Question regarding agent etiquette.

sirensix · Jan 7, 2006

Okay... I know that multiple queries are almost always okay. But... then what? How do you handle the following situations?

1. A really great agent gives the go-ahead first. You send the manuscript and are told there will be a long wait. You know it's a long shot but you send the manuscript and cross your fingers. In the meantime, a smaller agency with not as great a track record responds and wants to see the manuscript. What do you say to them that doesn't sound like "Well if the better thing doesn't work out I'll send it to you as a consolation prize"?

2. A less impressive agency gives the go-ahead first. You haven't even heard back yet from your Dream Agent, but Joe Mediocre, LLC, gives you the go-ahead. How do you avoid the horrible situation of having to say to your dream agent the same insulting thing you have to say to the not so great agent in example # 1?

3. You know you're going to be out of town for a week about the time a bunch of your query letter responses are coming due. Should you take your laptop and a pre-packaged postage-ready copy of your manuscript along on the cruise ship and desperately attempt to respond within the day, or is it okay to wait until you get home to check your email/mailbox?

If some of you are rolling your eyes that an unpublished writer is worried about having more than one agent respond favorably to her query, I'd like to warn you that I'm REALLY good at writing query letters. Possibly better than writing novels.

When I wrote a screenplay, I sent out a single query to a respected screenwriting agent, and got a positive response. My first novel query (for a much less marketable book) got a lightning-fast positive response from Laura Blake Peterson at Curtis Brown, who was one of the first few agents I contacted. And she didn't even represent the genre I was pitching! (She also didn't specifically say she WASN'T interested in it, or of course I wouldn't have sent the letter.) In both cases, I was so shattered by the rejection of the manuscript that I stopped sending out queries, but I'm not going to do that this time.

So anyway, it's VERY likely that I'm going to get a lot of positive responses to this query for my latest novel. I've never sent out this many query letters at once, so I'm a bit concerned at how to professionally and politely handle the responses.

Advice?

StoryG27 · Jan 7, 2006

1. Why can't both agents be looking at your MS? You are upfront that this is a multiple submission, right? This has happened to me and both agents had my MS at the same time and both knew another agent was looking at it. Unless agent #1 asks for an exclusive, you don't just volunteer it. When this happened to me, agent #1 didn't specify an exclusive and agent #2 (the second agent to respond) did ask for an exclusive. I told agent #2 that an agent was already looking at it and she said that was fine, send the MS anyway. As long as your honest, most agents don't care if they have an exclusive, they just don't want to be kept in the dark. If they really like your work, they'll want to see it regardless of being granted an exclusive or not. If you do give your word for an exclusive, put a reasonable time limit on it (something like 4 weeks for a partial, more for an entire MS) and stick to it. Once you and the agent agree on a time limit you know what to tell other agents who ask for your work. Plus, if this agent drags his feet and doesn't get to it, once the time is over, you drop him a note saying you are now quering other agents or sending partials to other interested agents, whatever the case may be, and you're up and running again.

2. Don't query an agent you don't want. Try the agents you want most. If they say no, then go to your second choice group. Bottom line, why would you query an agent you really aren't thrilled about represting your work?

3. I don't think it'll matter if you wait until you get back to reply. If you're worried about it, go ahead and take a copy of the MS and a SASE to send. If it were me, I'd just enjoy my vacation because a week shouldn't matter in the long run anyway.

I too seem to get great responses from queries, so I know where you're coming from. I figured out the problem with my novels and sort of feel like I'm starting over with the query business. Anyway, I wish you nothing but the best.

erinbee · Jan 7, 2006

Why would you submit your work to an agent you know to be mediocre?

If you do give your manuscript to an agent on an exclusive basis, be sure to get some info from them on how long that exclusivity will last.

sirensix · Jan 7, 2006

Well, my problem is that the pool of agents I can send to is VERY narrow, so if I'm probably going to have to scrape the bottom of the barrel, given that I'm unpublished. I need to find someone who will be willing to represent BOTH genres I write in, AND deal with an unproven writer, and that is a shockingly narrow pool.

