Agent requests an exclusive, and some other things

ladyvincenza · Apr 21, 2009

I love this site

These fora are great.
I got a request for the proposal/partial ms of my non-fiction book. The agent wrote:
"I am intrigued by the description of your work
and would be happy to take a look at sample chapters and a chapter-by-
chapter outline. Generally about 50 double-spaced manuscript pages
suffices"

I have short descriptions of the chapters in the outline. Is this what he means? Also, I have in addition to the proposal, the intro and two chapters, but that is only about 25 pages. Should I ask him if this is OK, or does this require me to write another two or three (groan) sample chapters? Obviously, I would rather not do that on spec at this point.
Maybe this is the real question. He says: "I prefer to read material on an exclusive basis, and return the
courtesy by agreeing to consider your work in a timely manner."
I have already sent this out to other people. Is it too late to send my materials to this particular agent? I should note that his is the only positive response I've gotten so far, but the night is young.

At the risk of bragging, this agent is pretty high-profile, so if the best course of action is to make my ms exclusive to him and work hard writing another two or three chapters asap, I'll do it.
Thanks,
Sarah

Danthia · Apr 21, 2009

ladyvincenza said:
I have short descriptions of the chapters in the outline. Is this what he means?

Yes.

ladyvincenza said:
Also, I have in addition to the proposal, the intro and two chapters, but that is only about 25 pages. Should I ask him if this is OK, or does this require me to write another two or three (groan) sample chapters? Obviously, I would rather not do that on spec at this point.

I'd be hesitant to write more, since you'll likely write fast and those pages won't be as polished as the others. If that's all you have, send that. You might want to get started on another chapter or two for the future though, as 50 pages is pretty standard in the industry.

ladyvincenza said:
Maybe this is the real question. He says: "I prefer to read material on an exclusive basis, and return the
courtesy by agreeing to consider your work in a timely manner."
I have already sent this out to other people. Is it too late to send my materials to this particular agent? I should note that his is the only positive response I've gotten so far, but the night is young.

Since no one else has responded, you can still grant an exclusive if you want. There are very mixed opinions on this, but one thing everyone can agree on is to set a time frame for the exclusive. With a partial, a few weeks is usually fine. If anyone else asks for it in that time, you can wait and then send it after the exclusive has expired. You could tell the other agents it's out on an exclusive, but if the first agent says no, then they know right away someone turned it down.

ladyvincenza said:
At the risk of bragging, this agent is pretty high-profile, so if the best course of action is to make my ms exclusive to him and work hard writing another two or three chapters asap, I'll do it.

High profile doesn't mean you bend over backward to please them

This is your career, so you want what's best for you and your book. And a high-profile agent can mean they don't have as much time for new authors, where a newer agent would go to the moon and back for you. Don't let celebrity put stars in your eyes. The best agent is one who loves your book and will work their butt off to sell it for you. Be it high-profile or new player on the field.

Good luck!

qwerty · Apr 21, 2009

I hate to say this, but you really should have a completed book before querying agents. What if he/she asks for a full?

ladyvincenza · Apr 21, 2009

Thanks so much, guys. Qwerty, one of the perks of non-fiction is that you don't have to write the whole ms, and the agent knows that. Fiction, of course, is entirely on spec, unless you're Stephen King. I want to write fic and non-fic, so there you go!

qwerty · Apr 21, 2009

Okay, gotcha. I missed the fact it was non-fiction.

Loadsa luck.

Jennifer_Laughran · Apr 21, 2009

Angkor said:
I've been asked for my full manuscript by two agents at prominent houses (and partials by a couple of others). The first agent has since passed on it; the second requested my manuscript after the first agent's rejection. She has it now.

Anyway, oddly, none has bothered to request an exclusive. And I purposely didn't raise the matter. So as not to make my literary life needlessly complicated, I've taken it upon myself to give each agent requesting a full submission a one month -- unspoken -- exclusive. So, should a third, or even fourth agent ask for my manuscript, my plan is to stall until agent #2's month is up at which time I'd prod for an answer.

Why do I do this? Because I've been jerked around so much by unreliable and unresponsive agents that I wish to keep all options open for myself. Of course, I would certainly grant a reasonable exclusive should an agent so request. But, if they don't, too bad. I'm unfettered -- up to a point at least. I have no intention to have my full manuscript in the hands of more than one agent at a time....

Any comments on this approach would be most welcome.

I guess I don't really understand.

* Why do you think it is odd that these agents didn't ask for an exclusive? MOST agents that I know don't, as they know that exclusives are usually bad for writers.

