procedure re. offer of representation |
Author: Roberta L. (---.nyc.res.rr.com)
Date: 07-30-08 22:47
Hi all,
I've got a question and it may have been answered before (it probably was) but I didn't see it in previous threads.
I've been querying for 3-4 months and right now three agents have the full ms. (it's a novel) and two have the first 50 pages. One of the agents with a full emailed me and said he really liked it (this was actually a revision that he'd requested) and wanted to meet with me on Monday. So, my question is, if he offers me representation after we meet, what do I tell the other agents who have it? What do I tell the agent I'm meeting? (Just to be clear, one of the agents I haven't heard from, who has a full, is one of my dream agents.)
I think I've read about this situation before and it seems like the considerate thing to do would be to say to the agent I'm meeting (if he offers representation) that two other agents are reading it, and I'd like to give them another week before I give an answer. Then I call or email the two agents and tell them I've been offered representation by someone and want to give them a week to review my ms. before I give an answer.
Does this sound right?
Thanks everyone, in advance!
RL
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Re: procedure re. offer of representation |
Author: Keith . (---.dhcp.spbg.sc.charter.com)
Date: 07-30-08 23:20
That's exactly what I would do. Fingers crossed!
km
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Re: procedure re. offer of representation |
Author: June Casagrande (---.dsl.lsan03.sbcglobal.net)
Date: 07-31-08 00:14
No. 1: Congratulations! That is both very exciting and an awesome compliment of your writing.
No. 2: Six simple words: "When do you want an answer?"
I have a long history of thinking I need to volunteer tons of information about myself and explain myself and explain myself and explain myself some more. It's not true.
This agent knows you've probably been pitching others. He knows he may not be the only one who wanted to see your work. There's no need to hand over all the power and then some. Just thank him for his wonderful offer of representation and ask when he wants his yea or nay.
If he says, "One week," then contact the others and tell 'em they can join in the bidding war!
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Re: procedure re. offer of representation |
Author: Smiling Curmudgeon (---.tukw.qwest.net)
Date: 07-31-08 00:30
Roberta,
What Keith and June said.
I don't usually chime in when others have already given good counsel. Decided to do so in this instance.
And congratulaions on all the interest in your manuscript!
Cur
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Re: procedure re. offer of representation |
Author: d. Leroy (---.hfc.comcastbusiness.net)
Date: 07-31-08 09:14
Roberta,
Here is a great article that might provide some insight as well:
http://www.agentquery.com/writer_or.aspx
(I don't know how to make the link work on this thing, so you'll have to copy it and paste it into your browser.)
Congrats!
d.
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Re: procedure re. offer of representation |
Author: Debra Storky (---.oc.oc.cox.net)
Date: 07-31-08 10:31
I always thought that if an agent took the time and effort to make revision suggestions and a writer used those suggestions to improve the manuscript, the moral thing to do was to go with that agent rather than another agent.
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Re: procedure re. offer of representation |
Author: Robert Brown (---.hsd1.in.comcast.net)
Date: 07-31-08 10:33
Separation of good from bad would be so easy if everything were as simple as using "fiction novel" instead of just "novel" to make decisions as to whether to consider an author's book for publication or not. Maybe some publishers are that picky, but I can assure you most aren't.
Yes, I agree that there are good agents that aren't AAR members. However, when you use the AAR database to find an agent, you are assured that agents listed there at least have legitimate sales or they wouldn't be members. Plus with the AAR, authors at least have the protection of a Code of Ethics. There's little regulation out there but this organization does gives writers some protection against abuse, whereas with other methods for picking an agent, you have nothing but an agent's word that they're legitimate and honest.
I also agree with Jena. Never stop doing research, not only on agents but about publishing in general. Knowledge is power.
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Re: procedure re. offer of representation |
Author: Roberta L. (---.nyc.res.rr.com)
Date: 07-31-08 11:35
Thanks everyone, for your advice. And for that link to agentquery.com, too. I was surprised that they advise even telling agents who have a partial that you've been offered representation. Does that seem right?
You guys rule,
RL
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Re: procedure re. offer of representation |
Author: Atlantic Beach (---.185.48.237.Dial1.Washington2.Level3.net)
Date: 07-31-08 11:40
Congratulations!
Another consideration in choosing an agent is: how well can you work with this person?
The agent with the offer has already given you revision ideas which you implemented to his satisfaction, which means you trusted him enough to revise.
According to agent blogs, etc. fewer people are reading fiction today, so it's an ever shrinking market and more difficult for agents to sell fiction to publishers, especially first novels. An agent who LOVES your novel is the best bet.
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Re: procedure re. offer of representation |
Author: d. Leroy (---.hfc.comcastbusiness.net)
Date: 07-31-08 12:07
I think it depends on your intent for whether you send the OFFER OF REPRESENTATION email to those still reviewing your partial or MS. If you want to give this other agent a shot at it, I would definitely do that.
d.
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Re: procedure re. offer of representation |
Author: Rosie Suarez (---.mad.east.verizon.net)
Date: 08-01-08 12:44
And just as a friendly word of caution here, I have heard of occasions where the agent met with a writer but did NOT offer representation. So go in and see if that's what's going on, but don't assume an offer is a given.
If an offer is made, the agent will likely assume you want to touch base with other agents considering your work. I'm with my second agent now. In both cases, the agent I signed with assumed I'd have other agents to check in with, and I let the offering agent know that I'd have word back to her in a week. It worked out fine.
Good luck, and let us know how it turns out!
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Re: procedure re. offer of representation |
Author: Cathy C (---.direcpc.com)
Date: 08-02-08 18:46
I can't add anything to the good advice already given, so I'll just wish you good luck! :)
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Re: procedure re. offer of representation |
Author: Roberta L. (---.nyc.res.rr.com)
Date: 08-04-08 22:51
Hey everyone,
I thought I'd let you know how my meeting with the agent went. The agent was very nice, smart, and enthusiastic. I liked his ideas for the book. He offered to represent my novel pretty soon into the conversation; I explained that a few others had it and that I'd like a week to let him know my decision. He said that was fine.
I'd already emailed the agent I thought was my dream agent to say there was interest from another agent (she'd had my manuscript for five months so I figured a check-in was due anyway) and she wrote back the next morning to say she wasn't enough in love with my novel to take it on.
After I got home from meeting the agent today, I emailed the other agents (one had a full and two had partials) to say I'd been offered representation. The one with a full passed, as did one of the agents with a partial. The other agent with a partial wants more time and I explained that I needed an answer within a week.
Thanks everyone for your earlier responses -- that link to agentquery.com was really helpful in terms of questions to ask the potential agent and also the "offer of representation" email to send out.
RL
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Re: procedure re. offer of representation |
Author: Wonky (192.250.49.---)
Date: 08-05-08 01:48
*thumbs up*
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