What to do?

krashnburn · Jul 16, 2014

I've been querying my current MS now for a year, and I'm pretty much done with it. I currently have 6 submissions outstanding. I did PitchWars with the book last Dec-Jan and really enjoyed it and got some interest in it. The two agents who requested material in Jan are part of my outstanding subs because I sent a revision to them in April, and they're usually 6-monthers.

I have a new WIP I'd like to submit to the Aug PitchWars--same genre. Agent round is in Sept. Would it be a big no-no for me to participate with a new MS if those 6 subs are still outstanding come Sept (assuming I'm chosen)? Or as long as I let anyone who requests material know I have other material outstanding, it's okay? I'd hate to let the opportunity to work with some great people go by and have to wait a whole year before I get the chance again...

Thoughts?

And thanks!

Aggy B. · Jul 16, 2014

I think the best move is to pitch/query the new book. If you get an offer on the first, you let them know you have a second book out on query and you let the agents with the second book know you have an offer on a different book. (And vice-versa, if you should get an offer on #2 first.)

I don't believe you have an obligation to tell anyone about the first/second book until an offer is made. Partly because it could seem like one of those "tricks" folks use to try and leverage a fast response. But there's nothing that says you can't query two books at once (in separate letters, of course).

I haven't been in that position, but I had been anticipating it prior to securing my agent, so this is the plan that I had formulated. YMMV.

Good luck!

Fizgig · Jul 16, 2014

Janet Reid, agent extraordinaire, just discussed this on her blog. The basic gist was "go for it":
http://jetreidliterary.blogspot.com/2014/07/query-question-submission-detritus.html

I'm in a very similar position - I have a few fulls and partials out for a previous manuscript (Adult Fantasy) and have started querying a second novel (YA Fantasy) about 9 months after the first. From everything I've read, if I were to get an offer on the second novel, I would notify the agents with my first.

Interestingly, I'm getting a lot quicker responses on my second novel. Not sure if it's just more interesting to agents or what, but I'm getting more requests in a day or two and already have 3 fulls and 2 partials out after querying for a few weeks.

mayqueen · Jul 16, 2014

I'm querying my third novel and I definitely have novel overlap. I think it's just the nature of the game. I say go for it. The only thing that's frowned on (I think) is querying two novels at the exact same time.

What to do?

krashnburn

I've gone to pink!

Aggy B.

Not as sweet as you think

Fizgig

mayqueen

practical experience, FTW