It's Ok Not To Know

Even if you think you should know

Oct 24, 2023

Friends,

From time to time, I like to bring questions from our Q&A Thursday1 pile to the whole class, so to speak. And today? I'm sharing a very good question, but I’m not going to answer it. You'll see why.

J asks: I have an agent. And he’s perfect for me. AND, he’s asked me to give him a list of editors I’d like to work with…kind of dream-team imaginings. But I have to be honest, I have no idea. There is so much change happening in the business, so many people coming and going, and frankly, I’m out of touch.
So I have a book now, (which is #5) and it’s not an easy bite. While my agent loves me, and loves the book, and I love him right back, I honestly have no idea who it should go to in the world. How does one research that? He’s been submitting and getting rejected over and over. This is not a surprise. These are grizzly times. But I’m curious about your “wide view” thought on this.
And I’m also curious who you would send a book about [describes book, which I am leaving out here]. Kate, you are busy and I’m sorry for this long letter, but again…any thoughts you have. Any editors that jump to mind. Any idea, no matter how small, would mean the world to me.

This answer is not going include a list of editors that J should work with, that J’s agent should reach out to. J told me about their work some but a few sentences about the book's topic is not sufficient for me to suggest anyone for it but the most obvious choices, and even then those probably won't be helpful. When I first read this question, I took it as my agent wants my suggestions about where to send my book. But on further readings, I noticed J’s agent said to “give him a list of editors I’d like to work with…kind of dream-team imaginings.” Those two things aren’t necessarily the same thing. (J is probably asking for both or either here.) Only J knows who is on J’s dream team.

I run into questions like these when talking to prospective clients I’m courting. Usually on The Call, the author will ask who do you see sending my book to? I can answer that better because I’ve read the author’s work! I would probably mention an editor or two, an imprint or three. But I wouldn’t go through my whole 15-20 person list because, well, I haven’t made it yet, and it doesn’t spring forth fully formed from my head like Zeus. It takes me at the very least an afternoon to come up with a list, and usually longer than that, as I research and think and search and mull.

It is 1000% ok for J—and anyone else—to ask this question. Let me say it again. This is an extraordinarily common and reasonable question to ask. There just isn’t usually going to be a satisfying answer. It’s like asking me who you should date. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ And while I hesitate to make publishing-is-like-dating metaphors, it’s really true. You don’t want me to set you up with someone unless I know you, and your work, better.

The other things is—J’s agent has probably already sent it to anyone I would suggest, and without me knowing the full submission list, it would be a waste of both of our time for me to guess. It would be like me saying have you tried HarperCollins? J’s agent has most certainly tried HarperCollins.

So why is J’s agent asking this? Has he run out of ideas? Is he trying to pawn off his work on J? Nah. He’s asking because the agent/author relationship is a collaborative one. I ask my clients this, or something like do you have any favorite publishers or imprints? because that’s part of the collaboration. They might have really great ideas! They may have met a great editor at a conference or a reading and yup, they should go on the list! But—and I can’t stress this enough—I don’t know is a completely acceptable answer!!!!!!! If my client says they have no clue, I fully understand. I expect that answer more than any actual editors’ names. Some experienced authors have lots to share, and agents are open to that information always. Some debut authors only have high hopes and dream imprints, and that is ok, too.

Many of us do not like to come up empty handed when we’re asked for something. <Points enthusiastically at myself.> But J’s agent will understand. He won’t be mad. He won’t think geez, what a maroon this author is. I guarantee it.

What I suspect is that J is feeling anxious, and understandably so. They have been on submission for a while2. They’ve written a few books. It can be stressful for your great and powerful agent to ask what do you think? But I wouldn’t be surprised if J’s agent has also asked colleagues and friends for thoughts. I have definitely called other agents—both my HMLA colleagues and those at other agencies—and said Hey, do you know anyone who likes X? Hey, do you know anyone at <imprint> well? Hey, haven’t you done a lot of <genre>? Sometimes a new set of eyes helps. Asking is normal. So is not knowing.

If J wanted to do their own research, they could head to the bookstore or library and look at books in a similar genre/geared to a similar audience, or their all time favorite (recent) books, and look in the acknowledgments and write down all the editors mentioned. This may or may not yield useable results. If J has a publishersmarketplace.com subscription, they can search the Deals section for their genre, and see if anything relevant pops up.

There may be a point when there are no more editors to send to. This happens to everyone. It’s normal. There probably is not, however, one perfect editor hiding somewhere that someone else knows about, if only they were asked. You can only turn over so many rocks.

J, you might not be there yet. You are doing the right thing asking for help. I can’t personally help you, but hopefully those suggestions above will be useful. Talk to your agent. Good luck.

Agents and Books

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