I have a book out with editors, getting some good responses. When should I offer my new book, which is almost finished, to my agent? What's the timing with second books
When do I give book 2 to agent?
- Thread starter cagedrobin
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To be honest I think it depends on the agent. Why not ask him/her? Personaly I would tell them that I had it and was working on it but would not give it to them until it was polished unless asked. But that is just me.
This. Just pop off an email, let your agent know where the book is at and ask what they prefer. I know mine has told me in the past that he's happy to look at what I'm working on and give input for revising, etc. I'll probably take him up on that when the draft is complete. Others may prefer a fully polished ms.
Either way, I'm sure your agent will be happy to hear about it. Your books are his/her living.
Mine sees every book at around page 50 to let her see what I'm working on and what she thinks. I'd never write an entire book without passing at least the premise by her first, but thats me (She also helps me brainstorm when I get stuck). I have a book on sub, another with agent who is reading/editing and another started that she loved the idea for and wanted me to do next.
I specifically chose an agent that would be very hands on though. YMMV
You should just ask your agent how they prefer to see new work.
I specifically chose an agent that would be very hands on though. YMMV
You should just ask your agent how they prefer to see new work.
Yeah, I would just e-mail (or the next time you talk to them on the phone or e-mail would be best). Just mention that you had finished book two--if they want to see it they'll ask.
Your personal preference also plays a role. My agent has told me she's happy to look at anything, at any stage, but I don't share my books with anyone until they are through several drafts.
The timing of your agent reading it doesn't necessarily correspond to the timing of him/her sending it out, anyway. Your agent could read it tomorrow but you could decide together to wait until the other book sold before pitching this one, or not, depending.
The timing of your agent reading it doesn't necessarily correspond to the timing of him/her sending it out, anyway. Your agent could read it tomorrow but you could decide together to wait until the other book sold before pitching this one, or not, depending.
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If I understand, you have an agent for your first book. If so, is the 2nd related to the 1st as a sequel or part of a series? If yes, she probably will want to hear sooner rather than later. If no, then she may want to concentrate of getting book 1 published if you not at that stage.
Book 1, in rewrite, is stalled for months now, in some kind of "second-read purgatory," and from what I can tell, that means nothing as far as potential for actually selling. (But it's not rejection, right?) Book 2 is just about ready, and NOT part of a series.
Waylander says agents will take two different books out at the same time. Doesn't this mean basically my agent will be going to the same editors (the ones he's used to doing business with) with the new project? That's the way it works?
Waylander says agents will take two different books out at the same time. Doesn't this mean basically my agent will be going to the same editors (the ones he's used to doing business with) with the new project? That's the way it works?
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Not to put too fine a point on it, but you're asking a group of strangers questions you ought to be asking your agent. We can only answer in generalities; your agent can tell you exactly what he or she expects and how he or she works. None of the questions you've posed here would be 'inappropriate' or 'too naive' to ask your agent; they're all perfectly legitimate questions.
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This.
Agents are busy folk (and, yeah, it's not nice to pester them with needless questions) but the questions you are asking are perfectly legitimate questions which only your agent can answer.
I don't think you'll be able to get a consensus here because each agent/author relationship is different. I have a friend who only sends completed, polished manuscripts to her agent but my agent has, at times, asked to see what I was working on even if it was in the very rough stage.
thanks, Kathleen and Terie--You can see I have a problem with feeling I'm not worthy of my agent's time. I know. That's a problem.
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So here's what you do. You invite a friend over on the condition that he or she makes SURE you send the e-mail. Compose the e-mail. Keep it short and sweet; just say you have a couple of questions you'd like to clarify, and list the questions. Sweat over the wording for a bit. Rewrite it if necessary. Then click Send.
Here's where your friend comes in. If your fingers won't click Send, your friend does it for you. Done and dusted.
So, here's the deal: Agent gives book 2 to assistant and then tells me the assistant said it was a mess. (Keep in mind agent did not read.) Now, I'm really willing to take some feedback, but--ooouch.
clean it up. query it elsewhere. Let agent 1 keep working book 1, and if it sells go back to mention the cleanup to them. Maybe even mention it anyway, if book 1 sells in the meantime.
Query it elsewhere?! She has an agent. That's the last thing she should do.
Clean up the book and give it back. Make sure it's ready. Request that your agent read it on the next round.
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If she's under contract with her agent, she likely is prohibited from "querying it elsewhere."
Be careful about giving advice to others on these matters.
~suki
Cagedrobin, what did your agent advise you to do? Did s/he provide you with any specifics about what qualified it as "a mess" in the assistant's eyes? If not, it's certainly a valid (and important) question to ask him or her. And if you do know what the concerns are, are they something you can work with?
If she's under contract with her agent, she likely is prohibited from "querying it elsewhere."
Be careful about giving advice to others on these matters.
~suki
my mistake; I read it that the first book was accepted and being worked on, but the other was rejected by said agent.
It's hard to clean up without a good sense of how to do that. My beta readers have had all kinds of reactions--nothing I can take to the bank--so I thought agent would be the best guide.
I'm pretty sure I shouldn't give up on my agent yet, so I won't be querying or anything. Does anyone use an editor/reader (not a crit group) when you already have an agent? Seems like a waste of money, since these editors cost a lot.
I'm pretty sure I shouldn't give up on my agent yet, so I won't be querying or anything. Does anyone use an editor/reader (not a crit group) when you already have an agent? Seems like a waste of money, since these editors cost a lot.
You really should be getting more feedback than 'it's a mess'. You're a client now, you're on the team so they should be pulling for you. Several pages of detailed critique describing why it is a mess would be in order. This is what you should be asking for, in fact you should not even need to ask.