If I can't find someone good who represents both mainstream/literary and fantasy, should I go ahead and sell my mainstream/literary project, then get a second agent for my sword-and-sorcery junk? Or should I go ahead and start sending to some of the less impressive agents who are willing to represent both?

maestrowork · Jan 7, 2006

Just focus on the good agents. A bad agent is worse than having no agent at all.

sirensix · Jan 7, 2006

Well, keep in mind that when I say "good" vs. "mediocre" I'm really saying GREAT/famous vs. reputable/acceptable. When I say "good" I mean people that if they offered to represent me I'd faint from shock and start looking for a new house. I'm not sending letters to anyone that I wouldn't want to represent me or is "bad." Perhaps I just need to be more accurate about my adjectives. I aim VERY high is all - especially with this particular novel, which has gotten an almost terrifyingly positive response from a wide variety of people.

sirensix · Jan 7, 2006

Oh my God. I just got home from the post office, all satisfied at the perfect package I'd put together for an agent who, if impressed, would be the PERFECT person to represent me... and then noticed I'd spelled the name of his company wrong.

*cries*

clara bow · Jan 7, 2006

yikes. Maybe the agency will interpret it as a typo.

but you had stated, "this particular novel, which has gotten an almost terrifyingly positive response from a wide variety of people."

If that's the case, then you shouldn't have much to worry about. Maybe next time, let your package sit a day or so before mailing so you can review it again with fresh eyes. I did that recently with a query and was amazed at what I missed the first time.

sirensix · Jan 7, 2006

That's the sad thing - I actually spent DAYS on this package. I just somehow had a mental block about the spelling of the agency. It's a berg/burg issue. I ALWAYS have trouble with bergs and burgs. For years I thought Spielberg was spelled Spielburg. This time I did the reverse.

*cries some more*

I mean, the guy's going to think I'm an idiot before he even OPENS the letter. I think my subconscious is trying to sabotage me.

The good news though, is that this is one of the agents who requests 50 sample pages. The manuscript itself, for once, is stronger than my query letter. So if he gets past the "burg" and actually looks at the manuscript, I may be okay.

At least I spelled HIS name right. *doublechecks* Yup.

Heh.

Anyway, this makes 5 sent out, and some very nearly ready (once I call to clarify a couple things on Monday morning).

Angela · Jan 7, 2006

I have no advice regarding what to do about more than one agent wanting to see your work, as I haven't had the pleasure of even querying an agent yet!! I do think that the question has been covered by others, though!

I just wanted to take a moment to wish you the best of luck!!!!

Angi

clara bow · Jan 7, 2006

"So if he gets past the "burg" and actually looks at the manuscript, I may be okay."

The ideal situation is that he's so busy he doesn't even notice! I mean, I read all the time about how swamped agents/editors are...do they all really scrutinize this stuff unless it's a misspelling in the "Dear whatever" line?

Aconite · Jan 9, 2006

sirensix said:
Well, my problem is that the pool of agents I can send to is VERY narrow, so if I'm probably going to have to scrape the bottom of the barrel, given that I'm unpublished.

If your MS is good, your being unpublished is not going to matter. Don't get caught in the trap of thinking you have to settle for less.

If I can't find someone good who represents both mainstream/literary and fantasy, should I go ahead and sell my mainstream/literary project, then get a second agent for my sword-and-sorcery junk?

May I point out that if you truly think of it as "junk," you're looking down on both your own work and the people who would buy it? That does not bode well.

sirensix · Jan 9, 2006

Aconite said:
May I point out that if you truly think of it as "junk," you're looking down on both your own work and the people who would buy it? That does not bode well.

I use the word junk to mean "stuff" a lot when speaking casually and lightheartedly (as I often do, even when talking about serious matters). "Ooooh, caviar, I love that fancy junk!" "My husband is great; he gives me backrubs and sends me flowers and all that junk."

