A textbook editor oversees all stages of producing an educational book, from writing to printing and marketing. They manage a variety of tasks, including coordinating with writers and editors, overseeing printing, and setting marketing goals.
A textbook editor coordinates all stages of producing an educational book. He or she is involved in everything from writing to editing to printing and marketing. Many publishers have specialized areas of educational expertise to produce specific types of textbooks, but some deal with a variety of subjects.
A textbook publisher deals with educational books used by students from preschoolers to doctoral students in their efforts to learn about certain subjects. Every school subject book has an editor, from math books to science books to history books to even medical books. Some editors oversee multiple subjects and others may focus on a single subject. The number of areas of specialization largely depends on the publisher funding the production of these books and how it handles its work.
Regardless of the subjects covered, the textbook editor must manage a variety of tasks to guide a book through the publishing process. A publisher’s biggest job is to handle the creative and academic sides of writing the books. Just as a CEO determines which direction a company is going, an editor helps the company’s editors decide which topics should be included and excluded from a particular book. From there, the editor works with editors and writers to create content that effectively communicates information to the intended age group and is completely factual. Many textbooks also include illustrations, photos, and graphics, and the publisher coordinates with the art department to organize the creation of these items.
Overseeing the printing process is one of the primary responsibilities of a textbook publisher. Just as he or she does not do the editing or writing, an editor coordinates with other people to handle all the printing. A publishing house has a set budget for each project, and printing is often the biggest expense. Understanding the different paper options and binding techniques can help save money and create a textbook strong enough for students to use for years to come.
Sales and marketing is another important job of a textbook publisher. After the book has been written and printed, the publisher works to help spread the word about the virtues of that book over other books. An editor helps set marketing goals and sales expectations for the team tasked with selling these books to stores and schools. Any of these textbook editor roles carry a lot of responsibility, but the challenge of being an editor is juggling many jobs at once.
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