In book publishing the acquisitions editor is the first editor who will come into contact with the manuscript. She will decide if the manuscript would be beneficial for the publishing house and if she can successfully pitch its literary and monetary value. Budgeting, marketing and contractual decisions are all a part of her domain. An acquisitions editor also facilitates communication between the writer and the publisher.
The duty of the developmental editor is to assist the writer in developing the material, including characters, setting and plot, into the most advantageous product for the writer and the publisher. How involved he may be in actually rewriting text varies according to the amount of development required before the manuscript can progress. This type of editor works closely with the writer, helping to make the necessary changes to fit the publishing house's guidelines.
The line editor's job is to go through the manuscript, line by line, and find any spelling or grammar errors that can compromise the quality of the material. In addition to common writing errors, he also ensures that overall word use contributes to, and is compatible with, the tone of the document. In some publishing fields the line and copy editor's duties are combined into one position.
Before the manuscript is sent to print, a copy editor examines it for inconsistencies in theme, factual information and style. Any issues involving potential legal conflicts are also addressed by this editor. Depending on the type of publication, he may edit the content for conciseness and word count limitation. His main purpose is to make the import of the text clear and enjoyable for the reader, and profitable for the publisher.
The production editor will manage the final aspect of the work as it transitions from a manuscript into a published material. Typesetting, artwork and budgeting for the project are some of the tasks of a production editor. Since she is usually the last person to review the material before it is bound and printed, this editor ensures quality is met in all areas.