Good Sign?

Kiltinator · Apr 23, 2008

First time novelist here. Just finished the third draft of my thriller, having written an 80,000 word first draft which I threw out entirely.

Anyway, over the past week or so, I've queried three agents, all in the UK.

Having seen a brief synopsis and my bio, all three requested partials. One came back within three minutes of getting my email (I kid not!). Now two have come back, having read the opening chapters, with 'like it so far, send the rest'. Still to hear from the third.

I'm obviously pleased, but does this really mean anything? How significant is getting two, and maybe three, full manuscript requests from three queries?

Are thrillers really that hot a genre for UK publishers? It's set in America so I thought that would make things even more difficult, not less.

Is this beginner's luck which will end with my heart stomped in the gutter?

Anyone had experience of getting full manuscript requests which came to nothing?

Any views/advice appreciated.

Thanks.

MickRooney · Apr 23, 2008

Sounds like you've put a lot of work into your novel and two requests from three agents is indeed a very positive sign.

Well done!

victoriastrauss · Apr 23, 2008

Moving from Bewares & Background Check to Ask the Agent, since the question doesn't involve a specific agent.

- Victoria

Kiltinator · Apr 23, 2008

Sorry Victoria! My bad.

Toothpaste · Apr 23, 2008

Thrillers are very hot in the UK. My agent represents Lee Child, John Connolly and Martina Cole (all UK - and one Irish - thriller writers), and each time one of these authors puts out a new book, they hit number one on the bestseller lists right away.

Congrats on all the interest!

scope · Apr 23, 2008

You are batting 1000 - what could be better than that (except ultimately selling your work)?

Seriously, your work must be good to have elicited three responses from three agents in so short a period of time. It certainly isn't beginners luck, and whether or not it turns out only time will tell. Whatever, you should be happy as a pig in XXXX.

Good luck

Will Lavender · Apr 23, 2008

Thrillers are hot all over the world. Hard to find an agent who isn't looking for a big, well-written thriller.

Still, this means there are more unpublished thrillers floating around out there. The field is competitive, and your situation sounds great to me. Best of luck to you.

cate townsend · Apr 23, 2008

Kiltinator said:
Anyone had experience of getting full manuscript requests which came to nothing?

Oh, you will find plenty of that here. Some folks luck out and get one full request that turns into an offer, but many more get several requests for fulls and several rejections on fulls before getting an offer.

Your situation doesn't sound like beginner's luck. It sounds like you've got one heck of a query and concept. Good luck to you, and please keep us posted of your progress!

waylander · Apr 23, 2008

Kiltinator said:
Anyone had experience of getting full manuscript requests which came to nothing?

Any views/advice appreciated.

Thanks.

Yeah lots.
A dozen or so in the UK (including 2 resubmissions after changes) and 8 in the US
I've got an agent now though.

Remember - established agents take maybe 2 or 3 new clients a year
Your best chance is always with someone (with an appropriate background) setting up a new agency or moving agency.

Kiltinator · May 1, 2008

Thanks for all the advice/input/good wishes.

The third agent who read a partial passed, in part because there were two other agents potentially involved. Knowing a little bit about him I thought this might be the case. He was however very nice about it and I appreciated his candor.

Full manuscript now with the other two.

Interestingly I've also queried a few American agents and received very terse rejections, although one did suggest I spend some time learning how to write a proper query

I've been really struck by the contrast, not in terms of whether they've wanted to look at my work, but in terms of how they communicate. Even looking at some of the US agent blogs (posting 'stupid' queries they've received) they come across as quite arrogant and a bit unpleasant.

arkady · May 1, 2008

Kiltinator said:
[...]

I've been really struck by the contrast, not in terms of whether they've wanted to look at my work, but in terms of how they communicate. Even looking at some of the US agent blogs (posting 'stupid' queries they've received) they come across as quite arrogant and a bit unpleasant.

We notice that here in the US, too.

waylander · May 1, 2008

Kiltinator said:
Interestingly I've also queried a few American agents and received very terse rejections, although one did suggest I spend some time learning how to write a proper query

I've been really struck by the contrast, not in terms of whether they've wanted to look at my work, but in terms of how they communicate. Even looking at some of the US agent blogs (posting 'stupid' queries they've received) they come across as quite arrogant and a bit unpleasant.

