Emma Schwarcz set on the path to becoming an editor ten years ago, when a friend of her mother asked her if she was willing to be the handmaiden to someone else’s success. Earlier this year, she attended the Residential Editorial Program at Varuna House. The program, an Australian Publishers Association initiative, is for mid-career editors and has been described by Michael Heyward (Text Publishing) as ‘an extraordinarily valuable program. It gives editors a unique opportunity to learn more about their craft, both from their mentors and from each other.’

I spoke to Emma about what makes a good editor, the editor–author relationship and the best way to characterise the editor: as diplomat, midwife or handmaiden?

Produced by Rafiq Copeland. Music is Pompey.

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