So my research has yielded two competing notions...
I should definitely find an agent to win over an editor. These silver-tongued Sal's and Sally's can take one look at my ms and lead me hand-in-hand to the editor of my dreams.
I should definitely find an editor to win over an agent. The legwork is done. I have found my prince charming and plenty of agents would be more than happy to make our nuptials official.
Kind of the old chicken or the egg dilemma.
So, which path do I choose?
Both!
Queries and submissions are flyin' out of this gal's mailbox/outbox...to both agents and editors (as carefully selected as a piece of perfect produce mind you.)
I've been researching publishers/editors for quite a while. So I am working my way through that list.
Researching agents has been new to me. I enjoy their increased level of accessibility and how they express their likes/dislikes, personality, style, etc. An agent/writer relationship is potentially long-term and knowing (and liking) your teammate is helpful.
So which will come first for me - the chicken or the egg - the agent or the editor? I truly don't have a preference, but I do have enthusiasm for my project and I look forward to sharing it with someone very soon!
More later...
Good luck with finding either of those!