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Are Editors Even Important or Needed Any More?

Are editors even important or needed any more?

A “Cranky Editorial Guy” session held on March 18, 2025

It’s a good question: Are they? Many authors have indicated how even with traditional houses, they receive minimal editorial guidance or work. And I hate to admit it, but I have looked at many traditionally published books over the last couple of years and wondered—did an editor even look at this? Is this also turning the tide towards self-publishing since editorial shaping was one of the hallmark advantages of traditional publishing houses?

Jeevan Sivasubramaniam is the VP of Editorial at Berrett-Koehler. He has been in publishing for thirty years in acquisitions and administration and has worked with over 700 authors and books.

Other “Cranky Editorial Guy” Webinar Recaps

What Publishers Really Want to See in Your Book Proposal (But Won’t Tell You)

All nonfiction book proposals ask for the same basic bits of information, but what are publishers really looking for? What are the words, commitments, and things that make them sit up and take notice and what makes for a damn good proposal? In this webinar on September 10, 2025, Jeevan Sivasubramaniam (who has reviewed, no…

Continue Reading What Publishers Really Want to See in Your Book Proposal (But Won’t Tell You)

Threat, Benefit, or Both? What AI Means for Your Book and the Publishing Industry

Is AI the end of book publishing and authors as we know it? This conversation features Jeevan Sivasubramaniam, VP of Editorial at Berrett-Koehler Publishers, and Thad McIlroy, a published author and journalist, founding partner of Publishing Technology Partners, a contributing editor to Publishers Weekly, a board member at Johns Hopkins Press, and the principal of The Future of Publishing.

Continue Reading Threat, Benefit, or Both? What AI Means for Your Book and the Publishing Industry