Agent Request Etiquette?

HorsebackWriter · Mar 7, 2009

Hello, all.

I can't find a place to post this question, so hopefully I'm not posting it in the wrong place!

I'm presently querying agents for my second (YA) novel, and yesterday was a banner day -- 3 requests from three agents, (and my first partial request ever! I'm still in shock! Finally! : )

One agent asked for a small sample, one wants a synopsis after reading the first ten pages, saying she loved the voice, and the other agent said she loved the voice, and requested the first three chapters on exclusivity for two weeks.

I sent out the smaller sample (non-exclusive) before the partial request had come in, and today I will be sending out the partial exclusive and putting all my eggs, obviously, in that basket.

I just don't know how to respond to the agent requesting the synopsis and the agent who requested the small sample.

If the small sample agent gets back to me for more, do I then tell her my novel has since been put on exclusive, and ask her, if it doesn't work out, if I may submit in two weeks?

And the agent requesting the synopsis -- do I tell her the same? I'm thinking the exclusive precludes even sending out a synopsis, if another agent is interested?

Thanks so much for your help, beforehand. I am lost as to how to proceed, and I don't want to disrespect anyone or get this wrong after it took so long to get here.

Em

scope · Mar 7, 2009

Before you send your work to the agent asking for an exclusive you must officially withdraw (email and/or letter) anything else you have out there. You can't grant an exclusive when your work--by your permission--is being considered by other agents. You don't have to wait for replies to your withdrawals before sending the exclusive. Send it the following day. Have you considered how long a period of exclusivity to grant the requesting agent?

dawinsor · Mar 7, 2009

When an agent asked me for an exclusive, I always told them what else I had out and asked if that was okay. I pledged not to send anything else for a reasonable time (and the two weeks this agent asks for is reasonable). I never had an agent say no.

HorsebackWriter · Mar 7, 2009

Thanks to both of you for your quick replies!

1) I'm okay withdrawing the small sample I sent out first, since the agent I sent it to asks *everyone* for that small sample (which was actually already attached to my query, but she must not have scrolled down, and missed it). I'll thank her, and, if she's interested, ask to submit in two weeks if it doesn't work out with the exclusive agent.

2) I'll write the synopsis agent and thank her and ask the same, to resub in two weeks if it doesn't work out.

I get the feeling the exclusive agent is VERY firm in it being an exclusive (for two weeks), and I don't want to mess around with that. I'm very okay with the novel being off the table for two weeks, too, because it'll force me to take a break -- I've been polishing and querying seven days a week for the last few months -- or rather, "take a break" meaning reading the whole novel over one more time, in anticipation of a possible full request.

But it sure beats the querying part.

Thanks so much for the help. I'm presently going over the 63 page partial, making sure it's extra shiny, and I feel like I'm going to throw up, lol.

I didn't plan on sending it out until tonight, and I don't want to make the exclusive agent wait too long for the submission.

So, after writing the other two agents first, I can send it out tonight, or wait until tomorrow (Sunday).

Got it. : )

Em

Bluestone · Mar 7, 2009

Hi, HorsebackWriter. I don't have anything to add to that, but just wanted to say it's wonderful to hear that you have agents praising your voice and requesting material.

I've been so immersed in non-fiction lately that I haven't participated much in novel threads and have missed seeing you! :hi:

Best of luck!

HorsebackWriter · Mar 7, 2009

Awwww, thank you, Bluestone. I meant to pm you and tell you, since we've been on this journey together since we first joined AW, but I've been swamped -- I'm typing this while I shove a sandwich down my throat on the run. My husband's been working weekends and the inmates (horses and dogs) are running the asylum.

I promise to catch up as soon as I have a second and get that request out.

Thanks for the congrats. : ) I never had a bite on my first novel, so I sadly put it aside, and wrote a second one. Finally, I'm getting more of a response than "Dear author" rejections. I'm on the 20-30ish version of my query letter, too, which still remains a slippery sucker to nail down. But, finally, maybe I got it right enough.

And just Thursday I was wishing I could quit, because I was on the 13th flat out rejection, reminding me a lot of the first novel (38 rejections). So yesterday was a big, big surprise.

I'm still hoping I'm not going to wake up and find out it's a dream. But, in a nutshell, I've worked my butt off.

And, it could still amount to nothing, with these requests.

How goes it for you? I think of you often. : )

Em

Bluestone said:
Hi, HorsebackWriter. I don't have anything to add to that, but just wanted to say it's wonderful to hear that you have agents praising your voice and requesting material.

I've been so immersed in non-fiction lately that I haven't participated much in novel threads and have missed seeing you!

Best of luck!

job · Mar 7, 2009

I'm not an expert on querying, but ...

