An Odd Problem

[Jersey Chick]

I just recevied a request for more material from an agent, but here is my problem -

The letter is addressed to me, but the title of the work she put in is not mine? What is the best way to go about handling this? I've never had this happen before...

[scarletpeaches]

Didn't you mention receiving a rejection for a synopsis you didn't send, earlier? Sounds like there's been a major mix-up at an agency, here...

[Jersey Chick]

I did get that rejection - from a different agency. And it was form, so I figured they covered all bases - I just thought it was funny. But this one is personal, only now I'm not so sure it was for me... grr..

[Pisarz]

Hurry up and send it anyway. Something similar happened to me--I got a form rejection and then six minutes later, a form request addressed to someone else (but with the title of my work). I sent the material and got a form rejection the next day. I wasn't surprised, but I figured hey, if someone asked for it, who am I to quibble?

I would say, send the material. The agent will figure out the mix-up soon enough, and since the request WAS to you, you can't be faulted for sending something in, right? The worst that can happen is a quick rejection.

[gerrydodge]

I did get that rejection - from a different agency. And it was form, so I figured they covered all bases - I just thought it was funny. But this one is personal, only now I'm not so sure it was for me... grr..

I would call the agent and tell her what happened. Apologize and be gracious, but tell her you were confused and could she please clear it up. Who is the agent; that might help.

[Jersey Chick]

The agent is Elaine English.

[gerrydodge]

The agent is Elaine English.

I looked in my email files and discovered a rejection from her a few years ago. She's a lawyer also, and so she says her workload is a lot. I would call her--even if she is irritated by your call, you have nothing to lose if she meant another project. I think she's a pretty nice lady; this is her #:

202-362-5190 She's in D.C.

[Jersey Chick]

Thanks! I'll give it a shot **takes a deep breath, crosses fingers**

[gerrydodge]

Thanks! I'll give it a shot **takes a deep breath, crosses fingers**

Good luck, Jersey Chick, from a fellow Jerseyian. You'll do fine.

[Jersey Chick]

Ok - I called Ms English - who is very nice, BTW. It seems it was just a small snafu regarding the title- so I have a request for a partial! It calls for a dancing snoopy! :snoopy:

Thank you everyone!

[gerrydodge]

Great news, Jersey Chick! YES!

[midwife]

Good luck!!!

[stormie]

Yes! The power of taking that deep breath and making that phone call. In that case, it was warranted. Fingers crossed for you that she'll ask for a full!

[BrookieCookie777]

Sounds like the universe is playing a joke on you . . .just teasing. Sounds like they've gotten mixed up. Just write them back and be honest. Your honesty may even make them more interested in your work.

I don't know why we writers are so afraid of agents . . .go figure. . . it can be frightening when it seems like they can make or break your career . . . cheer up. Once I got a rejection for someone elses work. It made me wonder if someone else got an exceptance letter for mine! Get it fixed quick.

[stormie]

She did get it fixed, Brookie. She called. Which was okay since there really was a mix-up. Otherwise, it's not that people are afraid of agents, it's that they're busy and you really don't want to step on any toes when you're trying to get representation.

[Jersey Chick]

I just keep hearing Miss Snark's pearls of wisdom about never calling agents until after you're a client - or something to that extent. I didn't want to piss her off and have it color her response, but I didn't want to come across as a shyster and try to sneak it by either. I don't know if that would've worked, since she checked a database to answer me. THat would make me look dishonest in addition to a total boob.

She thought it was funny - and didn't seem at all irritated. Whew...

[Begbie]

Good luck! You'll have a great story when she offers you a contract.

[Jersey Chick]

I certainly hope so :D

[BrookieCookie777]

Yea, Stormie - I remember being in the same position when I was searching for an agent. Now that I have one however - I wonder why I was so worried about what they would think if I asked a simple question. Seeing things from the otherside sure is nice! I definitly don't miss the days of the search. Good luck to everyone!

[gerrydodge]

Yea, Stormie - I remember being in the same position when I was searching for an agent. Now that I have one however - I wonder why I was so worried about what they would think if I asked a simple question. Seeing things from the otherside sure is nice! I definitly don't miss the days of the search. Good luck to everyone!

Agents are people. Some would be highly offended that a lowly, unpublished writer would dare to call them on the phone. Others would be fine with it. I think the circumstances have a lot to do with it. I don't know, I called an agent one time who was interested in my query, but the content was too risque, she thought. I called her and we talked for almost an hour; we talked about the general condition of book selling, what is good writing. She was delightful--she still didn't want my book, but she recommended some agent who would.

[stormie]

Yea, Stormie - I remember being in the same position when I was searching for an agent. Now that I have one however - I wonder why I was so worried about what they would think if I asked a simple question. Seeing things from the otherside sure is nice! I definitly don't miss the days of the search. Good luck to everyone!
Yup, seeing things from the other side is nice, except you have to realize...one's own agent will respond to phone calls or emails without hesitation or a reprimanding or being labeled a bother.

As I said, in this case, Jersey Chick had every right to call.

[Toothpaste]

Hey I called every agent I subbed to asking for the name of the person I should address my letters to. They were all really nice!

[stormie]

Yes, but if you call the agency, you usually get the assistant or the receptionist, which is okay. And the names of agents within agencies can be found easily on www.agentquery.com (http://www.agentquery.com) or here on AW by asking. (What I'm saying is more for those who are just beginning their agent search.)

[Toothpaste]

This is true.

Good point.

[Jersey Chick]

The no phone call thing is usually directed at people who will call to pitch over the phone. Agents don't want to encourage that. As far as getting a name (or the sex of the agent) right, it's usually ok to call for verification. I probably would have gotten her assistant, but he was out of the office. I got lucky and got through to Ms English, who wasn't at all bothered (or at least that was my impression.)

It was a little risky, but it worked out ;)

[stormie]

Yeah, but in your case it was okay. A mistake was made, and now you know she wants a partial! Yay!

[Jersey Chick]

I know - I think I'd have dropped dead if there was silence, followed by, "Oh, well... about that. Um, no. I actually meant to reject you - ah- I mean, it."

Ka-Thunk - that's all anyone would've heard ;)


Of course that could still happen, but at least I know it was wanted at some point :D

[Sury]

Glad it worked out, JC. GOOD LUCK! :)

Sury

[Saundra Julian]

Congratulations, JG...keeping fingers crossed for you!

[Lauri B]

I just wanted to chime in here about the "no phone calls" thing. I used to get cold called all the time by people who wanted to talk with me about their book idea. Many of them were very nice; some weren't so nice. All were completely, completely clueless about how book publishing worked. And I was the editor of a pretty small, pretty niche publisher. So imagine all those phone calls I received multiplied by about a bazillion because there are far more book editors than there are literary agents so the agents are fielding calls from all kinds of people from all over the place.

It's not the people who have done their homework and are waiting for responses, or trying to double check addresses or names, or even just checking in on the status of their submissions that drive agents and editors most nuts, it's the people who don't bother researching the process enough to even know how to start, so they do what's easiest for them. Which I guess is fine, too, except that the end result is that they piss off people and don't get anywhere.

[burgy61]

Congratulations, and good luck.:snoopy: