Great expectations : What authors want from publishers

Curtis L. Clark argues that the editor-author relationship has dramatically changed. It has always been important for editors to maintain a close connection with authors throughout the publishing process. Increasingly, however, authors exact from their publishers greater advances, higher royalty rates, specific cover designs, rigid production deadlines and publication dates, and particular marketing strategies. The role of lawyers and agents in this period of negotiation between acquisitions editors and authors is growing in prominence. Clark concludes that greater pressure is placed on the editors to communicate effectively with other staff members, both about specific projects and about a changed environment requiring increased attentiveness and sensitivity throughout the publishing process.