Panel of Editors

Notes from the Columbus Writer's Conference, Editors' Panel made up of Helen Atsma, Stacy Barney, Katie Gilligan, Jack Heffron, Sally Kim, and Peter Lynch

What are editors looking for in a memoir?
- Voice
- Unique approach
- World I haven't seen before
- Emotional truth, universality
- Themes I can identify with
- Structure: sharp sense of focus, theme or event that unites it

The manuscript is most important:
Concentrate on the first book, so that the editor will fall in love with it. Take the time to make that first book shine.

The editors revealed that most of them started out wanting to be writers, but as Peter Lynch stated, "I discovered that I'm not very good with the blank page. But I am very good at taking other people's work and strengthening it by bringing out their voice."

The job of the editor is not to create from nothing, but to work with what's already on the page. Their goal is to acquire books in order to build their "list" and get promoted. They take pride in what is on their list: books that resonated with them personally.

What they want from writers:
- High quality of writing
- Hook: commercial appeal
- Concise pitch
- Someone who can reach the audience that this book is seeking
- Depth and breadth of reading in your field