Addressing an Agent

[Epiphany]

Keep in mind that this is kind of a stupid question, but it's on my mind.

Scenario:

I queried an agent, and she emailed me a couple days later asking for three sample chapters, and a few days after that called me on the phone and asked to see my manuscript with a two week exclusive. In the mean time I have received another request for a full, so if I have not heard back from agent #1 on the last day of our exclusive (Which is this Tuesday), I'm going to send her a polite email regarding the fact that I have gotten another request and ask her if she has had a chance to review it.

NOW

This agent seems very relaxed, addressing me by my first name and is involved with blogging and twitter and such. Every time I have sent her a letter I have addressed her by her last name, but each time it has seemed awkward being that her response was always very relaxed. If she has not contacted me by Tuesday and I send her another email, would it be ok to address her by her first name this time?

[Toothpaste]

I always take my cue by how they sign their correspondence. If she signs with her first name, you are free to call her such.

But as ever, you are safest to stick to social niceties. You will not be punished for being formal, maybe teased a little, but that's better than to have someone think you are being too familiar.

So there's my advice, see how she signs her emails, and address her accordingly, if all else fails, stick to the formal address until told otherwise :).

[Epiphany]

Thanks, that does help a lot. I think she signed with her whole name, so I'll probably just play it safe and address her formally. :)

[ORION]

I address my agent as Mistress and Commander...but first and last name works as well lol!

[bettielee]

"Oh blessed and exalted"? No? Too much?

[colealpaugh]

I've swapped five emails with an agent who calls me Cole (eh, my first name), while I keep calling her Ms. Agent.

On a side note, I saw from her bio that she was older than me, and I felt strangely good.

Then I did the math and realized it was close. And I felt strangely bad.

I was raised to keep things formal on my side, until I'm told to "please call me Lilo".

[Epiphany]

Haha. Thanks guys. Still no word from her. I'll email her tomorrow, which means one more day of my nerves being a wreck.