Industry Insights: Jenna Gordon

By Leyla Mehmet, Elizabeth Guess, Kathryn Smith and Aimee Whittle

For this issue, we interviewed Jenna Gordon, Editor at VERVE Books, who provided some great insights into the role of an editor…

Could you tell us more about working as an editor – what’s your favourite part of the job?

I knew I wanted to be an editor from a very young age. I’ve always been an avid reader of novels and liked creative writing at school, but have since realised I find it much more fun to read and advise on other people’s writing and work collaboratively. Editorial is the perfect line of work for anyone who loves to read with their analytical brain switched on, who enjoys delving into and playing around with language, and who’s interested in helping to achieve effective communication between authors and readers and bringing an author’s vision to its full potential.

My favourite part of the job is submission reading. I love having the opportunity to read a vast range of manuscripts and give authors a home for their novels. There’s nothing like the immediate gut reaction you experience when you adore a piece of writing and know it’s right for your list, and then actually being able to get it. It’s a part of the job that requires a great deal of thought as well as passion, but brings a lot of excitement when it all goes well!

Read the full article on The Publishing Post