The Etiquette of "If"

Smiling Ted

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So I have two full submissions out there (three, actually, but one is with an agent who no longer impresses me).

One submission is with, well, let's call them Giant Powerhouse Dream Agency, GPDA.

The other is with Ms. Spunky New-Agent. We're on a first name basis.

Both GPDA and Spunky "prefer" exclusives, but know that the full MS is out to other agents.

Spunky turns things around fast, which is great. She responded to my query and partial in weeks, not months. GPDA, on the other hand, is so glacial that I initially thought they'd passed on my query when months had gone by without a response. However, Spunky is new, and GPDA is, well, GPDA! I'm talking about GPDA, here!

So what do I do if Spunky makes me an offer while GPDA is still out?
 

waylander

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You e-mail, or even call, GPDA and tell them you have received an offer of representation and that you have promised your decision to the offering agent (Spunky) within 7 days (which is about as long as you can stretch it without compromising your position with Spunky). Then you ask them if they are still in the game. If they are then great; if not, then you whole-heartedly go with Spunky with never a backward glance
 

scope

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Ditto to what waylander says. However, when you call GPDA be sure not to mention the name of the the other agency (Spunky).