The query you send to a US agent is really very different to what you send to UK agents. If you really want to learn how to do it the have a look at the query letter thread in SYW, also queryshark.blogspot is a good new site to look at.
Good luck with the UK agents.

Kiltinator · May 1, 2008

Thanks for the link, Waylander. Interesting stuff.

Kiltinator · May 9, 2008

First Response to Full Manuscript

First response to the full mss and the agent wants to work with me. He got it yesterday. He's new as an agent, but has what I suspect is a seriously impressive track record. I feel like an idiot savant in all this (with the emphasis on idiot) - is former editorial director in charge of non fiction at a big publisher a big deal? I assume it is.

More importantly though, I agreed with everything he had to say about where changes could be made to improve the book.

Now, what the hell do I do with the others who have it? What's the etiquette?

I'm more nervous now than I was before.

IceCreamEmpress · May 9, 2008

Kiltinator said:
First response to the full mss and the agent wants to work with me. He got it yesterday. He's new as an agent, but has what I suspect is a seriously impressive track record. I feel like an idiot savant in all this (with the emphasis on idiot) - is former editorial director in charge of non fiction at a big publisher a big deal? I assume it is.

It's a solid background, yes. Yay!

More importantly though, I agreed with everything he had to say about where changes could be made to improve the book.

Great! That's key.

Now, what the hell do I do with the others who have it? What's the etiquette?

I'm more nervous now than I was before.

You write to them and tell them that you've received an offer of representation from another agent you've queried, but that you haven't made a commitment yet. Here's a post by an agent talking about what she expects from potential clients in that situation. Note: this is a US agent, but I've never heard that the etiquette for this situation is different in the UK.

Kiltinator · May 9, 2008

Thanks ICE,

I'll read that post.

Just got through reading the clients the agency represent and it's quite intimidating - and I'm not a guy who gets intimidated. My approach with this whole thing was to write the best draft I could and not obsess about the detail of the industry.

Will Lavender · May 9, 2008

Congrats, kiltinator!

Appalachian Writer · May 9, 2008

Best of luck. I write in US and I've had that heart-pounding request for fulls. So far, none of the full requests have come to fruition, but I'm still hopeful. With ALL (I'm sure the third one will make the same request) agents responding positively, you're certainly doing something right! Congrats.

RoccoMom · May 9, 2008

Wow, that's great. Congratulations. three requests is good.

Angela_785 · May 9, 2008

Sounds like you're generating a lot of excitement. Keep us updated!

Kiltinator · Jun 10, 2008

Update

So, the full MS went to four agents. One passed. Three wanted to rep it. It was an agonising choice as they were all good, but one stood out for his reputation, track record and sheer enthusiasm and today I signed papers. Work to be done and we aim to go out in September.

Calla Lily · Jun 10, 2008

Woo-hoo! Congratulations!

Ldyjarhead · Jun 10, 2008

Outstanding - congratulations!

When's the party? :partyguy:

IceCreamEmpress · Jun 10, 2008

Thanks for the update! Congratulations. I look forward to reading it.

waylander · Jun 10, 2008

Kiltinator said:
So, the full MS went to four agents. One passed. Three wanted to rep it. It was an agonising choice as they were all good, but one stood out for his reputation, track record and sheer enthusiasm and today I signed papers. Work to be done and we aim to go out in September.

Many congratulations. I hope your agent is able to sell the project

Good Sign?

Kiltinator

MickRooney

victoriastrauss

Writer Beware Goddess

Kiltinator

Toothpaste

THE RECKLESS RESCUE is out now!

scope

Commonsensical Maverick

Will Lavender

Everything is what it seems.

cate townsend

waylander

Who's going for a beer?

Kiltinator

arkady

waylander

Who's going for a beer?

Kiltinator

Kiltinator

IceCreamEmpress

Hapless Virago

Kiltinator

Will Lavender

Everything is what it seems.

Appalachian Writer

Somewhere in the hills....

RoccoMom

Angela_785

Kiltinator

Calla Lily

On hiatus

Ldyjarhead

IceCreamEmpress

Hapless Virago

waylander

Who's going for a beer?