The Editor/Agent Relationship - podcast

Publishing expert Alan Rinzler discusses the acquisition editor and agent relationship, including why editors want to work with agents, the role of the agent in shopping a book to the right audience, and the importance of an agent for authors. Generally speaking, acquisition editors want to work with agents they know who have provided them with good books or book proposals in the past. Editors have specialties. It’s an agent’s job to know which editors specialize in what. If you’re interested in publishing traditionally (even if you’ve already self-published), you need to have an agent. Agents and editors are best friends and worst enemies at the same time. Agents bring editors good books, but they are also tough negotiators. It's the editor's job to pay as little as possible for a book, and the agent’s job is to get as much as possible. As an author, you want an agent on your side in that negotiation.