agents vs editors

resources for writers

Writing & Publishing:

path to publication

how to get published

agents vs. editors

nonfiction book proposal

nonfiction pitch

memoir story arc

More scoop:

Powell’s Q&A (w/ book recs)

Buy the book:

More praise for

The Motion of the Ocean

Agents vs. Editors

Whom should I approach?

In general, large publishing houses don’t accept un-agented queries, so if you want a big house, you’ll need to find an agent first. 
On the other hand, many small, medium, or niche publishers can be approached directly. 
When querying or pitching, be sure to research in Writers Market and/or Jeff Herman’s Guide whom you should send it to. Be sure to send only to good fits. 
Big vs. small press depends partly on your ambitions, but often on your book’s audience and scope. 
For example, MOTO could have been billed as a sailing book so I could have approached small presses or a sailing press, but I was writing for a broad audience--women, not sailors--so I reached out to both editors (at medium-sized presses) and agents (to access larger publishers). I got lucky--my agent, Rebecca Oliver, is fabulous; my agency, William Morris Endeavor, is lovely; and my editor at Simon & Schuster, Michelle Howry, is as smart as they come. You could get lucky, too!

Feel free to use this! Here’s where credit is due:
copyright © Janna Cawrse Esarey 2009
author of The Motion of the Ocean, www.byjanna.com

This information comes from a workshop I did for the Pacific Northwest Writers Association.

If you’d like me to talk to your group, email me.

Curious how to pronounce my name? It’s easy.
JAN-nuh Course ES-uh-ree
Rhymes with banana of course yesiree

copyright © 2009 janna cawrse esarey
home | contact