Keeping a MS on file.

I've never heard of that before. But I would take it to mean that they liked it and would come back and look at it again when/if they are in the position to take on new clients.

MarloweCanning said:

Hello all. Just recieved an e-mail back from an agent saying that although she read and enjoyed my MS and passed it on to her partner for her consideration also, they have made an agreement with their current authors not to take on any new clients for the time being.

She went on to say that she is keeping my MS on file.

Anyone know what this means exactly.

I'm thinking it may just be a very polite way of saying, 'not for us, but hey, keep going at it'.

Any thoughts?

Cheers.

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That smells to high heaven. In the first place, how on earth do the other writers even know the agent is or isn't taking on more clients, and why would they care?

And the last thing I'd want is an agent keeping something on file. Say yes or say no.

I'd consider it a polite rejection. But I'm wondering...if the agency isn't taking on any new clients, why would they request a full MS from someone and read the entire thing? Seems like a waste of time if they knew from the get-go that they weren't going to offer rep based on their policy to not take on any new clients.

Like what James said....I wouldn't be comfortable with that, personally. Frankly, if someone has rejected my book, they ought to at least ask me, holder of the copyright, if it's ok for them to hang onto my ms....I mean, whatever do they want to hang onto it or "keep it on file" for? Puh-leeze.
Ok, I might be a tad short-tempered these days (revisions and deadlines on my mind), but I wouldn't be comfortable with them doing that, and I would email back immediately informing them of this fact.
But anyway, that's just me. I'd obviously see this as a "thanks but no thanks" scenario. Someone else could take it as a compliment....while someone like me might see it as the opposite.

Did you look this agency up in the Beware/Background forums to see what experiences others have had with them?

I'd say the appropriate response depends on how reputable they are in general and the reasons they "aren't taking new clients" right now.

MarloweCanning said:

You're from Belfast. snap.

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All the best people are from belfast.