The way things used to be?

One of the problems with the state of publishing today is that editors don't have the time or the luxury of actually editing in the traditional sense.

Our most recent Overnight Success? story, contributed by thriller writer Michael Palmer, gives a glimpse of how things used to be:

"...my agent was able to sell [my outline] to a wonderful editor and teacher named Linda Grey at Bantam Books. She used several drafts of the actual book to teach me the nuts and bolts of writing a thriller. Finally, after about 5 drafts, the book was published..."

Can't imagine that happening today. It's one shot and you're out.