Protocol: Offering exclusives

SkipII · Jul 30, 2011

I have three major NY agents looking at my book. I did not expect that kind of response so quickly and at the same time, but it poses a dilemma.

Should I offer an exclusive, or wait to let all three play out? I'm not sure how some agents feel about having the proposal out to more than one agent.

Thanks for any advice.

Ari Meermans · Jul 30, 2011

Skip, you shouldn't show your preferred agent here. We have editor and agent members and it's very easy for them to see they aren't your preferred. You might want to edit your post.

Also, never offer an exclusive. If an agent requests an exclusive, stop and think about it and, if you want to grant the exclusive, set a time limit on it.

Just sayin'.

happywritermom · Jul 30, 2011

I have fulls out with two agents right now. I didn't offer exclusives, but I did tell the second agent that another agent has the full as well. She simply ask me to let her know if I get an offer and to give her an opportunity to read the manuscript before I make a decision.
I have decided, our of respect for both agents, to wait until I hear back before I query again. Even if they both reject it, I might get some valuable feedback that will help me get a contract with someone else.
I don't think I would ever offer an exclusive. That doesn't benefit you at all and, if the agent wanted an exclusive, he would have asked. Exclusives are a bit of a burden on agents because it puts pressure on them to read it sooner. It also might come across as a little pretentious, though I'm sure you don't mean it that way.

Kasey Mackenzie · Jul 30, 2011

Never, ever, EVER offer an exclusive. Period. It is way too preferential to the agent and offers no advantages to the writer at all.

If an agent asks for an exclusive, consider carefully whether that agent is on your top-tier list or not. If he or she is, then it may be worth taking your manuscript out of general circulation long enough for the exclusive to expire. Make sure, however, if you do grant the exclusive that you set a finite time period on it (I'd say 2-3 weeks for a partial, no more than 3-4 weeks for a full). If they insist on the exclusive, then they can read it quickly--or not, thereby running the risk of having to compete just like all the other agents out there.

That said, good luck! That's a great response rate for early-on in the process. =)

Katrina S. Forest · Jul 30, 2011

I'm confused by your post -- you have requested material out with multiple agents right now?

If that's the case, you can't offer an exclusive, because the material's with more than one agent already.

IceCreamEmpress · Jul 30, 2011

You can't offer an exclusive, nor can you grant an exclusive if one is requested, because if I understand your post correctly, the manuscript's already with more than one agent (as Katrina S. Forest says).

Asking to have your manuscript back or telling your less-favorite agents not to read it because you're granting another agent an exclusive would be the height of unprofessionalism.

PinkAmy · Jul 31, 2011

Katrina S. Forest said:
I'm confused by your post -- you have requested material out with multiple agents right now?

If that's the case, you can't offer an exclusive, because the material's with more than one agent already.

That's not so. You can tell the agent that you have material out with X number of agents, but you are willing to refrain from sending out more queries or partials and fills for Y number of weeks while the agent has the exclusive. I've done it. As long as you're honest, there should be no problem.

popmuze · Jul 31, 2011

Next time an agent asks me for an exclusive read on a full, for a month say, I'm going to accept it, provided no other agent is reading it. I would kill to get my manuscript back in a month. Three agents have had it now for eight months or more. And I've rewritten it six times since then.

happywritermom · Jul 31, 2011

Geez! It's only been three weeks for me and it's torture. I can't imagine waiting eight months. Have you nudged?

IceCreamEmpress · Jul 31, 2011

PinkAmy said:
That's not so. You can tell the agent that you have material out with X number of agents, but you are willing to refrain from sending out more queries or partials and fills for Y number of weeks

That's an excellent point! You can certainly do that if they request an exclusive. (That might or might not be "good enough" for an agent who insists on a true exclusive--that agent could conceivably be put off by the X number of other agents who are currently reading the material--but it would certainly demonstrate a willingness to work with the agent and respond to their requests.)

That said, don't pre-emptively offer exclusives or any other limitation on your submission. It narrows your choices without gaining you anything; agents won't think "Wow, I'm special!" when you offer them an exclusive they haven't requested.

Katrina S. Forest · Aug 1, 2011

PinkAmy said:
That's not so. You can tell the agent that you have material out with X number of agents, but you are willing to refrain from sending out more queries or partials and fills for Y number of weeks while the agent has the exclusive. I've done it. As long as you're honest, there should be no problem.

This is certainly true, I just wouldn't call it an exclusive at that point.

popmuze said:
Next time an agent asks me for an exclusive read on a full, for a month say, I'm going to accept it, provided no other agent is reading it. I would kill to get my manuscript back in a month. Three agents have had it now for eight months or more. And I've rewritten it six times since then.

Eight months is way too long. Standard response time (if agents don't say otherwise on their site/blog/whatever) is three months. I would certainly nudge if you haven't already.

(I tried to find Miss Snark's sample letter for this, but alas, no luck. It was something about hoping the manuscript is something the agent is still interested in, but also something about needing to move forward in your quest for representation.)

Please don't take this the wrong way, but if you are still revising, perhaps you should hold back on the queries for a bit? The querying stage should mean your book is ready for representation as it is.

PinkAmy · Aug 1, 2011

Katrina S. Forest said:
This is certainly true, I just wouldn't call it an exclusive at that point.

Agents have called it limited-exclusive with me

. Neither ended up offering me a contract to rep, but both were on my top tier of choices so it was worth holding off. Each made me promise to let them know if I had another offer and to give them 7 days to also offer.

popmuze · Aug 2, 2011

Katrina S. Forest said:
Eight months is way too long. Please don't take this the wrong way, but if you are still revising, perhaps you should hold back on the queries for a bit? The querying stage should mean your book is ready for representation as it is.

I actually did just remove the manuscript for the last six weeks. I even told a couple of agents who requested it that I was still polishing it and would get it to them when it was done. As far as the 8 months agents, I've nudged a few times with no response. Who knows, I could be on their automatic spam list by now.

Protocol: Offering exclusives

SkipII

Ari Meermans

MacAllister's Official Minion & Greeter

happywritermom

Kasey Mackenzie

One Hit Wonder?

Katrina S. Forest

IceCreamEmpress

Hapless Virago

PinkAmy

New kid, be gentle!

popmuze

Last of a Dying Breed