Question about Literary agent

[SIreland]

Hello, I have a question about a literary agent.

So I submitted a query to an agent and got rejected. However in the rejection they linked a sort of second chance for writers where anyone in the literary agency could look at. It seemed like a good idea so I started filling out the form when I saw that for the book they would like the first 50 pages. So my question is this. Is that normal? When I fist gave the book idea they only asked for the first 10 pages. So I'm just curious if sending 50 is a good idea or should I not send it in and look else where.

 

[Sage]

If I know the agency, & I bet I do, an agent from that agency may be hanging around.

The 10 pages was probably for that specific agent in the agency. The second chance is giving the others in the agency a chance to see if they missed out because this is a only-query-one-of-us agency. It’s possible they want a bigger sample to cover any of their agents’ preferences. An individual agent can always choose to check out less of the included material, but if the agency asked for less but an individual agent wanted more, they’d have to ask for it.

I don’t know for sure that that’s the reason, but it makes sense to me

ETA: I don’t know why it wouldn’t be a good idea for the author to include more material.

 

[Mevrouw Bee]

Hello, I have a question about a literary agent.

So I submitted a query to an agent and got rejected. However in the rejection they linked a sort of second chance for writers where anyone in the literary agency could look at. It seemed like a good idea so I started filling out the form when I saw that for the book they would like the first 50 pages. So my question is this. Is that normal? When I fist gave the book idea they only asked for the first 10 pages. So I'm just curious if sending 50 is a good idea or should I not send it in and look else where.

Many agents ask for a 50-page sample with a query so I wouldn't be concerned.

 

[SIreland]

Many agents ask for a 50-page sample with a query so I wouldn't be concerned.

Thank you for the information!

 

[Jennifer_Laughran]

(I assume this is my agency?)

The above is correct, we all do our own forms for our individual submissions, and most people do ask for 10 pages. I'm not sure WHY the Second Chance Inbox asks for 50 pages, but it does. Since that gives you MORE of an opportunity to show off your work, that seems better to me, but what do I know?

 

[Maryn]

...but what do I know?

From what I can tell, a considerable amount, right? Right!

 

[Nether]

(I assume this is my agency?)

The above is correct, we all do our own forms for our individual submissions, and most people do ask for 10 pages. I'm not sure WHY the Second Chance Inbox asks for 50 pages, but it does. Since that gives you MORE of an opportunity to show off your work, that seems better to me, but what do I know?

While I have you here (well, not really here, but, well...), can I ask a question about AB policy that's always confused me?

There's a reference on the submission policy that was along the lines of the process "resetting" with each new manuscript. Does that mean I can query an AB agent while I have something in 2nd chance? And can I have multiple things in 2nd chance at once or do I have to wait until it hits the 3 months? Because I always wind up holding off on 2nd chance thinking I have something I'll 1st chance... only for enough time to pass where I could've just 2nd-chanced.

 

[Jennifer_Laughran]

So the rules are here (Basically: Choose one agent to query, please don't submit the same manuscript to multiple agents, if the agent you query passes, you can try the second chance inbox, if you don't hear in 12 weeks, it's a no from the agency.) And then below that it says:

New projects.
All rules are reset on new projects. You may again select one agent to submit your new project to and, if that agent passes, you may submit your material to the Second Chance Inbox.

So... sure, I guess you can query with an entirely new project while you have something in second chance. There's no rule against it. And I guess you can have multiple things in the second chance? That hasn't really come up as far as I know, but again, there's no rule against it?

Like, but... how fast are you writing books though???? Maybe SLOW DOWN!

 

[Brigid Barry]

Like, but... how fast are you writing books though???? Maybe SLOW DOWN!

Some of us (me, I'm talking about myself) have a collection of projects from years of work. I'll dust off something old and work on it that maybe flopped in the trenches. Agents move and open/close to queries so after a couple of years and a market shift or two, I might absolutely have two or even three projects to juggle in the trenches!

 

[Nether]

Like, but... how fast are you writing books though???? Maybe SLOW DOWN!

I will, once I get an agent!

But besides what I write during any given year, I kinda have a backlog because I wasn't querying as I went along.