Ep. 118: Editing Literary Fiction with Caroline Zancan (Senior Editor at Henry Holt) + Book Recommendations

In Episode 118, Caroline Zancan, Senior Editor at Henry Holt, joins me for another episode in the Genre 101 series — this time with a twist.  Caroline answers behind-the-scenes questions about editing literary fiction, as well as a deep dive into the genre itself.   This post contains affiliate links, through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). Announcements I’d love your feedback on the podcast!  Please take a moment to complete my 2022 Podcast Survey! Highlights How Caroline got into editing: right place, right time, and Craigslist. The varying college degrees, the wide range of colleagues’ previous careers, and whether there’s a typical career path to becoming an editor. The je ne sais quoi factor and determining if a book is for Henry Holt. The entire process of book acquisition at Henry Holt — from determining what books to pursue and bidding on manuscripts to the approval process. Caroline’s preference for dealing with an author’s agent. The execution of a compatible vision for the editor-author relationship. The “right” length for a book and editing big-name authors. What the heck is ‘literary fiction’ and why there seems to be a lack of consensus about this question. Current trends in the literary fiction world. Caroline’s Book Recommendations [39:19] Two OLD Books She Loves Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:33] Trust Exercise by Susan Choi | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:25] Two NEW Books She Loves Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:33] Cult Classic by Sloane Crosley | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:14] The Series of Books She DIDN’T Love Elena Ferrante Titles  [45:46] One NEW RELEASE She’s Excited About All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Mathews (August 2, 2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:32] Last 5-Star Book Caroline Read Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:40] Other Books Mentioned We Wish You Luck by Caroline Zancan [2:00] Happiness by Heather Harpham [2:17] The Parking Lot Attendant by Nafkote Tamirat [2:21] Sleepwalk by Dan Chaon [2:29] Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance by Alison Espach [2:34] On Writing by Stephen King [29:08] Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett [40:48] I Was Told There’d Be Cake by Sloane Crosley [44:58] Look Alive Out There by Sloane Crosley [45:00] About Caroline Zancan On Twitter Caroline Zancan is a Senior Editor at Holt, acquiring literary and upmarket fiction and memoir, and the author of We Wish You Luck and Local Girls. She is a graduate of Kenyon College and holds an MFA from the Bennington Writing Seminars.  Caroline lives in Brooklyn with her husband and their children.