I'm not sure how to handle a situation that's come up with my agent. Here's the background (I apologize about the length):
For book idea #1, I signed with an agent and she sent proposals to 12 or so publishers. After that was unsuccessful, she said she would keep the book on her "available list." (I didn't like how passive that sounded, but it was better than nothing.)
Months later, I started on book idea #2. I thought this idea was far more marketable than idea #1, but my agent wasn't interested in taking it on. She said she'd help me with the contract if I could land a publisher on my own. (Another idea that didn't exactly sit well with me, though I do see the benefit here.)
More months go by. I don't hear anything from my agent, but I begin sending queries about book #2 directly to publishers.
So this week, I've had two requests: one from my agent for an updated proposal for book #1 (I guess there's been some interest), and one directly from a publisher for the proposal for book #2.
In my mind, book #2 is the top priority. It has a bigger audience, it's more practical, it's far more interesting, and it just makes more sense overall. In keeping with this thinking, I'm not really enthusiastic about updating and submitting a proposal for book #1. In fact, I sort of dread the idea of possibly getting an offer on that first book (as it would mean I would have to stop working on book #2 for a time, and I see this as a big opportunity cost).
So I'm wondering: How should I respond to my agent's request? Would I be an idiot not to just send the proposal for book #1, or should I tell her that I'd prefer to focus entirely on book #2 right now?
Any ideas or thoughts on how to handle this would be appreciated!
-Nancy
For book idea #1, I signed with an agent and she sent proposals to 12 or so publishers. After that was unsuccessful, she said she would keep the book on her "available list." (I didn't like how passive that sounded, but it was better than nothing.)
Months later, I started on book idea #2. I thought this idea was far more marketable than idea #1, but my agent wasn't interested in taking it on. She said she'd help me with the contract if I could land a publisher on my own. (Another idea that didn't exactly sit well with me, though I do see the benefit here.)
More months go by. I don't hear anything from my agent, but I begin sending queries about book #2 directly to publishers.
So this week, I've had two requests: one from my agent for an updated proposal for book #1 (I guess there's been some interest), and one directly from a publisher for the proposal for book #2.
In my mind, book #2 is the top priority. It has a bigger audience, it's more practical, it's far more interesting, and it just makes more sense overall. In keeping with this thinking, I'm not really enthusiastic about updating and submitting a proposal for book #1. In fact, I sort of dread the idea of possibly getting an offer on that first book (as it would mean I would have to stop working on book #2 for a time, and I see this as a big opportunity cost).
So I'm wondering: How should I respond to my agent's request? Would I be an idiot not to just send the proposal for book #1, or should I tell her that I'd prefer to focus entirely on book #2 right now?
Any ideas or thoughts on how to handle this would be appreciated!
-Nancy
