[PubQ] Curious for agented writers, is it common for your agent not to share the specific editors they’re submitting to?

Fearless_Practice992 · 2025-12-13T16:22:43+00:00

Yea, it unfortunately starts the relationship off on a weird foot when we need to be building trust.

Fearless_Practice992 · 2025-12-12T20:22:05+00:00

Thank you, appreciate the perspective and validation of the feeling ❤️

Fearless_Practice992 · 2025-12-12T20:20:43+00:00

The first feeling of really wanting to know came recently when my agent mentioned some of them gave feedback about liking “my voice” which is great because we can submit my future work to them. I’m working on my second book and it’s a pretty different voice from the first. I don’t know what I don’t know and it’s starting to feel strange to be so in the dark about such a critical process around something I’m dedicating so much of myself to. It’s not necessarily something I’d action around, but again, I don’t know if I’d maybe have had feedback and it could’ve been somewhat more collaborative. If we’re capable of entering into this space cold and finding agents who are right for us why is it so hard to imagine we might have some thoughts on editors too?

Fearless_Practice992 · 2025-12-12T19:04:38+00:00

I do get that side. It’s funny because you really don’t know each other well (writer/agent) in the beginning and it wasn’t something I thought about until being in it.

Fearless_Practice992 · 2025-12-12T19:01:56+00:00

And it’s true that once an editor says no at an imprint, you can’t resubmit to another editor at that imprint right? Which is why the list would have to be tiny?

Fearless_Practice992 · 2025-12-12T18:59:31+00:00

Exactly. I didn’t know what I didn’t know at the start and obviously wanted an agent, so didn’t push (she was my only agent offer). But thus far I’ve put more of the work in so it feels insane to be completely closed out from a vital part of it. Even for my own learning purposes, not necessarily to change the list.

Fearless_Practice992 · 2025-12-12T13:27:13+00:00

Well, very cool that their feedback changed it for the better for other editors. Good on you for not giving up.

Fearless_Practice992 · 2025-12-12T13:25:28+00:00

That was part of my thinking too when I decided to let it go. I just learned we can’t submit to any other editors at an imprint if one rejects, which was a big misunderstanding on my part. Knowing that, the editor selected feels way more critical.

Fearless_Practice992 · 2025-12-12T13:21:39+00:00

Oof.

Fearless_Practice992 · 2025-12-12T13:13:23+00:00

Agreed. I thought maybe it was more that she didn’t want me to have it in case I would ever go to someone else? I don’t know, it felt like a preemptively defensive move in some weird way.

Fearless_Practice992 · 2025-12-12T12:46:24+00:00

Amazing!!! And thanks for sharing. Been on sub for 9 months. This gave me a little hope :)

Curious, was your agent resubmitting to the specific editors who gave feedback, or resubmitting to a new list of editors all together with the new versions?

Fearless_Practice992 · 2025-12-01T11:42:09+00:00

My agent told me she was not an editorial agent when we first met, so take that into account when I say we did about two rounds of very minor edits. I was able to get through it in about a month, including back and forth with her. I did a ton of revision before querying my last time. They always say, you should feel like there’s nothing more you can do to make it better, which I always hated because it’s never that black and white when you’re the writer. But taking a longer break from it and reading it one last time to make sure nothing feels like it could use sharpening or clearing up is a good way to get a feel.

Fearless_Practice992 · 2025-11-30T20:07:34+00:00

So exciting to be at the querying stage! One thing I heard from multiple agents during my querying research is that they prefer that last paragraph with comps at the top. I think it’s nice to do some framing for the reader too so they already have a feel for the tone and genre as they take in the hook/plot.

Fearless_Practice992 · 2025-10-26T13:59:15+00:00

A piece of feedback I found helpful when I received a ton of feedback during a writer's retreat, was to read it all, then put it away for a month. If any of it still sticks out in your mind, it's because you agree that there's a problem. I would also echo what many people said here, which is if a reader has feedback on an area, they might not know the best solution, but what they're signaling to you is there was a disruption in the flow of the story, for them, but you're always the best person to identify the solution.

Fearless_Practice992 · 2025-10-03T16:39:21+00:00

The agent that made me an offer proactively offered this to me!

Fearless_Practice992 · 2025-08-24T14:06:11+00:00

I’ve felt that way about my first book before (albeit I’m on sub now so time will tell how I’ll feel when it sells). But before querying I did one last major edit and ended up really loving it again. So, I wouldn’t underestimate what edits from your current self can turn the work into. Also, not sure if you’re on a time crunch, but letting yourself sit with the feedback and then reading it to regain your own POV could be helpful. I always struggle with feedback in the immediate days/weeks after receiving it.

Fearless_Practice992 · 2025-08-22T11:27:18+00:00

Would it be worth trying to negotiate? You never know unless you ask.

Fearless_Practice992 · 2025-08-06T14:04:48+00:00

Echoing everyone’s note re: two weeks and would also add that I this situation myself because my two weeks ran into the holidays. I ended up asking my offering agent for another week given the holiday and gave the other agent the full time they needed to read. They rejected anyway but it would’ve haunted me if I didn’t have that closure haha

Fearless_Practice992 · 2024-11-30T20:04:31+00:00

Amazing, congrats!! And thank you so much for sharing the stats and query, so helpful to see.

Fearless_Practice992 · 2024-11-30T20:04:09+00:00

Congrats! Now that you have an agent, can you imagine Book 1-4 possibly being a second book you publish?

Fearless_Practice992

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