hi jenn, do you set “closes” for other editors on submission upon editor interest? if that means the interested/offering editor needs to wait a few weeks, is that harmful to the process or a normal part of deal making?

Short answer: Sometimes (kinda), and yah it's normal. Long answer: A Closing Date is, basically, a deadline: the date by which all interested editors should have their offers in. Whether or not to set a close (nice use of parlance!) depends on the likelihood that there will be multiple offers / an auction scenario. But I'm probably not even nudging other editors, let alone putting a deadline on…