Book Editor practice interview
Developmental editing, author collaboration, line-level accuracy and managing a manuscript through production. Practise the 5 questions interviewers ask for this role with follow-ups. Paid plans add scored feedback on every answer.
Free with an Intaviu account: 320 credits a month, at 10 credits a minute of practice. Private: interview creators never see them.
- Mid level
- 20 minutes
- 5 questions
- Scored feedback on paid plans
About the role
This interview is for an editor who can shape a manuscript at both structural and sentence level and guide it through a publishing workflow. The panel is looking for sound editorial judgement, command of language, constructive author relationships and careful management of versions and deadlines.
How to prepare
- Review one manuscript you improved and separate your developmental, line-editing and copy-editing decisions.
- Prepare to explain how you identify the intended reader and use that judgement when making cuts or queries.
- Practise writing a concise editorial note that names a problem, gives evidence and suggests a direction.
- Think through your method for fact checking, maintaining a style sheet and tracking unresolved queries.
- Prepare an example of balancing an author's preferences with the needs of the reader and publisher.
Common mistakes
- Treating every manuscript problem as a grammar issue.
- Rewriting passages in your own voice instead of protecting the author's voice.
- Giving broad notes without examples or a practical route to revision.
- Ignoring version control, permissions or unresolved author queries during handover.
What to expect
A real first-round interview
5 questions the way interviewers ask for this role, with follow-ups when an answer needs more.
Spoken, like the real thing
Speak your answers in your browser or the free desktop app, with live captions. You can ask the interviewer to repeat anything.
Scored on 4 areas
The things this interview weighs most. With a paid plan, your report shows how you did on each one.
A private report
On Plus, Pro and Premium: every answer scored, your strongest lines quoted and what to say differently next time. Interview creators never see it.
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