Two editors shared at an event in Bogotá their views on the world of print publications. In an age where the digital book and the internet take more effective as a diffusion mechanism, how can you get a writer to publish a book under the traditional system still prevails where the figure of the editor?
By Camilo Calderón Steel
The publishing industry has remained low and unchanging routines for many decades. Many writers have finished their literary expectations long before it was published as the hand of an editor or indifference have held such interests. Still, keep coming hundreds of manuscripts from new writers to the publishing industry, which views thus seem more insurmountable than the Great Wall of China.
However, the revolution of new technologies has begun to generate variations in the traditional publishing model and created an alternative way for the writer. For Maria Candelaria Posada, editor of Children's Literature in Editorial Standard until 2004, reaching the gates of a large size editorial Alfaguara Planet or loss is a battle for the beginner, but it is the only place where to start . Posada
establishes two clear strategies for writer: using digital media like blogs to publicize the work and reach independent publishing. Also participate in literary competitions but not large scale and participate in creative writing workshops to give maturity to the manuscript before reaching the editor. These suggestions are more for matters of form rather than substance because, "the writer is first and foremost an artist who does not owe anything to anyone, regardless of what you say," emphasizes Posada. For her, the editor's role should not go beyond complement the work of the author.
considered differently from Carlos Sánchez Lozano, author and textbook editor for over 20 years, for whom the editor has a lot of interference in reviewing manuscripts, being who may suggest a higher or remove chapters and even get to propose a change of gender to a character. These criteria are not arbitrary at all, according to Sanchez are ways to ensure the publication of the work and the books are part of a publishing company, which like all others, should generate profits and depends on the editor "to ensure that the work say what should say. "
Editors should make books that society needs, strongly emphasizes Sanchez, not with the intention of discouraging but also as a suggestion for writers. These are not texts to accommodate what publishers need. The formula for it is to be resourceful and exploit 'niches', these specific groups of readers who want to write them and are underutilized. After this step should ideally investigate by publishers to publish texts or collections aimed at that audience.
However, this road is not complete if the work has not previously been through 'filters', either a narrative workshop, the hand of a literary agent has reached the hands of the editor for a recommendation. The whole process is based on the large number of manuscripts that can have an editor of a major publisher on your desktop or e-mail inbox, which in the words of Sanchez impossible to see all quickly. Inevitably, the manuscripts 'filtered' will be first on the reading list for the editor and are not the best.
* This practice of journalism was not meant to be published and this is the ideal place to do it and that it is not shelved.
