% covered · difficulty 58.1
- columnist 29% covered · difficulty 73.9
- publications coordinator 28% covered · difficulty 72.3
- critic 28% covered · difficulty 76.8
Table 3 · What the job itself asks for
A book editor needs 15 required skills and areas of knowledge. These 10 are the ones fewest other jobs share, so they say the most about the work.
- network within the writing industry communication, collaboration and creativity
- provide support to authors communication, collaboration and creativity
- select manuscripts communication, collaboration and creativity
- suggest revision of manuscripts communication, collaboration and creativity
- publishing market business, administration and law
- attend book fairs communication, collaboration and creativity
- read manuscripts information skills
- literature arts and humanities
- consult information sources information skills
- assess financial viability information skills
Table 4 · Jobs that lead here
The reverse view: occupations whose skills already cover much of what a book editor does. The figure is how much of this job each one brings.
Look up another occupation
Book editor is filed under Professionals, ISCO major group 2. The full index lists all ten groups.
How these figures were compiled
Overlap is how much of the target role is already part of a book editor’s work. It is directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. Every entry above opens the full comparison for that move: what carries over, what is missing, and where to start. The full method.