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The Care and Feeding of Editorial Assistants
By Allyson E. Peltier
Few writers know this, but Editorial Assistants are the gatekeepers of publishing. In the world of towering slush
piles and deep submission bins, EAs are often the first to look at submissions. They screen calls and fend off anxious
authors and would-be authors. In book publishing (and, I would guess, magazine publishing as well), the proper care
and feeding of Editorial Assistants is the key to gaining an Editor’s attention and developing a solid relationship with
your publisher. Following these tips from the front may make all the difference between rejection and acceptance, avoidance
and attention.
Understand the psychology. EAs think like this: it is my job to protect my boss’ time. It’s really that simple. Editors
are ridiculously busy with many aspects of the business in addition to acquiring and editing, so the role of the
Gatekeeper is paramount.
Make sure your submission is professional. Chocolates are like free address labels—they’re nice, but no one thinks,
“Well, I should reciprocate and give this extra attention.” If the EA isn’t impressed, she won’t want to waste her boss’
time (and make herself look bad) by passing on your work for review. So polish your writing and research your intended
market. Carefully edit your material. Use sturdy, clean paper and a readable typeface. And make sure you spell the Editor’s
name correctly on all correspondence.
Make sure you are professional. Do not call twice a week, once a week, or even every other week to see if your submission has
been read yet. You may call once to make sure your package was received, and you may also call to check in once a month
thereafter. EAs sift through hundreds of submissions weekly to find those worthy of their boss’ attention. EAs also write
Reader Reports that summarize a submission’s content and give an informed opinion. If you harass the EA, her report will
include how annoying and rude you are. There are thousands of hopeful writers and very few Dr. Phils and Stephen Kings. No
editor wants to sign a difficult author unless the work is just too good to pass up—and very few are that
good.
Treat your EA like a partner. EAs organize their boss’ schedules, participate in the production process, and keep
tabs on pending issues. If you have a question, the EA will usually be the one to provide the answer. Establish a friendly
rapport with your EA early on. Always be polite. Ask thoughtful questions. Show that you are invested in your success as a
published author. These behaviors will earn your EA’s respect, and she will be more likely to go that extra mile for you—especially when it involves getting something you need, or
pulling your Editor away from a hectic day to talk to you. If you treat your EA like a secretary, she will simply take your
message and promise that someone will get back to you...eventually.
Be realistic. While you are concerned with only one book, your Editor and EA are managing several. So if you call or
email, give them some time to get back to you. It may take them multiple calls to different departments to get the
information you need or pass on the suggestions you’ve offered. There are also marketing meetings, staff meetings,
business lunches, reading periods, editing sessions, phone calls, paperwork, research efforts, and many other components
that make up a work day. Publishing is a big, complex business—you can’t take it personally that you aren’t first on everyone’s
list. There is a difference between polite reminders and foot stomping: if you call once, the EA will keep reminding your
Editor until he or she calls you back. If you call five times a day, the EA will probably only bother your Editor about it
once.
So while your ultimate goal may be to reach an Editor, don’t forget about the Editorial Assistant who answers the phone.
She just may get your submission read, your questions answered, your concerns heard, and your book published more successfully,
with more of your input.
BIO
Allyson E. Peltier is a writer and editor, a Phi Beta Kappa graduate and Master of Arts in English and Creative Writing—and a former Editorial Assistant for a major publisher in NYC.
Her work has appeared in a wide variety of places, including Circle Magazine, Absolute Write newsletter, and J3tlag.com.
She lives in New York City. You can learn more about her at www.ambitiousenterprises.com
and www.mediabistro.com/AllysonEPeltier.
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