Because I know you all don't know me overly well, I seriously almost edited my post when I saw my own habitual idiosyncratic use of "junk," then thought, oh come on, who is scrutinizing every word of my post? These people have known me all of a week, they don't care. Hee hee.

But to clarify, personally, I think my fantasy junk is some of my best junk. I've been told it reads rather like Sharon Shinn's junk, which I take as a compliment.

Aconite · Jan 9, 2006

sirensix said:
Because I know you all don't know me overly well, I seriously almost edited my post when I saw my own habitual idiosyncratic use of "junk," then thought, oh come on, who is scrutinizing every word of my post? These people have known me all of a week, they don't care.

*snort* Now you know.

Speaking, as always, purely for myself, what got my hackles up was the juxtaposition of "literary" with "S&S junk." There've been other threads on AW that discussed how while "literary" and "SF" aren't mutually exclusive or indicative of quality, there are always some people who think they are (and don't hesitate to say so). I'm glad to know I misinterpreted your post.

sirensix · Jan 9, 2006

Actually my favorite "junk" in the world is "literary sf" like Tolkien and Peake, God rest their souls. Anyone who honestly believes that all fantasy fiction is fluff just hasn't read the right stuff.

Okay guys! I've finally narrowed it down to my "Top Ten," 5 already sent, 5 to be sent tomorrow.

Sent:

Esther NewbErg @ ICM (don't laugh, there's a reason I HAD to do this.)
Cameron McClure @ Donald Maass (email + 5 pages)
Maya Rock @ Writers House (email + 1 page)
Robert Thixton @ Pinder Lane & Garon-Brooke (snailmail query)
Matt Bialer @ Sanford J. GreenbUrger (snailmail query, synopsis, 53 pgs)

To be sent:

Miriam Kriss @ Irene Goodman
Ethan EllenbErg @ Ethan EllenbErg
Laurie McLean @ Larsen-Pomada
Steve Mancino @ Jabberwocky
Nikki Van de Car @ Harvey Klinger (referral)

The odd capital vowels are to stress why I misspelled "Greenburger" in my query letter. *sob*

The referral is from one of those editor/book doctor folks, a pretty pricey one, who really loved my book and said she had an "in" at Harvey Klinger. She's going to email them to inform them of my incoming query and recommend the book, and I'm going to mention her in my query when I send it (this'll be an email query).

Wish me luck!

As I get each rejection slip I'm going to find another agent to send a query to, so I always have 10 of them "out there."

dragonjax · Jan 9, 2006

sirensix said:
1. A really great agent gives the go-ahead first. You send the manuscript and are told there will be a long wait. You know it's a long shot but you send the manuscript and cross your fingers. In the meantime, a smaller agency with not as great a track record responds and wants to see the manuscript. What do you say to them that doesn't sound like "Well if the better thing doesn't work out I'll send it to you as a consolation prize"?

Easy. Don't agree to an exclusive submission; then you won't be in this situation. Send out partials and fulls when they are requested. If you are asked for an exclusive, decide whether you want to honor that (and if you already have material out there, you can't). Don't be scared to say to an agent, "I wish I could grant the exclusive, but X number of agents already have the material. Would you still like to read the material?" There's a strong possibility that the agent requesting the exclusive will want to see the material anyway.

sirensix said:
2. A less impressive agency gives the go-ahead first. You haven't even heard back yet from your Dream Agent, but Joe Mediocre, LLC, gives you the go-ahead. How do you avoid the horrible situation of having to say to your dream agent the same insulting thing you have to say to the not so great agent in example # 1?

See above. Not an issue.

sirensix said:
3. You know you're going to be out of town for a week about the time a bunch of your query letter responses are coming due. Should you take your laptop and a pre-packaged postage-ready copy of your manuscript along on the cruise ship and desperately attempt to respond within the day, or is it okay to wait until you get home to check your email/mailbox?

Out of curiosity, how do you define "coming due"? Don't hold your breath on agent response times. Really. And it's going to be fine for you to respond after your one-week vacation.

sirensix said:
If some of you are rolling your eyes that an unpublished writer is worried about having more than one agent respond favorably to her query...

