Those of you with agents ...

Ladybuggg · Jan 4, 2010

Just curious. When the agent contacted you to tell you he/she wanted to represent you, did you get an e-mail or a phone call? And, how did they tell you? I love hearing people's agent stories!

Also, if you do get that call or e-mail, what is the first thing to do (for those of us still trying to get an agent)?

Thanks so much!

ChaosTitan · Jan 4, 2010

I received an email four days after he received the manuscript. I was positive it was a rejection (since he got it via a referral and hadn't read any sample pages) and that he hated it. The first paragraph detailed the things he loved and how excited he was about the manuscript. I expected a "But..." in the next paragraph. Instead, I got "At this point, I'd like to extend an offer of representation."

After I reread the sentence six times, I screamed for my roommate and made her read it and verify I wasn't dreaming. He also had some edit suggestions in the same email--some I agreed with, another I didn't, and he extended an offer to chat on the phone.

For me, the first thing I did was email back, thank him for the offer, and set up a time to talk on the phone. I also let him know I had to contact the other agents currently with material and let them know about the offer. If you have material with other agents, you always want to give them the courtesy of informing them of an offer and giving them time to decide, as well.

Talk to the prospective agent before you agree to let them rep you. Talk about their agenting style, talk about your career plans and see what they think, ask lots of questions. Sometimes it's so exciting to get an offer that you don't do the right prep and you end up with an agent you just can't work with.

YAwriter72 · Jan 4, 2010

Got an email the same day I queried with the firsts 30 pages asking for an exclusive on the full. Emailed back saying I couldn't, as it was out with 3 others at the time. He emailed right back and said send it and not to sign with anyone until he had a chance to talk to me. This was a Wednesday. Emailed Friday to ask if he could call Monday. He called Monday, we talked and he said he'd email over a contract and if it looked okay, I could send it back. I signed it on Tuesday.

You want to talk to them, see if you jive, talk about the book possible rewrites, plans, etc.

stormie · Jan 4, 2010

Can this be about ex-agents too? If it is, mine was after he read the query and first ten pages. It was about a week after I had submitted it to him; he called at 6 PM from the office on a Friday. Wanted me to email the full right away. I did. He called the next night and offered representation. I jumped at it (though I wish I hadn't. I had two other agents looking at fulls at the time. I notified them, of course.).

Word to the wise: no matter how exciting it is to see a top agency's name on your caller ID, and to speak to one of their agents for fifteen minutes each time, take a deep, deep breath and let them know your decision within about two days' time.

He was excellent, but after a year and a half, I had to break ties. We just were never on the same page.

jrector · Jan 4, 2010

I only submitted to one agent, and he didn't get to my manuscript for about three months. When he did, he sent me an email telling me he was halfway through and really enjoying it, then the next day he emailed me again telling me how much he loved the book and wanted to take me on as a client. After that, he called and we talked about goals and all the rest of it.

It was exciting, but the real thrill is when they call to tell you someone made an offer, and you're going to be published.

Skodobah · Jan 4, 2010

I was trying to cook a whole chicken for dinner (and it wasn't getting done!) when a call from an unknown area code came to my cell. Being that I had chicken woes, I didn't answer it. Once I put the bird back in the oven, I Googled the number and noticed that the area code was from where the one lone agent who hadn't rejected my full was located (sorry for long sentence). I almost peed! Then an e-mail came through at the same time, with the agent asking if she could chat with me about my story.

I cried.

Later that night, I spoke to her. After five rejections on fulls and partials, the sixth request came through.

Oh, I ended up microwaving the rest of the chicken, but ate little because I was too excited!

- Julie

AryaT92 · Jan 4, 2010

Ladybuggg said:
Just curious. When the agent contacted you to tell you he/she wanted to represent you, did you get an e-mail or a phone call? And, how did they tell you? I love hearing people's agent stories!

Also, if you do get that call or e-mail, what is the first thing to do (for those of us still trying to get an agent)?

Thanks so much!

First agent emailed until she read 35 pages, then she asked for a phone call.

Ok, you've got my attention. I have some questions. Are you ready to
do a phone call? Send your number, and let's talk as soon as possible.
I think you're on to something here, and I'd like to talk about where
you see this going directionally.

Second agent only email.

I want to sell this for you.

Took about 4-5 days of waiting on sub to the agents. I proposed at 10 pages and then raced to the finish to beat the agents response times [nonfiction]. Finished the full MS about 3 weeks later with hard edits and contracts sent in the mail.

DeadlyAccurate · Jan 4, 2010

Email was waiting in my inbox when I woke that morning. (In fact, it was around this time of year). I've only spoken on the phone to her a few times in the three years I've been with her. It's primarily email.

Madison · Jan 4, 2010

Here's my story on my blog

I got an email saying "love this! let's talk on the phone" and the rest was history...

Good post! All these stories make me so happy for everyone - hard work does indeed pay off.

Calla Lily · Jan 4, 2010

(insert 4 years of hard work)

Query on Thursday
Phone call asking for full on Friday
Phone call Monday, with compliments and edit suggestions, while still reading the full
Phone call Wednesday with offer of representation

dawinsor · Jan 4, 2010

My agent had sent me email saying she liked the book and was going to show it to her boss when the boss got back from the Frankfurt Book Fair. Then maybe a month later, I'm playing Sudoku on line and the phone rings and woman's voice asks for me. I thought it was a telemarketer and was tempted to hang up. Fortunately I didn't. And in her first sentence after that she offered to represent me.

