revisions for one agent, what if another offers?

[ejwriter]

if an agent has expressed interest but requested fairly extensive revisions (before making an offer), and you get another offer while working on those revisions, what are the options?

1) if you haven't finished the revisions, what are the chances of that first agent taking you on as a client now that you've had an offer? (even if you aren't done revising?)
2) is it fair to accept the offer from the second agent, even if you plan to use the revisions suggested by the first agent? or is it better to ask agent #2 to wait until you're done revising for agent #1, since they expressed interest and already started working with you?

i'm sure the best policy is to be honest with everyone involved, i am just asking because i don't want to get caught off guard - would rather be armed with the proper etiquette.

as always, thanks in advance!

[Sage]

First talk with agent 2. You can tell her about the revisions and get an idea of what her revisions will be, whether you agree with them. Whether you like them better. They might contradict each other, and you might find that you prefer one agent's vision over another.

If agent 2 has revisions that you agree with, I would let agent 1 know that you're revising and that you've received the offer. Ask if she wants to see the revisions you've done so far. She might pass. She might make an official offer.

[kaitie]

I haven't experienced this, but I've read some agent opinions and here's what I've seen. Agents tend to advise that you seriously consider taking a chance on the person with the revisions. Their reasoning is that chances are there are problems with the manuscript that with the revisions in place will make it an easier sell. They say that people tend to go with the "as is" offer because they don't want to take a chance (or sometimes don't want to revise), but that they've also seen those authors not be able to find a publisher for their books because they aren't strong enough yet.

Obviously, it's a tough decision. I mean, what if the person offering revisions doesn't take you on?

I think the best thing to do is ask yourself if you really think the revisions will help your story. If the answer is yes, at least discuss with the original agent and say, "I've received an offer, but I've found the revisions you've given me helpful, and have been working on the story." Perhaps offer to let them see the revisions as you've made them, but with any luck they'll be able to give you an idea on whether or not they'd like to offer as well. It's possible that if you have another offer in hand, that original agent may become more (or less) likely to take you, and if they can let you know, then that will help take away some of the risk.

I'd also tell the offering agent that you've gotten a request for revisions that you really think will help and discuss that with him as well to make sure he's okay with the changes you're making if you do decide to go that route.

This is just my own two cents. I'm sure someone else can pop up who's actually been in this situation and give you some better advice, but this is what I would do. Good luck. :)

[blacbird]

Let me get this straight: In your left hand, you have an offer of representation from Agent 2, without any demand for revisions. In your right hand, you have a demand for revisions from Agent 1, without an offer of representation.

Hmmmmmm. Left hand . . . right hand . . . left hand . . . right hand . . . .

Assuming these agents are of more or less equal status, why is this a difficult question to answer?

caw

[kaitlin008]

Let me get this straight: In your left hand, you have an offer of representation from Agent 2, without any demand for revisions. In your right hand, you have a demand for revisions from Agent 1, without an offer of representation.

Hmmmmmm. Left hand . . . right hand . . . left hand . . . right hand . . . .

Assuming these agents are of more or less equal status, why is this a difficult question to answer?


It is so unlikely that agent 2 would suggest zero revisions. Just because an agent decides to take someone on doesn't mean they think the manuscript is 100% perfect as it is.

Like Sage said, one agent might have a vision for the ms that you prefer over the other. Or maybe there was just a connection with agent 1, and you don't want to give that up.

There are lots of reasons it might not be the easy choice it appears to be on the surface.

[Maxinquaye]

I'm agreeing with Blackbird here. What you're doing isn't objective science. It's subjective art. People will have different opinions on your writing, and "authoritative voices" will have contradictory opinions.

If you got an offer, go with the offer. You're in charge of your work - your agent isn't. You agent is a salesman of your work. If an agent feels the manuscript is ready to be pitched, then by all means let it be pitched.

ETA: Your agent isn't your boss. S/he is a consultant for a particular aspect of your job. You'll have to make the final decisions on your story and stick by them. Of course, that doesn't mean you shouldn't be humble because an agent will have seen a lot of bad writing, and will have good insight into flaws in your story. But in the end, you have to make up your own mind. You're your own boss in this.

