Comments on: A question of money http://quartetpress.com/blog/editorial-and-submissions/a-question-of-money/ Required Reading Sun, 13 Sep 2009 04:33:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: SonomaLass http://quartetpress.com/blog/editorial-and-submissions/a-question-of-money/comment-page-1/#comment-303 SonomaLass Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:44:28 +0000 http://quartetpress.com/?p=466#comment-303 I guess my concern with this model would be the amount of unpaid work an editor might do with reading, evaluating and ultimately rejecting submissions. It seems to me that some sort of base salary would provide motivation to take more time and care with those aspects of the job. Also, this model makes the editor even more dependent on the quality of submissions received; the more you would have to reject, the more work you'd be doing for essentially no pay. One factor that would make a big difference would be whether royalties are paid on all sales or only net sales, and if the latter, on what the net threshold was. I guess my concern with this model would be the amount of unpaid work an editor might do with reading, evaluating and ultimately rejecting submissions. It seems to me that some sort of base salary would provide motivation to take more time and care with those aspects of the job. Also, this model makes the editor even more dependent on the quality of submissions received; the more you would have to reject, the more work you’d be doing for essentially no pay.

One factor that would make a big difference would be whether royalties are paid on all sales or only net sales, and if the latter, on what the net threshold was.

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]]> By: Jennifer Feddersen http://quartetpress.com/blog/editorial-and-submissions/a-question-of-money/comment-page-1/#comment-298 Jennifer Feddersen Fri, 04 Sep 2009 03:14:06 +0000 http://quartetpress.com/?p=466#comment-298 I think one benefit to the arrangement is that Quartet's editors are going to be working hard to see it succeed. It sounds like the perfect arrangement for someone planning to be in the business for the long haul. I think one benefit to the arrangement is that Quartet’s editors are going to be working hard to see it succeed.

It sounds like the perfect arrangement for someone planning to be in the business for the long haul.

]]> By: Melissa http://quartetpress.com/blog/editorial-and-submissions/a-question-of-money/comment-page-1/#comment-297 Melissa Fri, 04 Sep 2009 02:48:18 +0000 http://quartetpress.com/?p=466#comment-297 Hi Angela, I was initially surprised to see a royalty dimension listed as part of the content editor's compensation in your call for applications. Why? Mostly because I'd never given it any thought. I'm new to the publishing industry and haven't come across the details so openly shared as you guys do on this blog. Yet, upon reflection, I think I can see some merit in this approach. Books that are exceptionally written, carefully edited, beautifully packaged and prominently marketed will yield greater long term sales. Not only due to initial push of a new release, but of repurchase from consumers who learn the Quartet brand equates a quality publication. In the long term, this seems like it could be a strong compensation model for good content editors, however I imagine it's a labor of love (and lower compensation expectations) while the backlist and brand is building momentum. As always, I learn fascinating details of the publishing industry by following the Quartet evolution. Melissa Hi Angela,

I was initially surprised to see a royalty dimension listed as part of the content editor’s compensation in your call for applications. Why? Mostly because I’d never given it any thought. I’m new to the publishing industry and haven’t come across the details so openly shared as you guys do on this blog.

Yet, upon reflection, I think I can see some merit in this approach. Books that are exceptionally written, carefully edited, beautifully packaged and prominently marketed will yield greater long term sales. Not only due to initial push of a new release, but of repurchase from consumers who learn the Quartet brand equates a quality publication.

In the long term, this seems like it could be a strong compensation model for good content editors, however I imagine it’s a labor of love (and lower compensation expectations) while the backlist and brand is building momentum.

As always, I learn fascinating details of the publishing industry by following the Quartet evolution.

Melissa

]]> By: Jennifer Roland http://quartetpress.com/blog/editorial-and-submissions/a-question-of-money/comment-page-1/#comment-295 Jennifer Roland Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:10:07 +0000 http://quartetpress.com/?p=466#comment-295 And, because everyone needs a good editor, I'll mention that I meant to say "...the reputation you, Angela, and the rest of the folks involved with Quartet HAVE..." And, because everyone needs a good editor, I’ll mention that I meant to say “…the reputation you, Angela, and the rest of the folks involved with Quartet HAVE…”

]]> By: Jennifer Roland http://quartetpress.com/blog/editorial-and-submissions/a-question-of-money/comment-page-1/#comment-294 Jennifer Roland Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:08:20 +0000 http://quartetpress.com/?p=466#comment-294 This is an interesting way to handle payment for content editors, and I'll be checking back to see how well it works. I didn't know that was how it worked for a lot of digital presses--I have much more knowledge of print publishing. As someone who does contract editing, I appreciate that you are splitting the payments so that the editor will be paid, no matter how quickly or well the book sells. It shows a healthy level of respect for the work a good editor does. That--combined with the reputation you, Angela, and the rest of the folks involved with Quartet--will help you attract and retain a stable of satisfied editors who will work with you and your authors to ensure that you put out only the best books. This is an interesting way to handle payment for content editors, and I’ll be checking back to see how well it works. I didn’t know that was how it worked for a lot of digital presses–I have much more knowledge of print publishing.

As someone who does contract editing, I appreciate that you are splitting the payments so that the editor will be paid, no matter how quickly or well the book sells. It shows a healthy level of respect for the work a good editor does. That–combined with the reputation you, Angela, and the rest of the folks involved with Quartet–will help you attract and retain a stable of satisfied editors who will work with you and your authors to ensure that you put out only the best books.

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