I have had an agent for about a year. He's a pretty well-known agent and has had numerous sales. When he called to offer representation, I was thrilled because he was my #1 choice. I immediately called all the other agents that were considering my work and told them, very politely, that I had signed with another agent. After all, his name is all over the web and he has such a great reputation.
I should have realized when he never sent me a contract to sign that there was going to be trouble. He gave me notes on my novel, and I revised and sent him back in two weeks. I didn't hear from him again for 5 months. Every time I called or emailed him, he would say, "I will get that to you today," or make some similar empty promise that he never followed through on. Finally, in July, he sent my manuscript out to publishers. At first, I received one rejection right away, but have yet to hear from any of the other publishers. I get the feeling he hasn't had time to follow up, though I keep asking him every month or so. Not only that, but I have had a second book ready since last July and he has not read it yet, despite my asking him to several times.
I am getting very frustrated and think I need to move on. He's taking on new clients when it seems he doesn't have time for his current ones. To me, it's insulting and not very professional to consistently break promises. I feel like he has given up on me. I realize now that the people on the web who have perpetuated this agent's great reputation must not want to burn bridges by saying anything against him. Or maybe this is just normal agent behavior and I am being irrational?
I should have realized when he never sent me a contract to sign that there was going to be trouble. He gave me notes on my novel, and I revised and sent him back in two weeks. I didn't hear from him again for 5 months. Every time I called or emailed him, he would say, "I will get that to you today," or make some similar empty promise that he never followed through on. Finally, in July, he sent my manuscript out to publishers. At first, I received one rejection right away, but have yet to hear from any of the other publishers. I get the feeling he hasn't had time to follow up, though I keep asking him every month or so. Not only that, but I have had a second book ready since last July and he has not read it yet, despite my asking him to several times.
I am getting very frustrated and think I need to move on. He's taking on new clients when it seems he doesn't have time for his current ones. To me, it's insulting and not very professional to consistently break promises. I feel like he has given up on me. I realize now that the people on the web who have perpetuated this agent's great reputation must not want to burn bridges by saying anything against him. Or maybe this is just normal agent behavior and I am being irrational?
