By: Anja Racke
Whether you're an artist planning to work with editors in the future, or someone considering becoming an editor in the future, this article aims to introduce you to the comics editorial and publication process. We'll go over the different kinds of editors, how the editorial process works, and more! And while we aim to be as accurate as possible in our workshops, do bear in mind that every editor and every publisher works a little differently, and these are just the basics.
There are four kinds of editors we will go over in this article:
Acquisitions Editors
Developmental Editors
Line Editors or Copy Editors, and...
Proofreaders
Acquisitions Editors
The job of an acquisitions editor is to acquire work for a publisher to publish. It is their job to review submissions or pitches to find good fits for the publisher. An acquisitions editor also helps with hiring illustrators, colorists, and letterers who may need to be brought on to work on an existing project. They frequently attend conventions, expos, and other industry events to find new artists they might like to work with. They may also search social media platforms and portfolio websites for artists.
If you're a writer or artist looking to get published, you'll probably be working with acquisitions editors a lot because they are the people that get you jobs. It is important to be respectful and professional around acquisitions editors, because not doing so can cost you your job. It is also important to note that most acquisitions editors do not accept cold submissions. That means that unless you know the editor personally, you cannot submit pitches directly to them. Do your research and make sure you are submitting your pitch through the correct channels. Annoying or harassing an acquisitions editor (or any editor for that matter) can get you blacklisted from the publishing industry, so take these things seriously.
Developmental Editors
A developmental editor is the primary editor that works with a writer or artist throughout the publishing process. The job of a developmental editor is to help further develop and improve the story in preparation for publication, and in the case of comics, also improve the artwork. Oftentimes the developmental editor is also the same acquisitions editor that picked up the story--these roles often overlap. Developmental editors may also help with more managerial and administrative tasks such as creating a production schedule and submitting your book to the Library of Congress.
Developmental editors editing comics on graphic novels will often check in with the writer and/or artist at various stages in the production process and offer their feedback. These checkpoints may include:
- Script
- Thumbnails
- Pencils
- Inks
- Colors
- Lettering
Most of this communication is done over email, so whether you want to be an editor or want to work with one, make sure you can communicate well over email.
If you are an artist working with or planning to work with a developmental editor, know that you are not required to take all of your editor’s feedback. If you disagree with some of your editor’s edits, that is natural and okay. But please don’t get offended when your editor gives you critical feedback. That is their job, and most of the feedback they give you will be helpful and constructive. If you refuse to take any of your developmental editor’s feedback, they won’t want to work with you again in the future.
Line Editors or Copy Editors
The job of a line editor, sometimes called a copy editor, is to edit a story for clarity and continuity at the sentence level. In regards to comics, line editors will edit the dialogue and captions in the comic to try and make them as clear, effective, and grammatically correct as possible. Line editors will make their edits after the developmental editor has completed all their edits.
Proofreaders
Proofreading is the final step in the editorial process before a book goes to bookstores. Proofreaders check for any flaws or mistakes that might have been missed by other editors. Proofreaders check for any spelling on grammar mistakes, but in comics they may also look for coloring mistakes and any printing flaws.
A quick note to Creators who want to self-publish:
These steps described here are the editorial process for most traditional publishers. If you choose to self-publish, you are not required to follow the same steps, but I would highly encourage you to hire any editors you can afford. At the very least, it is always good practice to hire a proofreader to catch any typos you might have made. Editors can really help improve the quality of your work, and if you do publish a book or comic that hasn’t been edited, readers can often tell.
That's our brief overview of the comics editorial process. Hopefully you have a better understanding of the different kinds of editors and what they do, as well as how to work with them if you're an artist.
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