Question About an Offer

Undercover · 12-21-2012, 11:34 PM

I got an offer of rep. but still have two partials and 1 full out that I'd rather go with. Should I ask the partial requesters if they want to see the full? How much time should I give if I do that? Would having an offer from another agent help make a favorable decision for the others?

NicolaD · 12-21-2012, 11:45 PM

Absolutely let the other agents with your ms know you have an offer. They can then decide if they want to pass/see more/make an offer as well. I think 1-2 weeks is fairly standard in terms of time. It may not get you favourable answers from the others, but it sure as heck speeds up the process when you have an offer on the table.

waylander · 12-21-2012, 11:48 PM

What she said.
You must inform the other agents who are considering your work.

And congratulations

ARoyce · 12-22-2012, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undercover

I got an offer of rep. but still have two partials and 1 full out that I'd rather go with. Should I ask the partial requesters if they want to see the full? How much time should I give if I do that? Would having an offer from another agent help make a favorable decision for the others?

Congratulations!

(A word of caution: it might not be diplomatic to mention that you'd rather go with someone else. While it may be unlikely that the agents in question would find this, it's not impossible.)

Rather than ask the others if they want to upgrade, I'd email them an update with the subject line "offer of rep." If they're interested, they'll move more quickly.

While 1-2 weeks seems standard, I'm not sure if that's enough due to the holidays...maybe request a response by Jan. 11? Whatever date you suggest, you should also make sure that's okay with the agent who has already offered.

Getting an offer of rep won't necessarily get more favorable responses, but it will get you faster responses than the average querier.

Congrats again and good luck with the others!

Undercover · 12-22-2012, 01:09 AM

Thanks everyone. I informed the other agents and one got back to me right away asking for the full. And we're on the same wave length ARoyce, I asked if it could be read by Jan 10th. The date just popped in my head, probably should have looked at the calender first.

The full request was just earlier today and she mentioned she'd get back to me sometime early January. Should I still mention it to her? I feel weird telling her today when she JUST requested it. Would telling her next week (after xmas) be better?

wampuscat · 12-22-2012, 01:15 AM

I've read that agents consider it common courtesy to be informed when there is an offer of rep out on an ms they are considering.

ETA: Congrats!

Corinne Duyvis · 12-22-2012, 02:56 AM

Normally January 10th would be very lenient--one week is standard--but given the holidays, it makes sense.

If you've recently queried an agent you really love and haven't gotten a response yet, you can contact them, as well. I did that when I got my offer, and it resulted in a second offer.

Smiley0501 · 12-22-2012, 03:02 AM

Congrats! I second all the others above me - let all the other agents know you have an offer (even those with a partial or full). Good luck!

FCameron · 12-22-2012, 03:50 AM

Congratulations!

Old Hack · 12-22-2012, 10:51 AM

Definitely let all the other agents who have expressed interest know that you have an offer of representation. You don't have to tell them who it is who has offered, of course, although some of them might ask.

Don't forget to check out the offering agent, if you haven't done so already. Signing with an agent is a big deal, and you don't want to sign with one who isn't going to do an excellent job for you.

12-21-2012, 11:34 PM	#1
Undercover Left-Handed Black Pen User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: In La La Land Posts: 4,234	Question About an Offer I got an offer of rep. but still have two partials and 1 full out that I'd rather go with. Should I ask the partial requesters if they want to see the full? How much time should I give if I do that? Would having an offer from another agent help make a favorable decision for the others? __________________ DEEP IN THE MEADOWS (YA Novel by: Leap Books, coming 2014) www.writingsbylisamcronkhite.blogspot.com

12-21-2012, 11:45 PM	#2
NicolaD This will all make sense tomorrow Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: New Zealand Posts: 101	Absolutely let the other agents with your ms know you have an offer. They can then decide if they want to pass/see more/make an offer as well. I think 1-2 weeks is fairly standard in terms of time. It may not get you favourable answers from the others, but it sure as heck speeds up the process when you have an offer on the table. __________________ Wicked Regency Romance --- Web: www.nicola-davidson.com FB: Nicola Davidson - Author Twitter: @NicolaMDavidson

12-21-2012, 11:48 PM	#3
waylander Who's going for a beer? Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: London, UK Posts: 5,188	What she said. You must inform the other agents who are considering your work. And congratulations __________________ Behind the smile, there's danger and a promise to be told.

12-22-2012, 01:09 AM	#5
Undercover Left-Handed Black Pen User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: In La La Land Posts: 4,234	Thanks everyone. I informed the other agents and one got back to me right away asking for the full. And we're on the same wave length ARoyce, I asked if it could be read by Jan 10th. The date just popped in my head, probably should have looked at the calender first. The full request was just earlier today and she mentioned she'd get back to me sometime early January. Should I still mention it to her? I feel weird telling her today when she JUST requested it. Would telling her next week (after xmas) be better? __________________ DEEP IN THE MEADOWS (YA Novel by: Leap Books, coming 2014) www.writingsbylisamcronkhite.blogspot.com

12-22-2012, 02:56 AM	#7
Corinne Duyvis She of the Comfortable Shoulders Join Date: May 2010 Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands Posts: 718	Normally January 10th would be very lenient--one week is standard--but given the holidays, it makes sense. If you've recently queried an agent you really love and haven't gotten a response yet, you can contact them, as well. I did that when I got my offer, and it resulted in a second offer. __________________ * Blog * Website * Twitter * The Fourteenery Represented by Ammi-Joan Paquette of Erin Murphy Literary Agency. OTHERBOUND: a YA fantasy about a boy from our world who's spent ten years involuntarily witnessing the life of a servant girl from another world every time he blinks--and what happens when he finally learns to communicate with her. Available 2014 from Amulet Books.

12-22-2012, 01:15 AM	#6
wampuscat In need to caffeine Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 1,420	I've read that agents consider it common courtesy to be informed when there is an offer of rep out on an ms they are considering. ETA: Congrats!

12-22-2012, 03:02 AM	#8
Smiley0501 Lurker, now activated. :-) Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: The Northeast, USA Posts: 2,075	Congrats! I second all the others above me - let all the other agents know you have an offer (even those with a partial or full). Good luck! __________________ You can call me ~Smiley~ Places you can find me other than AW: Blog! Twitter (tweet tweet) V!0L3NT D3L!GHTS: (67,000) R&R sent in. bites nails forever TH3 R0S3 K!NGD0M: (74,000) Trunked forever.

12-22-2012, 03:50 AM	#9
FCameron practical experience, FTW Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: North Carolina Posts: 172	Congratulations! __________________ Freda Cameron Thriller: R&R underway for agent Thriller: WIP Historical Fiction: Researching When I'm not writing fiction, I blog (unedited) about what I love at Defining Your Home, Garden & Travel

12-22-2012, 10:51 AM	#10
Old Hack You'll have to run faster than that SuperModerator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In the watchtower Posts: 11,471	Definitely let all the other agents who have expressed interest know that you have an offer of representation. You don't have to tell them who it is who has offered, of course, although some of them might ask. Don't forget to check out the offering agent, if you haven't done so already. Signing with an agent is a big deal, and you don't want to sign with one who isn't going to do an excellent job for you. __________________ I blog at How Publishing Really Works and The Self-Publishing Review, and I tweet as @hprw. See you around.

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