Hello all, I have been querying agents for a few months and have about ten agents that I am still waiting to (hopefully) hear back from. I just read about a writing contest that I'd like to submit to. The entry deadline is in two weeks so I have to decide soon. Would entering the contest be a 'conflict of interests' since I have queries out there? Even if an agent were to ask for the manuscript in January after the holiday break, who knows how long it would be before they read it and got back to me. And if I tell them about the contest then, I'm assuming they'd lose interest even though as with any contest, it's a long shot that I'd win. Thoughts?
Can I query agents and enter contests at the same time?
- Thread starter MrPinot
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My first thought is that there is no contest prestigious enough to rival landing an agent who loves your work and wants to sell it to a trade publisher. (Or at least not a contest I know about.)
My second thought is that your fear of losing the agent completely if they do get back to you, interested in a ms. that is now off the table, is legitimate.
My third thought--don't worry, that's all I've got--is that I'd consider the contest only if I had a different novel to enter than the one I'm querying.
Maryn, big fan of having multiple novels ready to go
My second thought is that your fear of losing the agent completely if they do get back to you, interested in a ms. that is now off the table, is legitimate.
My third thought--don't worry, that's all I've got--is that I'd consider the contest only if I had a different novel to enter than the one I'm querying.
Maryn, big fan of having multiple novels ready to go
I'd guess a lot depends on what the contest entails.
If winning the contest = publication with some sort of already agreed upon advance, then yes, that does seem like a bad idea to query agents and enter the contest. (Unless, of course, you can reject the prize if you and agent decide that it's not the right step for your career.)
If winning the contest involves something completely different (that would preserve publishing rights for your manuscript), I'm not sure that there'd necessarily be a conflict of interest. Although that you're asking makes me think that there likely would be a problem.
If winning the contest = publication with some sort of already agreed upon advance, then yes, that does seem like a bad idea to query agents and enter the contest. (Unless, of course, you can reject the prize if you and agent decide that it's not the right step for your career.)
If winning the contest involves something completely different (that would preserve publishing rights for your manuscript), I'm not sure that there'd necessarily be a conflict of interest. Although that you're asking makes me think that there likely would be a problem.
I’d also like to know more about the nature of the contest. I’ve seen some unpublished ms contests where the prize is a meeting with an agent (if not a guarantee of representation), so maybe that’s what you’re thinking of. But even so, I’m not sure there’s any conflict. If you land an agent before the contest results are in you can withdraw from the contest; if you win representation via the contest, you can withdraw your submissions to agents.
There are also contests where the prize is publication of a novel chapter. If it’s a prestigious contest of that variety, winning it would be a plus in a search for an agent, not a negative (it doesn’t use up first publication rights on the novel as a whole).
So, yeah, what is it about the contest that’s making you worry about this?
There are also contests where the prize is publication of a novel chapter. If it’s a prestigious contest of that variety, winning it would be a plus in a search for an agent, not a negative (it doesn’t use up first publication rights on the novel as a whole).
So, yeah, what is it about the contest that’s making you worry about this?
All valid points....the competition is sponsored by the Mystery Writer's of America and St Martin's Press. The winner gets published by Minotaur Books and a $10K advance and flown to New York for the Edgar awards. So it's pretty tempting...
I could withdraw from the contest if accepted by an agent, or even offer them their standard cut of the 10K if they agree to represent me with future books. Or just not query anymore agents until the contest ends and see where the cards land....
I could withdraw from the contest if accepted by an agent, or even offer them their standard cut of the 10K if they agree to represent me with future books. Or just not query anymore agents until the contest ends and see where the cards land....
I did, but never heard back and ironically, after nearly a year trying to get an agent for that book, I've decided to shelve it and focus on my new book project. I know being an artist of any type means to expect heartbreak and rejection, but it does get a bit boring.... Still, keep calm and rewrite on!
Well, sorry you had to shelve the project, but thanks for the response. I've been thinking about entering the contest myself. It's disappointing that they don't send rejections or anything, but it's not surprising either.
On first glance, I thought this thread was about this year‘s contest. Thanks for the the head’s up regardless as I would like to enter my new whodunnit (currently in second draft) if it’s ready in time.