Ladybuggg · Jan 4, 2010

Wow. Amazing stories so far! Thanks, everyone! I'm praying I get that call or e-mail soon from one agent in particular. Here's the story: http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=165579

Caitlin Black · Jan 4, 2010

I expect a phone call when I get an offer of representation, though I'll include my postal and email address too. My first rejection came through in email, but only because I had forgotten to include a SASE.

The coolest thing that could happen would be for an agent or publisher to want to meet me, in which case they'd have to pay for my plane tickets, as there are no agents in my city that I know of, and only small publishing houses. Then I'd get a brief holiday, and I could secure the deal. I'm quietly charming in person, especially if I remember to make some jokes.

So if I ever got to meet a publisher, at their request, then I'm sure I could charm a contract. *end of ego*

I wish I had a story to tell you over what happened when I got represented, but it's not happened yet, so...

Congratulations to everyone who has made it that far. Let my jealousy boost your spirits.

folkchick · Jan 4, 2010

Gina, Congrats and best of luck! And congrats to everyone else here who posted. I'm so jealous, and worried because my full has been out for at least a month and I haven't heard anything. I'm super paranoid that she hates my book or has just forgotten me--or--what if she tried to call and I missed it??? Oy.

I like the line from my new favorite show, The Middle: "Try . . . but not too hard. Just do what you can, and hope for the best."

On the bright side, someone made a nice comment on my blog that I inspired them! That was really cool!!

cwfgal · Jan 4, 2010

Well, I've had three agents so far. The first one called me at home on a Sunday (!) while I was vacuuming. Caught me totally unaware. She was number 29 on my list of 30 agents and I'd been rejected by twenty-some at that point though I did get eight (I think that was the #) requests for fulls. She was one of them. She offered representation and sold the book for me in a matter of weeks once we went through a few edits. I adored her and I'd still be with her if she hadn't retired.

Second agent was an email thing. Nothing to sign, just a verbal agreement (the first agent did have a basic, simple, page and a half agreement that I signed). After nearly three years with agent #2 I decided to move on. I didn't feel I was getting the same level of service I did with my first agent.

Third and current agent is totally awesome! She called me to offer representation within days of my sending her my ms. That agency also has a signed agreement.

None can compare to the excitement of the first agent's call but they've all been exciting to some degree.

Beth

BrooklynLee · Jan 5, 2010

My agent emailed me to say she wanted to speak to me on the phone about representing my book the next day. I didn't sleep very well that night!

Danthia · Jan 5, 2010

Two emailed, one called. Though I did talk to one of the ones who emailed afterward.

First thing to do -- enjoy! Then breathe and ask any questions you might have (there are tons of posts out there on what to ask an agent if you Google it, though you did just give me a good idea for a blog post, thanks!). Talk to the agent and get to know them a little, get a feel for who they are and what it might be like to work with them.

They'll do a lot of talking themselves and help you out (they do this for a living after all) so odds are you won't be left stammering. And they know this is a huge moment, so it's okay if you blank out and aren't sure what to say or ask until later.

Wayne K · Jan 5, 2010

He contacted me by e-mail at first to ask for my phone number. Now he only calls.

Sary · Jan 5, 2010

My agent called and left a voicemail asking me to call her. It only took me twenty or thirty tries to get up the nerve to dial her entire number! I am NOT someone who does well on the phone! But she was very sweet and the call wasn't nearly as frightening as I expected.

She let me know that she was interested and asked me a few questions about other novels I had in the works and that sort of thing. I told her I would contact her within the week, since I had three fulls out with other agents.

The NEXT DAY, I received a package in the mail with my manuscript, with her suggested edits in the margins, along with a couple of the books she represents.

I contacted the other agents, two of whom bowed out, and then I called my agent back and accepted her offer. One of the best decisions I ever made! She's fantastic!

Momento Mori · Jan 5, 2010

Ladybuggg:
When the agent contacted you to tell you he/she wanted to represent you, did you get an e-mail or a phone call? And, how did they tell you?

I got an email saying that she'd like to offer me representation and inviting me along to her office to discuss it.

Ladybuggg:
if you do get that call or e-mail, what is the first thing to do (for those of us still trying to get an agent)?

Squee long and hard.

I went onto the YA board and asked for advice on what to discuss during the first meeting and the folk there gave me a lot of good points to raise.

I didn't say yes at the meeting (even though she was one of my top 3). Instead I left it for a week to hear back from a couple of other agents who'd expressed interest. I also looked over the contract that was sent through.

MM

DWSTXS · Jan 5, 2010

great stories everybody! I hope to add mine here sometime this year.

Jess Haines · Jan 5, 2010

First email was a partial request. Second email was a full request. Third email was a request to speak on the phone about representation.

Had a whole article on it on Guide to Literary Agents.

shaldna · Jan 7, 2010

I got an email after the query asking me to call the office at a suitable time to discuss my ideas as he had tried to call me but failed to reach me.

So I called and that was more or less that.

RJK · Jan 7, 2010

I posted a request in Query Letter Hell, asking each of you prosperous writers to post the query letters that got you the response from the agent. Those letters may serve as excellent examples for the rest of us, who only see rejections.

ChaosTitan · Jan 7, 2010

There should be a stickied thread already in QLH for those types of queries, as well as one sticked in Ask the Agent.

Those of you with agents ...

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someone let me off this crazy ride

storm central

I don't dream for nothing!

Absolutely Fazed

summertime...

On hiatus

Dorothy A. Winsor

Wild one

Not a new kid

On the rocks

Got the hang of it, here

Danthia

Tired and Disillusioned

Mr Mojo Risin...

Boldly going nowhere in particular.

The cake is a lie. But still cake.

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