About The Editorial Department
Among the many changes in publishing since we opened our doors in 1980, few are of more consequence than the decline of in-house editing at major publishing houses. Whether you’re a first-time writer struggling to break into print or a published author whose last book did anything but make your publisher a fortune, the reality is the same: a manuscript that needs editing is more likely to be rejected than published.
While the independent publishing revolution gives authors a viable alternative to the “permissions model” of traditional publishing, the need for quality editing holds true. Most self-publication paths demand little, if any, quality control, and books that reach the market without achieving high standards of concept, execution, and editing rarely succeed. And that’s why we’re here—to give promising manuscripts the best chance of success via either publishing path.
Though the editor-for-hire market has only recently started to reflect it, the shift away from in-house editing and the ebb of opportunities for new authors (first novelists especially) began some time ago. Renni Browne, our founder, witnessed this shift from the trenches. By the late 1970s, she was a senior editor at William Morrow and was unable to spend much time working with authors on their manuscripts—a prevailing industry trend. She left mainstream publishing in 1978, and in 1980 started the first company devoted exclusively to book editing. She named it The Editorial Department because it provided the same services that editorial departments at publishing houses had once routinely offered.
Over 37 years later, this company’s success is a testament to the great need for highly skilled, independent editors. Today, we’re as committed to providing world-class editorial support as ever. But as the demands on professional writers have changed and expanded over the years, so have our staff qualifications and the scope of programs and services we provide our clients. Complete information about our service offerings is available here, and Ross Browne can be reached in the Tucson office if you have any questions about how we can help you.