Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
• Scheduling Work and Activities Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Selling or Influencing Others Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

The Work

Literary editors work as a link between authors and publishers or producers. They usually specialise in a certain genre such as fiction, non-fiction, film, drama or poetry.

Within their chosen field they are responsible for keeping up-to-date with the trends and the needs of the market place. They must be able to spot appropriate works as they come along and be able to match these with the most likely facilitator.  
 
When negotiating terms on behalf of their client they must be aware of marketing, long term earnings, future placements etc.  
 
Increasingly agents are expected to have editorial skills. They should be able to liaise with the author to bring their work up to a standard that will be accepted.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Collect fees, commissions, or other payments, according to contract terms.
• Send samples of clients' work and other promotional material to potential employers to obtain auditions, sponsorships, or endorsement deals.
• Keep informed of industry trends and deals.
• Conduct auditions or interviews to evaluate potential clients.
• Negotiate with managers, promoters, union officials, and other persons regarding clients' contractual rights and obligations.
• Confer with clients to develop strategies for their careers, and to explain actions taken on their behalf.
• Develop contacts with individuals and organisations, and apply effective strategies and techniques to ensure their clients' success.
• Schedule promotional or performance engagements for clients.
• Arrange meetings concerning issues involving their clients.
• Manage business and financial affairs for clients, such as arranging travel and lodging, selling tickets, and directing marketing and advertising activities.

Further Information

• Literary Agent - from: GradIreland

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Linguistic

The Linguistic's interests are usually focused on ideas and information exchange. They tend to like reading a lot, and enjoy discussion about what has been said. Some will want to write about their own ideas and may follow a path towards journalism, story writing or editing. Others will develop skills in other languages, perhaps finding work as a translator or interpreter. Most Linguistic types will enjoy the opportunity to teach or instruct people in a topic they are interested in.

Creative

Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.

Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

Most entrants are graduates, relevant degrees include English, law, business and publishing. There are no courses specific to Literary Agency so, as a thorough understanding of publishing is necessary, most entrants have worked their way up from other jobs in the trade.

Although it may not be a technical requirement, commissioning editors typically have a third level degree in English literature, journalism or communications. Many start out as editorial assistants, progress to copy editors and eventually commissioning editors.

All experience of writing or editing publications is useful, and having a network of contacts in order to source potential authors is essential.

Training & Development

As a commissioning editor, you need to keep up to date with changes and developments in the publishing industry. Professional organisations often promote and organise training and events that will keep you up to date. See for example: 

The Association of Freelance Editors,

Proofreaders and Indexers of Ireland  

Publishing Ireland 

Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) (UK)

Postgraduate courses are also available in many colleges, in areas such as literature and publishing.

Progression opportunities depend on the size of the publishing company. Commissioning editors can progress into publisher roles with control over the whole editorial function of a publishing company, or set up their own publishing firm.

They can also move to a larger specialised publishing company, or to a magazine or newspaper. Your skills and experiences in the industry will also allow you to consider roles such as a literary agent.

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €35k - €64k

Nature of work makes estimating annual salaries difficult as income often isn't steady from year to year and will vary greatly from agent to agent.

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.

Data Source(s):
Eirieri / Prosperity.ie/ Payscale

Last Updated: July, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment levels in this occupation has seen little change in recent years, with numbers employed in 2022 slightly lower than five years ago, resulting in a negative employment growth rate. The CSO Census data indicates that increases in employment related to public relations professionals and librarians. 

The numbers employed in the individual occupations are too small for any further analysis.

• Publishing Training Centre

  • 45 East Hill, Wandsworth, London SW18 2QZ
  • +44 (0)20 8874 2718
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Publishing Training Centre

  • 45 East Hill, Wandsworth, London SW18 2QZ
  • +44 (0)20 8874 2718
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here