Exclusive Read?

[downtherabbithole]

An agent just asked me for an exclusive read. I am happy to grant it to her as I am overseas and have not been querying the novel. However, another agent actually has the entire manuscript in his hands at the moment and I haven't heard back from him. Both are very good agents and I'm definitely not "holding out" for the other agent.

What do I do? Do I just tell her in passing another agent has it but I haven't heard from him? Or do I just grant her the exclusivity rights since the novel is not being queried any further at the moment?

[downtherabbithole]

I just told her the other agent has a copy but I do agree not to query it or send out another copy while she is reading it. I hope that's kosher. :-/

[katiemac]

How long did she want exclusivity for? If she didn't give you a timeline and you didn't set one (say, three weeks), then you need to e-mail her again and clarify. You don't want her to have an exclusive for six months, right?

[maestrowork]

You do want to find out how long the exclusivity is.

I had a similar situation before but the exclusivity was only for 2 weeks. Not a big conflict (and both agents eventually turned it down anyway).

[downtherabbithole]

It was a 2 week exclusive.

[katiemac]

It was a 2 week exclusive.

That's reasonable, as far as exclusives go. If only one other author has the manuscript right now, I think the agent asking for an exclusive should be okay with that.

[maestrowork]

That's reasonable, as far as exclusives go. If only one other author has the manuscript right now, I think the agent asking for an exclusive should be okay with that.

Since this agent requested it second, she would understand and be okay with that. It would be very unlikely if both make offers during the next two weeks (it could happen, but then it's good news for you nonetheless).

[downtherabbithole]

Thanks all!

Should I notify the first agent I haven't heard from so he can get snappy with it? Or should I let it go and see what happens?

[maestrowork]

Thanks all!

Should I notify the first agent I haven't heard from so he can get snappy with it? Or should I let it go and see what happens?

There's no need to rush the first agent. Unless it's been an unreasonable amount of time passed (say, 8 months or a year or something). If it's only been two months, I wouldn't send any inquiry yet.

I did it once with an agent because she had my ms. for over six months. She snapped! She said I should never rush an agent (and she rejected my ms. right there -- it was a full, by the way). Live and learn, I suppose.

[katiemac]

Thanks all!

Should I notify the first agent I haven't heard from so he can get snappy with it? Or should I let it go and see what happens?

See what happens. If, say, the agent who asked for the exclusive offers you representation, then you can contact the other agent and give him a heads up. But two weeks is so short in the publishing world, you can just wait it out. :)

[Stijn Hommes]

You did everything right. You told the second agent another person had the MS on their desk and you set a time limit on the exclusive. All you have to do now is wait.