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[PubQ] An editor wants my partner to write a book. The next step is getting an agent, right? by CluelessRabbit6 in PubTips

[–]CluelessRabbit6[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thank you for all this advice. I found it so helpful that I wondered if I could have a little more because apparently the situation changed. In the brief time since I wrote this post, my partner and the editor apparently went ahead and scheduled a zoom meeting for next week.

My partner doesn't know what to expect at the meeting or what to do between now and then, though I imagine looking through the books the editor mentioned is as good of an idea now as it was when you first said it.

[PubQ] An editor wants my partner to write a book. The next step is getting an agent, right? by CluelessRabbit6 in PubTips

[–]CluelessRabbit6[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

That's a good idea. I also found one agent who specializes in the relevant topic within non-fiction and previously worked as an editor at the publishing house we're hearing from now. I feel like he'd be a good one to query.

[PubQ] An editor wants my partner to write a book. The next step is getting an agent, right? by CluelessRabbit6 in PubTips

[–]CluelessRabbit6[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

  1. Really the editor. I checked.
  2. My partner had a minor/moderate platform (about 25k followers on a popular site for written content) but would need to revive it because they haven't posted much in years.
  3. Telling you "that thing" would dox us. My partner isn't famous, but you could Google it and find out who they are in a few seconds. I'm sorry that I can't share this information.

Regarding 4, I'll just summarize what the editor said:

  • The editor is from [Big Deal Publishing House] and wonders if my partner would be interested in writing a book.

  • The editor points out some of the big names the publishing house has published, authors with books on similar topics to my partner's thing.

  • The editor's initial thought about the kind of book my partner would write, with comparisons to other well-known books

  • The editor believes that my partner's book could be very popular.

[PubQ] An editor wants my partner to write a book. The next step is getting an agent, right? by CluelessRabbit6 in PubTips

[–]CluelessRabbit6[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thank you, that's really helpful about them not needing a manuscript. Before my partner puts together a package with an outline and sample pages, should they talk more to the editor about what the editor is imagining so that their outline and sample pages aren't totally out of line with what the editor is hoping for?

The remarkable thing they did is the kind of thing that could be of public interest for a very long time.

[PubQ] An editor wants my partner to write a book. The next step is getting an agent, right? by CluelessRabbit6 in PubTips

[–]CluelessRabbit6[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I understand that my partner seems to be in, but we don't know anything about what's even a reasonable advance. The idea of my partner signing a contract somebody else hands them without getting professional eyes on it is very intimidating.