* You "have no intention to have [your] full manuscript in the hands of more than one agent at a time" - may I ask why that is? I would think that querying multiple agents at the same time - in reasonably sized batches of 5-6 or so at a time, perhaps - would be the approach most likely to yield tangible results.

As well, since as we all know competition stirs man's blood, if you have multiple agents reading at the same time and one decides to offer rep, you will get swift and decisive replies from the others very quickly, a couple of which will probably be positive, and you will be able to CHOOSE your agent, rather than having one offer and no other options your way.

Could you explain your reasoning little more fully?

scope · Apr 21, 2009

Angkor said:
I've been asked for my full manuscript by two agents at prominent houses (and partials by a couple of others). The first agent has since passed on it; the second requested my manuscript after the first agent's rejection. She has it now.

Anyway, oddly, none has bothered to request an exclusive. And I purposely didn't raise the matter. So as not to make my literary life needlessly complicated, I've taken it upon myself to give each agent requesting a full submission a one month -- unspoken -- exclusive. So, should a third, or even fourth agent ask for my manuscript, my plan is to stall until agent #2's month is up at which time I'd prod for an answer.

Why do I do this? Because I've been jerked around so much by unreliable and unresponsive agents that I wish to keep all options open for myself. Of course, I would certainly grant a reasonable exclusive should an agent so request. But, if they don't, too bad. I'm unfettered -- up to a point at least. I have no intention to have my full manuscript in the hands of more than one agent at a time. But if I feel my communications are being ignored, or I'm otherwise being dissed, I'll feel free to go with someone else (judiciously, of course).

Any comments on this approach would be most welcome.

Comment, yes ---- Huh?

What is your purpose?
Who do you think you are spiting except yourself?
You say you don't want to be jerked around, but isn't that what you are doing to yourself? Or maybe there's a grander purpose to you method which doesn't come across in your post.

Cyia · Apr 21, 2009

Angkor said:
I've been asked for my full manuscript by two agents at prominent houses Yay (and partials by a couple of others) also Yay. The first agent has since passed on it; the second requested my manuscript after the first agent's rejection. She has it now. okay.

Anyway, oddly, none has bothered to request an exclusive.not odd at all. I've had fulls and partials out to all sizes of agencies, and none have asked for exclusives. Exclusive = bad for me, so I don't sweat it. And I purposely didn't raise the matter. why would you? They don't need you to remind them of their submission policies. So as not to make my literary life needlessly complicated, I've taken it upon myself to give each agent requesting a full submission a one month -- unspoken -- exclusive. Not only will it uncomplicate your life, you're assured that much more time to NOT get an agent.So, should a third, or even fourth agent ask for my manuscript, my plan is to stall until agent #2's month is up at which time I'd prod for an answer. That's a ridiculous stance to take. 1 -- getting eyes on your MS is ALWAYS a good idea when those eyes are in the heads of legit agents. 2 -- One month is a pipe dream. It's not uncommon for it to take 3 months on a full MS to get word, and you shouldn't "prod" before then.

Why do I do this? Because I've been jerked around so much by unreliable and unresponsive agents (what are you basing this on? If they have a verified sales record, they're neither unreliable nor unresponsive. They may not have been interested, but that's not a flaw.)that I wish to keep all options open for myself. But you're not. You're closing off options by not sending out more than one query at a time.Of course, I would certainly grant a reasonable exclusive should an agent so request. That's your right, assuming you don't have a MS out with someone else... oh.. yeah... But, if they don't, too bad.No, standard practice. I'm unfettered -- up to a point at least. And most likely unagented. I have no intention to have my full manuscript in the hands of more than one agent at a time.Then you're shooting yourself in the foot. But if I feel my communications are being ignored, or I'm otherwise being dissed, I'll feel free to go with someone else (judiciously, of course).How often do you bug people and call it communication? Getting an agent takes time. They have existing clients and yours isn't the only manuscript on their "to read" list. It sounds like you're a difficult client and haven't even been signed yet.

Any comments on this approach would be most welcome.

Comments?

Your approach is ridiculous and self-detrimental.

You assign labels to people you don't know, but hope to impress enough for one of them to offer representation.

You expect them to work on your --unspoken-- timetable.

And from the sound of it, you seem to think you've put something over on them by "not informing" them that they forgot to ask for an exclusive, which isn't the most endearing quality.

Agent requests an exclusive, and some other things

ladyvincenza

user-set title

Danthia

qwerty

exiled Brit

ladyvincenza

user-set title

qwerty

exiled Brit

Jennifer_Laughran

knows what she's looking for when she finds it!

scope

Commonsensical Maverick

Cyia

Rewriting My Destiny