[blacbird]

One agent makes an offer of representation; one agent does not. Even if, as you say, the agent offering representation then suggests revisions, aren't you ahead of the game if the representation is in hand? I'm pretty sure JARitchie has said bad things about agents demanding revisions without offering representation.

caw

[myrmidon]

I was in a similar situation in that I had two offering agents (around the same time). Both wanted revisions, although agent 1's seemed more extensive. Agent 1 did not offer "official representation" at the time while Agent 2 did. After realizing that a contract offered neither of us much "real" protection (since it can be broken at any time by either party etc.) and after much consideration I went with Agent 1 - which included agreeing to work exclusively with him on the revisions.

The agent an I have just together finished the revisions (2 full and quite significant passes, and one small pass that I'm turning in next week) and I cannot express how much better the book is. Perhaps Agent 2 would have also been able to help me bring the novel to this level, but I don't have any regrets about the decision I made. Who knows if the book will actually sell, but I've got my agent (a dream agent) and will be "officially represented" any minute now and I've got a book that is so much stronger than what I had 9 months ago.

I'm not going to say it's not a risk working with an agent that requires revisions...there is definitely a chance they won't rep you at the end of the process, but if you think the notes are good, I say take that chance, the odds are you'll end up with a better book, even if for whatever reason you don't end up working with the agent that helped you get there. I will also say that the 9 months I spent working with my agent helped me figure out if he is the right agent for me, before we even go out on submission - which is great. Basically there was no wasted time...it was all a great learning experience.

Additionally, I read a great account online by a published YA author about her first publishing experience. She had queried a book and gotten response from a great agent that was interested but wanted to work on revisions with her exclusively. At the same time she also got an offer of representation, no revisions needed. She took the no revisions offer. The book went out with no major changes and the book never sold. A year later she and the agent parted amicably. She queried another book she had written in the meantime and the same agent that suggested revisions on her first book responded again, with the same basic idea - "I love this, but it needs revision." This time she went with that agent, realizing that maybe she needed help bringing the book up to a level that would be sold.

She spent the better part of a year on her revisions but then she and the agent signed and when they finally went on sub the book sold FAST with a major three book deal.

Does this happen to everyone? No. And you should definitely only make the decision you're most comfortable with...but I have to say, having been through the revisions (hellish though they were) I wouldn't go back and change a thing. Talk to each agent, try to feel them out personality wise, try to suss out what revisions, if any are necessary with agent 2, and then just go with your gut. Try to ignore the pressing feeling of it needing to happen fast...sometimes it taking longer is a good thing.

Good luck with whatever you decide!
eta: this was way too long! sorry!

[ejwriter]

You are all having the exact conversation I was having in my head when I posted the question. Haha! Thank you for all the responses. In my case, there has been no offer, but knowing what I do about the agents who still have my full, there would likely be revisions after any offer. They are editorial agents. Also,in this case, I really connected with the revisions suggested by this first agent. I just began to fret because I have heard tales of writers revising for many months before this agent actually took them on.

However it pans out, I sure appreciate all of your insight.

[RJK]

Blacbird touched on it, but nobody has asked about the agents themselves. Which is the better agent. What are each agent's sales in your genre.

All things being equal, go with the bird in the hand. You have an offer. If that agent is close to the quality of the first agent, go with him/her. I'd much prefer making revisions on a MS for an agent I'd signed with. At least I'd feel that one had some confidence in me.

Be courteous to agent 1, but don't wait for opportunity to knock again. he doesn't.

[job]

-- Congratulations on getting an offer from an agent. So cool

-- Do you want this agent? Talk to her at length. Decide. Do you want to commit, or do you want to pass on her and find another?

-- If the revisions are good -- make them.

-- You don't have tell anyone where a suggestion for revision came from.
It doesn't matter whether a suggestion came from your husband, a crit partner, an agent, or somebody on SYW.