HorsebackWriter said:
One agent asked for a small sample, one wants a synopsis after reading the first ten pages, saying she loved the voice, and the other agent said she loved the voice.

I'd suggest next time you send out queries, you might enclose a three- to five- page synopsis and the first ten pages with your query letter.

Check the agent website, of course, but unless they are rabid in their insistence on just a query letter, go with the expanded query package. Save time.

HorsebackWriter said:
, and requested the first three chapters on exclusivity for two weeks.

I'd suggest you send something along the lines of this with the three chapters;

"I have material out to other agents right now, so this is not strictly an exclusive. I'm happy to wait two weeks before I send out the full mansucript or another partial."

No agent will expect you to have sent a query only to her. She'll know there are queries outstanding.

HorsebackWriter said:
today I will be sending out the partial exclusive and putting all my eggs, obviously, in that basket.

But it's only a two-week basket. <g>

HorsebackWriter said:
I just don't know how to respond to the agent requesting the synopsis and the agent who requested the small sample. If the small sample agent gets back to me for more, do I then tell her my novel has since been put on exclusive, and ask her, if it doesn't work out, if I may submit in two weeks?

You can send the synopsis and the sample out on March 21. You don't have to notify those two agents and explain. I can almost promise you that they will not notice the delay.

People get the flu. People go to visit their daughter in Illinois. People deliver their third child. People get snowed in in their mountain cabin in Montana and can't get to the post office, Life intervenes. Two weeks is nothing.

HorsebackWriter · Mar 9, 2009

Thank you, Scope.

I took your advice and notified the other requesting agents.

It's a two-week exclusive. And really, I needed a break from querying. I decided to query in batches because I continue to improve my query letter. That way, I don't blow it all on a previous query version.

The first batch is out there, now, and digressing somewhat, the whole process is fascinating. I just received two more "dear author" form rejections this morning, at the same time I have requests from other agents.

Anyway, may I ask another question? : )

When I grant a two-week exclusive, it's exclusive for just those two weeks?

After two weeks, can I send partials out to other interested agents requesting them?

Withdrawing was twisted, by the way. : )

Em

quote=scope;3367311]Before you send your work to the agent asking for an exclusive you must officially withdraw (email and/or letter) anything else you have out there. You can't grant an exclusive when your work--by your permission--is being considered by other agents. You don't have to wait for replies to your withdrawals before sending the exclusive. Send it the following day. Have you considered how long a period of exclusivity to grant the requesting agent?[/quote]

smoothseas · Mar 9, 2009

Well, all I gotta say is Mazel Tov!!! Breakout the carrots and Milk Bone, we'll have a cyber party!!!

happy dance, all for you...

HorsebackWriter · Mar 9, 2009

Thank you, Job.

I took Scope's advice before I read your reply, which was another wealth of information, thank you so much.

I don't mind a two week query break. I need one, actually.

And, as goofy as this may sound, I always dreamed of "granting" an exclusive. : ) So, I needed to grant at least one, lol.

My submission is out, I did the hard work, I did the best I could, and the rest is up to fate.

Em (thank you!)

ETA -- I usually include the first five or ten pages with my queries, unless verboten. The agent missed the pages on the bottom.

And, after I did notify the synopsis agent, she instead asked for a partial (YES!! Insert Happy dance here) instead of the synopsis, and asked me to send when I was ready. Very cool. : )

HorsebackWriter · Mar 9, 2009

LOL! Thank you so much!

I wasn't sure I'd ever have news like this.

To be honest, I'm alternating between fear of failure and fear of success freak-outs in waves, lol.

Saturday morning, my husband surprised me with "Partial Pancakes". : )

Em

smoothseas said:
Well, all I gotta say is Mazel Tov!!! Breakout the carrots and Milk Bone, we'll have a cyber party!!!

happy dance, all for you...

gypsyscarlett · Mar 9, 2009

HorsebackWriter said:
Saturday morning, my husband surprised me with "Partial Pancakes". : )

Em

Em!

Hope he also did the dishes.

oh, my 666th post. I'm sure that doesn't mean anything.

HorsebackWriter · Mar 9, 2009

OMG, I shouldn't answer that question. I'll never get sympathy for anything ever again in my whole life, lol.

He did -- he always does the dishes, and, he cooks dinner every night, too, and, picks up the shopping list. He's golden. Says my job is to write. : )

I know, I know.

But, to be fair, I am the cleaning lady. And he's the messiest guy in the West, times one hundred. The deal is, I write a bestseller, made into a movie, and retire him, lol! Oh yeah, and I promised him a hot tub, too.

I took a photo (of course!) of Partial Pancakes -- partial also because they were made in the waffle thingie, instead (I don't know how to use half of his many kitchen gadgets).

