In early February I sent a query letter to 15 agents. Several of them answered with a thanks-but-no-thanks response. One of them quickly responded with a request for sample chapters, and then quickly followed up with a request for the entire manuscript on an exclusive basis. I was happy to oblige. So happy, in fact, that I did not request a time frame for the exclusivity. (I'm new at this.)
In the meantime, a few other agents responded to my original query, expressing an interest in seeing all or part of my manuscript. I answered them by thanking them and explaining that it was being considered on an exclusive basis. I told them I would send them the manuscript if/when I was released from my obligation of exclusivity.
That's the background. My question is this: What is a reasonable time for exclusive consideration? Should I write a follow-up letter to establish an end-date to the exclusivity? It has been three months -- not a long time in this business, I acknowledge, but long enough to make me crazy because other agents have expressed an interest in my book but I can't do anything about it.
Any ideas or suggestions? Thanks.
In the meantime, a few other agents responded to my original query, expressing an interest in seeing all or part of my manuscript. I answered them by thanking them and explaining that it was being considered on an exclusive basis. I told them I would send them the manuscript if/when I was released from my obligation of exclusivity.
That's the background. My question is this: What is a reasonable time for exclusive consideration? Should I write a follow-up letter to establish an end-date to the exclusivity? It has been three months -- not a long time in this business, I acknowledge, but long enough to make me crazy because other agents have expressed an interest in my book but I can't do anything about it.
Any ideas or suggestions? Thanks.