Not so hypothetical

When they offer to sign you, you ask if they would like to represent all of your work, or just the non-fiction project. If they say, just the non-fiction, keep shopping that novel! But often, agents want to take on all of your work and will want to be your sole agent. So be straightforward and ask.

This coming from the woman who is ducking and stalling and waiting to hear from her almost-agent to decide if she should start declining requests for fulls from other agents. *Big Grin*

Maprilynne

You will have to be up front and ask.
When my agent offered representation she asked again in detail exactly what my other projects were and made decisions based on that.

I think I would not tell the agents about the nonfiction until they are making an offer to represent you. I am hyperparanoid about agents perceiving me as irritating or needy, so I try to minimize contact with them until they start talking to me.

Once you have an offer, tell them about your non-fiction. If they don't want to represent your non-fiction then it'll be up to you if you want to sign with them for your novel. I suppose you could have one fiction agent and one non-fiction agent... so long as they knew about each other and understood where the lines were drawn.

I think I'm babbling and not helping... but it sounds like a very exciting time for you! Congrats on all the fulls you have out! You've obviously got 'something', so I'm sure you'll continue to kick hinder no matter what you decide to do at this crossroads.

Stupid question here, Pop -- but is there any publisher out there that might take on your non-fiction without an agent? If so, go that route. If you're offered rep. on your fiction, you then mention that you have xyz out that you've handled yourself but would they want to handle your future nonfiction. Just my .02 cents -- I've never had this dilemma.