I'll post it on le blog tonight. : )

Your 666th post? Just big wows for that many posts, lol.

Em

gypsyscarlett said:
Em!

Hope he also did the dishes.

oh, my 666th post. I'm sure that doesn't mean anything.

gypsyscarlett · Mar 10, 2009

HorsebackWriter said:
I'll post it on le blog tonight. : )

Your 666th post? Just big wows for that many posts, lol.

Em

Regarding the "666", I was imagining The Omen score in my head.

Looking forward to the blog post. Will answer your email later.

Take care!

HorsebackWriter · Mar 10, 2009

Lol!

Or Metallica -- 6-6-6, the number of the beast!

Sounds good! Although, I got sidetracked with posting a poem, so "partial pancakes" will go up tonight.

Em

P.S. I was thinking of you late last night -- I watched an hour bio on the Bronte sisters -- WOW! Brother dies, Emily dies a few months later, and then Anne (or vice versa) and Charlotte is left with no siblings. How sad, sad, sad. And E and A were only 28 and 29 yrs old! That blew my mind -- poor Charlotte.

scope · Mar 10, 2009

HorsebackWriter said:
Anyway, may I ask another question? : )

When I grant a two-week exclusive, it's exclusive for just those two weeks?

After two weeks, can I send partials out to other interested agents requesting them?

quote=

HorsebackWriter,

I think you made the right decision.

The two-week exclusive is only for the two weeks involved. After that time you can do anything you wish with your work. At the start you must clearly state in writing to the agent when the two-week period will expire, and if for example it expires on 3/23/09, then you are free from the exclusivity agreement on 3/24/09 -- free and can do whatever you wish

Good luck

HorsebackWriter · Mar 10, 2009

Thank you so much, Scope, for taking the time to help me. : ) I really appreciate it.

Being forthright actually turned a synopsis request into my second partial (ever! : ) Agent contact of any kind is so rare, and it gave me a chance to make the most of that contact.

Okay, now you've raised another question for me:

I didn't stipulate the exact date of the end of the exclusive. I sent my submission in late Saturday night, and in my mind, the exclusive started Sunday, March 8th.

I rec'd a return receipt auto response that the agent was out of the office for a week.

Uh oh. Should I write her once more (all my correspondence is short and sweet, I know how busy agents are) just to get the date concrete between us and down in (email) writing?

Em

scope said:
HorsebackWriter said:

Anyway, may I ask another question? : )

When I grant a two-week exclusive, it's exclusive for just those two weeks?

After two weeks, can I send partials out to other interested agents requesting them?

quote=

HorsebackWriter,

I think you made the right decision.

The two-week exclusive is only for the two weeks involved. After that time you can do anything you wish with your work. At the start you must clearly state in writing to the agent when the two-week period will expire, and if for example it expires on 3/23/09, then you are free from the exclusivity agreement on 3/24/09 -- free and can do whatever you wish

Good luck

Click to expand...

scope · Mar 10, 2009

Hi HorsebackWriter,

I'm truly delighted you've had positive results thus far.

As far as the excusivity is concerned, I can only tell you how I would approach it.

The agent who requested a 2 week exclusive is I think understanding of your situation (and it sounds like that of all writers), and that's a pretty rare thing, especially these days. Normally I would not start her 2 week period of exclusivity on Sunday, March 8th, but rather Monday, March 9th (I don't think she should lose a day because of the Sunday). Using my formula her exclusive period would expire March 23rd. However, there's the problem of her being out of the office for 1 week (the auto response). Again, the week was unforeseen by her and she had no idea when or if you would respond to her initial request. So, I would give her "the extra week" and stretch the exclusivity to March 30th. If you agree, you can score the "nice" and "understanding" points from this agent by telling her so. Whatever you decide (March 22nd, Mach 23rd, March 30th) be sure to send her an email telling her about same. Since you know she won't be in the office next week you might call the agency and ask to speak to assistant to be sure she is aware of what you are doing.

As for the other publishers to whom you told you would resubmit in 2 weeks, you could email them and push possible submission back a week, or do nothing and when the time comes, and should the primary agent not want to sign you, email them and tell them something like "I'll put the work in the mail in a couple of days -- just refreshing it" -- or something like that.

HorsebackWriter · Mar 10, 2009

Imagine a curtsey here for you, Scope. : )

And thank you for the congrats. However this goes in the end, it feels *wonderful* right now, after so much crazy-hard work and time spent, so just that in itself is something I'll never forget until the day I die. : )

I agree about not losing a Sunday, and giving her until March 30th is fine with me. I am reading the whole manuscript through, again, which gives me that extra time, too.

