Recommend your Editor

Um...if I were you I would have your agent handle this. I would never recommend editors to my agent-
Is your agent asking you to do this?

I have no authority to say this since I don't have an agent nor have a lot of knowledge of the ins and outs of the industry, but I'd second Orion. I would think that it's your agent's job to find the right editors for your project and hopefully have already established a professional relationship with some editors who will hopefully get you published.

I don't know of any editors to recommend to you, but I'd suggest for you to just sit back and relax, and let your agent handle this.

Either way, good luck with getting your ms in the hands of a great editor!

Yeah, I leave these types of things to my agent. After all that's what agents do!

I was always under the impression that maybe if there was one or two editors you especially liked, your dream editors, or maybe if you had a personal connection to some editor, then it would be OK to reccomend them to your agent, but for the most part, you let them figure out what editors your ms. would be best for. I definitely don't think you have to seek out more names to send your ms. to.

Popmuze, I think people are finding it odd because it's traditionally a part of the agent's job, and most writers leave their agents alone for that part of the process. I figure--as well as most of the writers here, probably--that my agent knows more about what individual editors are seeking and whether my ms. would be appropriate than I do.

My agent asked me if I had any dream publishers, but it's her job to have or find/create the editorial relationships at said publishers.

Yes, I'd find it a problem because it is a huge part of what the agent earns his commission from. Agents should already have a finger in the loop of markets they'll try your book with. If they don't then it is a part of their career priorities to create that. As an agented author you shouldn't need to be doing this footwork.

If the agent is new to his profession then I could understand the need for a collaborative effort. I'd also be offering a lower percentage than standard because he doesn't have the connections that are vital for the agent's job in this industry. Obviously, everyone has to start somewhere and your book/s might be his jumping point into this genre. If so then so long as you aren't paying full rates you could considered the collaborative effort part of your resource building (building an experienced employee). Of course, for this sort of thing he should be paying you. ;-)

I'd love to. Unfortunately . . .

caw

I think if YOU have some ideas about editors, based on either your encounters with them or other books they've published, then it's certainly worth your sharing those ideas with your agent. "Jane Doe at HarperCollins has worked with some of the greatest maritime-history authors ever, and I think she'd be just the ticket for my maritime history book!"

But I think that's the extent to which your agent actually wants your feedback. He already knows which editors are a dream to work with, and which editors are cranky, and which editors are total workaholics, etc., etc. We wouldn't have any information for you that he doesn't have already.

So, yeah. Your agent wants your ideas. He doesn't want our ideas.

Exactly, Ice cream.
Before my book went to auction my agent set up interviews with different editors who wanted to buy LOTTERY- she discussed my impressions of each one and after the auction I made my decision.
Also.
I would never recommend an author's work or suggest an editor for an author if I hadn't read the author's project.

IMHO and all that . . . we write the books and the agents sell the books. There's not much room for overlap, there. Sure, if your agent asks if you have any ideas or preferences then by all means share them with her. But -- and this is a big one in my book -- any agent worth their salt, and indeed worth their commission, knows far more about which editors are seeking what than I ever will.

I'd let him/her do their job.

Best,

Scott