So I’m heading off to the New York office later this week, taking a couple of days off to be with the Unfeasible Clan, and then spending next week running around between meetings with editors and scouts. I’ve got tons of things to talk to them about, but in case the well runs dry, and to prove that I am nothing if not service-oriented, I’m throwing open the floor to questions.
I will take the three best questions left in the comments below from now until next Monday morning, and I will Ask An Editor (like this). I might not ask every editor I meet all three questions, but I’ll do my best to ask each of them at least one, and I will get back to you with their answers.
So there you go! The comments are open!
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I’ve had a couple of questions lately about education and career paths, and what to study or do to make your way into publishing, and, specifically, towards being a literary agent. Now, knowing that I’m not an officially licensed guidance counselor, here’s a few thoughts.
Chinese shoes for Susan, who writes, “I am writing a memoir about my marriage to a man from central China and have received requests for partials from a number of agents. And rejections from most of those agents. So in early June, I started working with a couple of editors to get my sample chapters in better shape. I’ve gone through 2-3 rounds of changes with each editor, both of whom I’ve paid and have said that the chapters have vastly improved. One agent has patiently been waiting for my samples since July, so I sent off 50 pages to him yesterday. My question is this: if this agent rejects my samples, do I query another agent and send the same samples, or do I go back to the editors and revise again?”
I’m told to ask an agent plenty of questions before signing on. When in the process should those questions be asked?
Despite the fact that many schools out here in Colorado started up again a week or more ago, the day after Labor Day is ALWAYS going to feel like a “back to school” day for me. And since it is a back to work day after a luscious three-day weekend, I’m inspired to tackle a number of questions in a special post-Labor Day speed round.
8 thoughts on “Ask An Editor!”
hmm a question to ask an editor? How about what trends are they tired of (ex. fairies, werewolves etc) and what do they want to see more of? Or if not trends, what types of heroines/heros do they look for? I know these aren't exactly original questions, but they would provide an interesting insight into the current market and editor expectations, I think.
How young is a Young Adult?
What makes an editor decide to market something as YA instead of middle grade? I just finished Curse as Dark as Gold and Bewitching Season.( I loved them) Why were they YA? Neither book had mature themes.
What's their position on websites for unpublished authors? Benefit, drawback, or something in between? Is it better to do it earlier or wait until you've signed on the dotted line?
When you're not gallivanting around across the continent, I'd be incredibly interested in hearing your take on it too, if that's not entirely too presumptuous. I've been having this debate with myself for a while!
I’d love to know what editors think about YA novellas, about 20,000 words. Are they receptive to short novels in this genre?
I've noticed a few publishers (where my agent has my book subbed) have been visiting my blog regularly. When editors visit a writer's blog, what kinds of things are they looking for?
What is the most common (or biggest) mistake they see first-time novelists making which causes them to say no to their project?
(I'm sure I've made them all in some of my projects, but I'd be curious to hear what the biggest one is.)
I have another…is that okay?
Same question, only a bit different.
What is the biggest mistake first-time novelists make that makes editors not want to work with them again. (They've given them a deal.)
Thanks!
Have a great trip!
🙂
Jean
YES! After half a day, I FINALLY remembered my super-cool question!
OK, so you know how Cory Doctrow allows anyone to download the full content of his huge hit, Little Brother? His theory is that an author's biggest problem is not people stealing the work, but being unknown–so he lets people download his book in the hopes that people will then like his work and buy the book (or buy other books of his).
My question is this: what is your opinion on this? What is the editors' opinions on this?
In my experience, it works. I bought a copy of Little Brother after reading the entire thing online–I thought my husband would like and bought it as a gift. This works for music and movies for me, too–I've bought countless CDs and DVDs based on downloading them. Cory Doctrow obviously thinks it works, too. But what do the publishing people think?