Hypothetically Speaking...

mscelina · Nov 2, 2009

What is the proper etiquette to respond to an agent who sends you an email in the middle of reading your requested full to tell you how much he/she is enjoying the story? Should a writer respond courteously for the compliment or is it better to just let it slide? I'm thinking that a brief but polite email to thank the agent is the way to go--but that's just my uneducated opinion.

Any thoughts?

scarletpeaches · Nov 2, 2009

I agree. Something along the lines of thanking them for the compliment and "I hope you enjoy the rest of the book," or somesuch.

mscelina · Nov 2, 2009

That's what I thought too. Sometimes I think I think too much.

Puma · Nov 2, 2009

I agree with SP. Don't see how you can go wrong with a short thank you. Puma

Deleted member 42 · Nov 2, 2009

Yep; brief informal I'm-so-very-glad-you're-liking-it

mscelina · Nov 2, 2009

Glad to know my first knee-jerk response was apparently the right one. Hypothetically speaking, of course.

scarletpeaches · Nov 2, 2009

Hypothetically speaking, good manners and a quick thank you are never a bad move. But it's just as well this is all hypothetical because I'm no expert on handling things in a polite, gracious way.

Jerry B. Flory · Nov 2, 2009

Dear agent,
The fact that you could put my book down long enough to write an email to tell me how much you're enjoying it is not at all encouraging. Please hurry up and sell it before all these left-handed compliments damage my psyche.
Thanks for reading.

mscelina · Nov 2, 2009

Jerry B. Flory said:
Dear agent,
The fact that you could put my book down long enough to write an email to tell me how much you're enjoying it is not at all encouraging. Please hurry up and sell it before all these left-handed compliments damage my psyche.
Thanks for reading.

Hey!?!? How'd you get ahold of my hypothetical email? Dangnabbit, I'm changing my passwords.

*grumble grumble*

AnonymousWriter · Nov 3, 2009

Just the same as the others-- brief and polite.

Congratulations, by the way. Hopefully he/she will enjoy the rest too.

mscelina · Nov 3, 2009

Hypothetically, there is nothing to congratulate.

Phaeal · Nov 3, 2009

Hey, I send thank you notes for form rejections. Go for it! And CGs.

MGraybosch · Nov 3, 2009

mscelina said:
What is the proper etiquette to respond to an agent who sends you an email in the middle of reading your requested full to tell you how much he/she is enjoying the story?

I haven't been in this situation myself (so feel free to ignore me), but I'd be tempted to dash off a quick reply to say "thank you".

mscelina · Nov 3, 2009

Hypothetically, I would have. If the event had occurred, of course.

I even hypothetically managed to keep any squee out of it...you know...if it had happened.

Now ssssh, everyone. Don't hypothetically jinx me.

Perks · Nov 3, 2009

Absolutely, go with your instinct if, hypothetically, you haven't and say thanks. My two offers of representation both came with such an interruption if that, hypothetically, means anything.

Squee into your pillow if needs be, but don't hold it in. You'll get a cramp.

mscelina · Nov 3, 2009

That might explain my current migraine. Never thought of that.

I might need some hypothetical aspirin.

Jerry B. Flory · Nov 3, 2009

Your agent gets out of bed and goes to work like anyone else. This is someone you hope to work with in your career as a writer. Treat them like anyone else you've ever worked with. I'm sure they like a thanks and the feeling that they are working with you; you're part of their career. They're human beings; all the platitudes apply.
Good friendships often blossom out of common courtesies.

Hypothetically Speaking...

mscelina

Teh doommobile, drivin' rite by you

scarletpeaches

mscelina

Teh doommobile, drivin' rite by you

Puma

Retired and loving it!

Deleted member 42

mscelina

Teh doommobile, drivin' rite by you

scarletpeaches

Jerry B. Flory

under the Milky Way

mscelina

Teh doommobile, drivin' rite by you

AnonymousWriter

mscelina

Teh doommobile, drivin' rite by you

Phaeal

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

MGraybosch

Lunch Break Novelist

mscelina

Teh doommobile, drivin' rite by you

Perks

delicate #!&@*#! flower

mscelina

Teh doommobile, drivin' rite by you

Jerry B. Flory

under the Milky Way