I want this agent to have whatever reasonable time she needs and I don't want to rush her or send any message other than that I'm very, very grateful, and flexible. I know they're so, so busy -- like writers, it's a seven days a week job.

The other agent waiting for a partial knew better than me, wisely saying for me to send the partial if it doesn't work out, "whenever you are ready". So, I'm set across the board, so far.

Going over the whole novel once more feels like a vay-cay in comparison to querying.

It's a good place for a semi-break.

The agent did say she is checking her email, even away from the office. I think I'll play it by ear, and perhaps April 1st (gently) let her know I'm going to be sending out my other partials, unless she would like more time, or is interested.

And I'll say it -- no way I'm calling! Omg, too chicken.

Em

scope said:
Hi HorsebackWriter,

I'm truly delighted you've had positive results thus far.

As far as the excusivity is concerned, I can only tell you how I would approach it.

The agent who requested a 2 week exclusive is I think understanding of your situation (and it sounds like that of all writers), and that's a pretty rare thing, especially these days. Normally I would not start her 2 week period of exclusivity on Sunday, March 8th, but rather Monday, March 9th (I don't think she should lose a day because of the Sunday). Using my formula her exclusive period would expire March 23rd. However, there's the problem of her being out of the office for 1 week (the auto response). Again, the week was unforeseen by her and she had no idea when or if you would respond to her initial request. So, I would give her "the extra week" and stretch the exclusivity to March 30th. If you agree, you can score the "nice" and "understanding" points from this agent by telling her so. Whatever you decide (March 22nd, Mach 23rd, March 30th) be sure to send her an email telling her about same. Since you know she won't be in the office next week you might call the agency and ask to speak to assistant to be sure she is aware of what you are doing.

As for the other publishers to whom you told you would resubmit in 2 weeks, you could email them and push possible submission back a week, or do nothing and when the time comes, and should the primary agent not want to sign you, email them and tell them something like "I'll put the work in the mail in a couple of days -- just refreshing it" -- or something like that.

HorsebackWriter · Mar 10, 2009

P.S.

And it would be heaven, to have a NYC agent and need to fly in for things -- I'd immediately go to Hoboken's Ali Baba's for a gyro, and, omg, NY pizza -- I *dream* about NY pizza.

Maybe coinicide a trip with the Feast of San Janero. The food's just nowhere near the same out here.

Oh, to dream, lol.

Em

scope · Mar 11, 2009

HorsebackRider,

It's great to hear that you're in a good place. As writers it's oh so easy to experience lows and become jaded.

I hope you have the chance to visit and experience New York. There's truly no place like it.

The best of luck to you.

HorsebackWriter · Mar 11, 2009

Thank you, Scope. : )

I figure, if I'm not loving it, I'm ruining it, and if the query process ruins it, or me, what's the point?

The lows are seasoning -- shake your fists in the cold rain kind of seasoning. It makes for good writing over a lifetime. : )

I am an East Coast girl and miss NYC. After college, I lived in Hoboken and worked in Manhattan -- I also worked on the 79th floor of the World Trade Center.

But, I'd switched jobs just a week before the first bombing attempt.

I watched the television in horror on 911, from here in AZ.

Em

scope said:
HorsebackRider,

It's great to hear that you're in a good place. As writers it's oh so easy to experience lows and become jaded.

I hope you have the chance to visit and experience New York. There's truly no place like it.

The best of luck to you.

wickerman · Mar 12, 2009

HorsebackWriter said:
Lol!

Or Metallica -- 6-6-6, the number of the beast!

Tsk. Tsk. Number of the Beast is Iron Maiden. Be careful - the metal gods are fickle and angry!!!

Oh, and good luck with everything!!!!

James D. Macdonald · Mar 12, 2009

The guiding principle is this:

You expect your agent to be totally above-board and honest with you. Therefore, it behooves you to be totally above-board and honest with any (prospective) agent.

Honesty really is the best policy. There's nothing that any of them haven't heard before, they all know what a writer's situation is like, so just lay it out. "I'd love to give you an exclusive but this work is already out with two others. I won't send it to anyone else, however, until...."

HorsebackWriter · Mar 12, 2009

First, bowing to the Metal Gods, lol. Thanks, Wickerman. My boyfriend in college listened to both when we were getting ready to go out somewhere. Good thing I didn't mix up Rush in there, too. : )

James, I so agree. Honesty is the best policy, and not to mention the agents deserve that honesty, in my opinion. Want to win at poker? Play with me.

Anyway, I've got to run, but more good news in my inbox this morning. : ) I'll post it when I come back, but now I really need to figure out how to juggle things.

I think it's finally happening. I'm just in shock. : )

Em

Agent Request Etiquette?

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