Agent Speak Decoded

[Johnny 5]

Not sure if there is an entire board for this topic but reckon it would be useful. Literary agents sometimes speak in a secret code way.
I just had this comment from a personal chat which I am struggling to decipher. I'm only pulling out the sentence and hopefully it is enough to go by. How do you guys interpret this:

“. . . agents/editors being more likely to put out these calls, more so than any other type of call . . . “

I’m not American so possibly this is a general term that is foreign to me. But what does it mean to put out a call?

I would ask the agent but you know how it goes. You don’t want to scare them off!

Happy Easter everyone

  <--- just pretend it's a bunny.

[Miss Plum]

Put out calls = make calls. We're talking about phone calls, right?

My guess is "put out" is used to connote an attempt at accomplishing something with these calls with no certainty of success.

[Johnny 5]

I don't think phone calls Miss Plum, no. It was in response to a question I asked about what agents are currently seeking in the market, and in the reply that part sentence was included.

My take was it meant to "send out a public message" or "make public the message of" but wanted to check if it was maybe a term others on here were familiar with.

UPDATE:
I just found this definition on a random site: To publicize that one is looking for or in need of someone or something.

OK makes sense now

[JeanneG]

I would interpret that as a "call for submission," or "request for certain types of books." Similar to what magazines mean when they put out a "call for submission."  The agent is saying he/she would like to see certain storylines or genres.

JeanneG

[Tabris]

I'm with Jeanne, that editors make it known that they're looking for a cozy mysery with corgis in it, or whatever.

[Miss Plum]

Seconded (or fifthed, accordingly). That was pretty much my meaning, whether by phone or other means.

[Johnny 5]

Thanks everyone

Glad this mystery is solved