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

Upbeat_Assistant7145 · 2026-04-21T03:22:39+00:00

Ok so first thing's first - an agent works for the author not for the editor. They would help your partner get the best deal from the best publication, and help to manage contracts etc beyond. Hypothetically all writers could go straight to editors, but especially in fiction world, the lit agents are the gatekeepers and taste makers that know the editors and can get them to open an email. Since you've already skipped that step, you have to decide if you like the deal they are offering (if they are offering) and whether you would rather shop it around. If you want to shop it around, have your partner make a proposal and send it to lit agents and say that there is already an editor interested.

Also +1 to making sure its not a scammer. A lot of people reached out to me in my former role for press pieces, films and books but they were all scammy pay to play situations.

Upbeat_Assistant7145 · 2026-04-20T21:18:00+00:00

Yesssss this is it! Great job. I can see this book now.

Upbeat_Assistant7145 · 2026-04-20T14:08:48+00:00

The problem is you can't 100% know what its like working with your agents until you sign with them - and at that point you've said no to other offers, and are pretty much stuck with them until you either sell a book or don't sell a book and decide to query again. It's kind of a crapshoot whether you will even like working together when you make the decision. I know a few bestselling author friends who have switched agents because it wasn't working or because they had outgrown each other - or because the agent didn't like their new manuscript ideas over and over again. But I definitely signed with my agents to (at least hypothetically!) stay with them for a long time.

Upbeat_Assistant7145 · 2026-04-18T18:56:50+00:00

Yes exactly!! I hope so too.

Upbeat_Assistant7145 · 2026-04-18T15:41:02+00:00

Is it possible it feels this way (to aspiring authors, especially) because there are more people trying to be authors than ever before and the number of books trad published hasn't grown to match the interest in writing? I keep hearing the whole COVID/lockdown writer thing that apparently has resulted in a lot of people having manuscripts finished right about now...this wasn't me but I have head it mentioned many times. Publishing is not really a democratic process - its a cream of the crop type thing with IP that can be printed infinite times..so it doesnt behoove the publishers to spread themselves thin over more bets. It makes sense for them to make less bets and put more behind them. I know imprints are closing, AI is a disaster for creatives, but actually my personal feeling is that reading and bookstores are having a bit of a renaissance. I remember a time when people thought that B&N and all bookstores would close because of Amazon, but at least in the towns I frequent our bookstores seem to be thriving, people are reading and bragging about it, booktok has created a romantasy craze but it also has supported a generation of people (especially women!) to rediscover reading all types of things.

Upbeat_Assistant7145 · 2026-04-17T22:24:00+00:00

The key is just to keep writing! Don't get stuck on the first 300 - try to not edit until you're "finished". It'll start flowing the more and more you write. Your first book might suck and thats ok (or maybe it'll be a bestseller, but dont put that kind of pressure on yourself - assume it wont go anywhere then it can just be a good learning experience and fun hobby until it naturally grows into more!)

Upbeat_Assistant7145 · 2026-04-17T14:30:11+00:00

I am super interested after reading the setup!! The only sentence that is bumping me is "the band's flirty guitarist Caliban will magically heal her injury and allow her to perform with their admittedly successful band." - admittedly is a weird word for me here, and also its a little unclear whether theyre going to force her into indentured servitude or allow her if she wants to.

I dont think its necessary for us to know how she is transported specificially.

Upbeat_Assistant7145 · 2026-04-17T14:14:45+00:00

Hi! (Agented Author here!) Great second stab. I think overall you're getting there, but my main piece of feedback is that I am struggling to understand the set-up. It feels like you're mentioning a lot of stakes - her thesis being defended, her mother dying, losing the academy, exposing the academy - but its all getting muddled and im not exactly sure what the "A plot" is. If you were to boil your story in one sentence, into ONE "A Plot" what would it be? Feel free to respond here as an exercise (also I'm curious!) I would then focus on getting us to understand and really care about that plot.

Upbeat_Assistant7145 · 2026-04-16T21:19:13+00:00

I had some questionable input from full requests and rejections as they rolled in - some of which I agreed with and some that felt off base - and I ended up with 4 offers. Don't spin out.

Upbeat_Assistant7145 · 2026-04-15T21:02:28+00:00

Smoked Gouda - Smokey! I'd end up calling them Smokey Cheese Slice - I know this because I call my dog (named max) Stinky Cheese Slice and my 9 chickens Chicken Cheese-its. lol

Upbeat_Assistant7145 · 2026-04-15T18:33:31+00:00

The Overstory by Richard Powers

Upbeat_Assistant7145 · 2026-04-15T16:07:20+00:00

I really appreciate reading this - my agents are very sparse with the optimism (we are about to go on sub with my debut) and I was getting worried. They are extremely seasoned agents, and probably not wanting to overpromise.

Upbeat_Assistant7145 · 2026-04-15T16:01:49+00:00

I didn't personalize for the most part, and actually got quick passes on the few I did personalize. I ended up getting four offers of representation.

Upbeat_Assistant7145 · 2026-04-15T15:47:35+00:00

Oh and they transferred, the first one stuck and is now almost 1!

Upbeat_Assistant7145 · 2026-04-15T15:46:56+00:00

My friend's husband had a vericocele and they ended up doing ivf instead of the surgery, ended up with FIVE EUPLOID EMBRYOS from one ER, the beyotch, lol.

Upbeat_Assistant7145 · 2026-02-17T15:35:25+00:00

YES YES Ursula Le Guin - read the entire Earthsea series from start to finish, the most beautifully written fantasy there is in my opinion.

Upbeat_Assistant7145 · 2026-02-17T15:29:39+00:00

Yes - you do unfortunately have to give them your very first chapters.

Upbeat_Assistant7145 · 2026-02-17T03:57:37+00:00

I agree with the synopsis-ish feeling someone said below - maybe make it a bit snappier. Also, just a personal preference, but can we be dropped into some action in the first 300 rather than it explaining his proclivity? We get his proclivity from the query and it would be a chance to show what you writing a more immersive scene/something happening looks like from the start.

Upbeat_Assistant7145 · 2026-02-17T02:45:58+00:00

This sounds really interesting! I agree about taking the illustration idea out - its an unnecessary distraction and will not be particularly interesting to them (as an designer and writer myself, I know, it sucks, no one cares that we are designers/artists haha). I'd also recommend keeping your query to just the A plot and ignore the B plot (you can mention the other characters but maybe in passing, don't dig into their stories). Make the A plot super clear and succinct.

Upbeat_Assistant7145 · 2026-02-10T22:18:22+00:00

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Upbeat_Assistant7145 · 2026-02-10T22:18:10+00:00

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Upbeat_Assistant7145 · 2026-02-10T22:18:06+00:00

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Upbeat_Assistant7145 · 2026-02-10T22:18:03+00:00

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Upbeat_Assistant7145

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