Hardly rolling my eyes! Me, I had dreams of multiple offers of representation when I sent out my queries. (Turns out, I was right.)

Good luck!

popmuze · Jan 9, 2006

Okay guys! I've finally narrowed it down to my "Top Ten," 5 already sent, 5 to be sent tomorrow.

Sent:

Esther NewbErg @ ICM (don't laugh, there's a reason I HAD to do this.)
Cameron McClure @ Donald Maass (email + 5 pages)
Maya Rock @ Writers House (email + 1 page)
Robert Thixton @ Pinder Lane & Garon-Brooke (snailmail query)
Matt Bialer @ Sanford J. GreenbUrger (snailmail query, synopsis, 53 pgs)

I've been wanting to submit something to Mr. Bialer, but some of the web sites that give agent information list him as "Does not accept unsolicited queries." Just wondering how you got yourself solicited, or otherwise got past the gates.

dragonjax · Jan 9, 2006

popmuze said:
I've been wanting to submit something to Mr. Bialer, but some of the web sites that give agent information list him as "Does not accept unsolicited queries." Just wondering how you got yourself solicited, or otherwise got past the gates.

Pop, Matt asks for the first 3 chapters off the cuff, to go with the query letter. That info should still be on his agency's website.

sirensix · Jan 9, 2006

Hm, I saw this on Bialer's bio:

"He represents many veteran authors but is also willing to roll up his sleeves and work with a first time author."

And assumed it meant an unsolicited query was okay. Kind of a shaky logical leap between "first-time author" and "unsolicited," I suppose, but oh well, too late now.

sirensix · Jan 9, 2006

Huh... thought I'd arlready posted this. But okay...

I got my first rejection today, a form rejection card from ICM. Which means I have to think of another person to add to my submission list. Can anyone think of any agents who represent both mainstream/literary and fantasy fiction that are not already on my list? Yes, I've seen the gigantic list that's been posted elsewhere, so basically what I'm looking for are any personal experiences/personal knowledge any of you might have as to who is actually a) accepting new clients b) willing to read unsolicited queries and c) approximately on a par, quality-wise, with the ones already in my list.

I've pretty much exhausted all the easy sources (Writers Market.com, the lists posted on this site, etc.) I guess I can dive back into my ancient copy of LANA and look up each agent on google, which is how I found Sanford J. Greenburger and possibly some others, but it is really migraine-inducing, so I'm hoping someone has a good name just sitting there on the tip of their tongue thanks to a polite rejection or better yet an acceptance!

sirensix · Jan 9, 2006

Okay, I got impatient and obsessive, and couldn't stop researching til I found someone.

I chose to query Eleanor Wood at Spectrum Literary Agency.

So now once again I've got ten queries "out there." I will revisit the list when I get my next rejection, so suggestions are always welcome in the meantime.

Branwyn · Jan 10, 2006

Good luck! I've got a stack of rejections that I am saving for a huge bonfire when I get an agent!

Best of Luck!

sirensix · Jan 13, 2006

Welp, already got my first positive query response. I emailed Harvey Klinger Inc. yesterday and I already got a go-ahead to EMAIL the manuscript.

I <3 modern technology.

aruna · Jan 13, 2006

sirensix said:
I mean, the guy's going to think I'm an idiot before he even OPENS the letter. I think my subconscious is trying to sabotage me.

).

Maybe his assistant will open it and he'll never notice.
Anyway, good luck!

sirensix · Jan 13, 2006

Apparently small mistakes don't count for much... I added a sentence to my spotless query when I was emailing it to Harvey Klinger, and somehow in that one hastily-added sentence I managed to spell agency "agecny."

I'm not sure what agecny is, but it sounds painful. Anywho, Nikki still wanted to see the manuscript, which I assure you thanks to Carol Gaskin at Editorial Alchemy is typo-free!

(She's also the lady what done recommended me to Harvey Klinger and earned me a 24-hour response time to my email query, so bless her sweet head.)

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