agent question

Three months isn't pestering. I'd do it.

I think this is one of our weaknesses here. We treat these agents like they're gods.

This agent works for YOU. You shouldn't have to tiptoe around her. You are owed reasonable communication. Three months is ridiculous. The idea that a writer is "pestering'' his agent implies that the writer works for the agent. We need to stop thinking like this.

Check in. Pestering is asking the same thing every day when you know she'd tell you if she had news. I check in with my agent/editor from time to time just to stay in touch.

Absolutely, positively YES.

If you haven't spoken with your agent about some ongoing line of communication, this may also be the time to do so. IMO, unless you establish some regular method and time to communicate you'll always be filled with questions and anxiety, and that's something you (and your agent) should want to avoid. It might be, whatever may or may not be going on, that you agree to exchange emails (or phone calls) once a month, on lets say the last or first day of each month. That way you stay in touch and each has the opportunity to ask questions, or whatever. Of course, this should not take the place of any "daily" communication that may be necessary.

I suggest you don't let her slide on communication. It's critical. As has often been said, she's you partner, and it's crucial that each partner knows what the other is doing and has the opportunity to ask questions that pertain to their business

But keep in mind this is summer...my publisher has been on vacation...so has my editor so it's not that big a deal...I've not talked much with my agent either...

Some agents work in batches, especially if they are a boutique agency. They'll concentrate on one author for weeks, then sit back and wait for answers while they service another author. A good agency with good file management will keep the author informed of any and all activity on a manuscript.

ORION said:

But keep in mind this is summer...my publisher has been on vacation...so has my editor so it's not that big a deal...I've not talked much with my agent either...

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Yes, and there may be some slack time, but this doesn't excuse a writer and his or her agent from establishing a definitive method and a time for regular communication all year round. Without it a writer can go nuts, when basically all s/he wants to know is what's going on.

Donna Pudick said:

Some agents work in batches, especially if they are a boutique agency. They'll concentrate on one author for weeks, then sit back and wait for answers while they service another author.

Frankly, I never heard of anything like this.

The implication seems to be that if something comes up for a writer during the weeks the agent is devoting to another writer, it may get ignored, even though the need is imminent. Maybe I misunderstand.

A good agency with good file management will keep the author informed of any and all activity on a manuscript.

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Based on all the complaints we hear from writers re communication, doesn't one have to assume that these kinds of agencies are rare?

You do misunderstand. Read my first and last sentences over again.

In a boutique agency, the manuscripts come in one at a time, one client at a time.

When a MS comes in, with agreement signed and everything in place, the agent will call or query all of the publishers she believes will want to see it. For every request for a full, she prepares the ms for either electronic transmission or for snail mail, depending on what the editor wants (90% of the time, it's email). Then it's a waiting game. Meanwhile, she works on another ms from another author.

All while the agent is working on a new author, returns come in from the first author's submissions. These should never be ignored. With email, the agent can simply forward the response, good or bad, to the author or editor. With snail mail, the agent either sends the hard copy letter by email in a jpeg file or sends a hard copy of the response to the author at designated times, usually at the end of the month (emergencies get treated immediately). The agent should also keep track of the publishers who refused a look, so as not to duplicate the effort.

All queries, responses, etc. should be kept in the author's personal file, both electronic and hard copy. This way, the agent can answer any question at any time as to what activity has taken place with that manuscript. It's a good system, because if the author wishes to dismiss the agent, s/he has a complete rundown as to who has seen the manuscript and can relay that info to the new agent.

An agent should have everything ready to send to an editor at any time. Some editors want nothing but the manuscript, others want author bios and/or a synopsis, etc. If the agent is efficient, these items are on her hard drive and she can send them to the editor by return email. All of the above items should be in the agent's possession before any placements are done.

All agents take advantage of opportunistic placements. Sometimes an editor will be transferred to another division and will want to see a manuscript s/he originally refused. A good agent will jump on the opportunity, regardless of what s/he is working on at the time.

Hope that clarifies everything.

Donna Pudick said:

All while the agent is working on a new author, returns come in from the first author's submissions. These should never be ignored. With email, the agent can simply forward the response, good or bad, to the author or editor. With snail mail, the agent either sends the hard copy letter by email in a jpeg file or sends a hard copy of the response to the author at designated times, usually at the end of the month (emergencies get treated immediately).

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Exactly.

I sometimes go for months between books without any communication with my agent at all. But she has never failed to notify me promptly about anything relevant that happens.