Do agents usually give advances on advances?

*zips off email to agent*

God, I hope so. Mama needs a new pair of shoes.

aruna said:

when they knew advances were due in a few months

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May I also ask, as it's kinda related... how long does it generally take between signing a publishing contract and the advance (or first instalment thereof) getting through to the author? I'm sure it varies, but have people's experiences been days, weeks or months?

An advance on an advance? Your agency is kinda cool to do that.

i've never heard of it happening, but having an agency who are able to do that is pretty cool. looking after their authors and all.

I don't think it's a standard thing, Sharon, but I have heard of several agents doing this for their established clients on the odd occasion.

If they establish doing it for odd clients I'd be rich

aruna said:

Just asking. I wanted to post a thread on my excellent ex-agency in Bewares and Background Check and wasn't sure if this is normal behaviour.
My agency regularly advanced me money when I was skint, when they knew advances were due in a few months. That really helped me stay above water. Do other agents do this?

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Sometimes, especially if they know the author/author's work.

I've known publishers to do this as well, by the way.

I had a textbook publisher send me a check before the contract was actually finalized so I could pay tuition. (W. W. Norton you rock!)

TudorRose said:

May I also ask, as it's kinda related... how long does it generally take between signing a publishing contract and the advance (or first instalment thereof) getting through to the author? I'm sure it varies, but have people's experiences been days, weeks or months?

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I'm in a very funny niche genre--consumer technology books.

The contract was finalized in mid March for a book about the iPad 2. We finished the ms. in mid-Aprill, c. the 20th or so, including author review/galleys.

The book was in stores May 8.

I got the first chunks of the advance about two weeks ago; I'm waiting for a last chunk that was a bonus for hitting the deadline.

In some cases, also, there's a delay on the part of the agent--look for an agency clause about remitting funds/sending checks. Don't let them sit on checks indefinitely.

New to me, although I've never asked.

That would certainly be unusual in the US; it's far more usual here for publishers to move up payment schedules for a contracted project (as Medievalist mentions) when an author is tight for cash.

How lovely that your agents came through for you in that way, aruna!

Thanks for the info, Aruna and Medievalist

Ask for direct bank transfers - the cheque (or check!) is dead and can get 'lost/delayed in the post'

It's not too uncommon, if the agent can afford to do so. I've even known a couple of agents who often gave advances to writers they really had faith in when no advance was expected.

Jamesaritchie said:

It's not too uncommon, if the agent can afford to do so. I've even known a couple of agents who often gave advances to writers they really had faith in when no advance was expected.

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I'm starting to wonder if Dear Jim just gets a kick out of being contrary.

Personally, I've never heard of that, but maybe it's because the agents I know don't want people lining up at their doors with their hands out without a contract, and the authors who are getting that treatment don't want to overextend their gravy train. It might not be "too uncommon," but it certainly isn't common in the circles I've been in.