I'm getting an icky feeling...am I wrong?
So this is kind of long and I apologize, but I need to know if what I'm feeling in my gut about this agent is right of if I'm just overreacting.
So, first of all, an agent agreed to represent my work (nonfiction). I checked out the agent and she is reputable with decent sales to the types of presses that will work for my book. I contacted 3 authors that have worked with her (that I tracked down independently -- they weren't offered as references) and got good references.
When we talked, she told me that I had to pay $30 for a sample proposal so that I could model mine to their standards (supposedly to make it easier for them and me to get it ready to send out). This was my first hint that something might be weird, but, since I could afford the $30, I went ahead and ordered the sample figuring I'd see where this led and approach cautiously. It came and I set about modeling my proposal after it. It wasn't really what I've seen in books, etc. as "standard" (she requires single spaced, graphics, etc. -- basically it looks like a mini book) but is was professional looking and contained all the elements so I figured this agent just does things differently. I was never asked to sign a contract or anything binding me to this agency.
So I sent off the first set of revisions and quickly recevied the comments back. There wasn't much, just some nebulous comments about adding examples and formatting things differently (the changes are not consistent with the sample she sent). So I did the best I could and sent it back, this time with some specific comments attached about areas I was having trouble with, things I didn't understand, items needing clarification, etc.
It came back yesterday. Every single comment/question I asked was ignored. She made some comments again about following her format but didn't say what I should do differently from the example she sent. Now she wants it triple spaced, after I spent all the time single spacing my previously double spaced proposal. The chapter summaries, which I painstakingly modeled after her format are too brief -- even though they're exactly the same length as the ones in the sample. Now we're on the third set of revisions, she tells me that my writing isn't good and that I need help in this area but she doesn't give me examples of what is bad or what can be improved, thus giving me no chance to fix what is wrong. She did say I should call her if I want to discuss this.
So, to sum up, I'm not feeling warm and fuzzy here. It seems strange that we go through 3 sets of revisions before it comes up that my writing isn't good. I agree I'm not perfect (almost any writer could benefit from some help and I'm not averse to that, if it's necessary) but if it was that bad, why take it on in the first place? Why does the formatting keep changing? Either it should match the model (which I've done) or it should match something else, which she should tell me. Don't just keep telling me to match the format without giving me a clue. And why was it to be single spaced and now changed to triple spaced? Why ignore my carefully thought out questions and comments? If you don't want to deal with them just say "we'll get to that later." I don't think I should be ignored.
Here's what I'm feeling: Something tells me I'm being set up for a pitch to either an editor/book doctor she knows or to cough up money for her to do the editing -- neither of which, as I understand it, is the job of the agent. I'll admit I haven't had the best week and maybe I'm being overly sensitive, but my gut is telling me this is all wrong. I don't believe this is ever going to get anywhere, I'm just going to reformat this thing till I die. I'm feeling like I should walk away now before I get in any deeper, but maybe I'm not reading this situation right.
Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.