PublishingFoundational
Acquiring Editor
The editor who champions a manuscript inside a publishing house and seeks approval to buy it.
Principle
An acquiring editor must persuade the house, not only love the manuscript.
Takeaways
- Acquisition depends on editorial enthusiasm and internal business support.
- The editor often prepares the project for an acquisitions meeting.
- After the deal, the editor usually leads developmental revision.
Overview
An acquiring editor is the publishing-house editor who evaluates submissions, decides whether to pursue a project, and advocates for it internally. Their role combines literary judgement with market argument: they must make the manuscript intelligible to editorial, sales, marketing, publicity, and finance stakeholders.
Examples
- An editor reads an agented manuscript and asks for a second read from colleagues.
- An editor presents the project at an acquisitions meeting.
- An editor buys a book and then sends a developmental edit letter.