ASK THE AGENT: Exclusivity

Posted on Jan 28th, 2008 | 6 comments home title

“If you are working on revision suggestions for one agent with whom you have NOT signed, should you still query other agents?”

Simple answer: No.

You should try to have things out on the table verbally, but I realize sometimes it doesn’t happen. So here’s how to handle it.

If an agent has given you revision suggestions but not agreed to represent it, you should honor them (the fact that they took the time to give you notes) by giving them exclusivity for a period of time. You should do the revisions and re-submit to THAT agent, letting them know that you are currently letting them see it exclusively. It’s reasonable for you to expect a fairly prompt reply since you’re not submitting to anyone else at this point. Follow up if you haven’t heard a word in a couple of weeks. If the agent ends up passing, you’re free to pursue others.

This principle is the same, by the way, if you’re dealing with an in-house editor. And fair warning… it’s not uncommon for an agent or editor to give notes and request changes and still not end up buying (or representing) the project. So please… KEEP your hopes up, but remember there’s no deal until there’s a deal.

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Richard Mabry

>Rachelle,
Thanks for addressing this. To paraphrase Mark Twain, “If I tell you the truth, I don’t have to remember what I said.” Good advice in any endeavor.
Have a great week.
Pam Halter

>My question is: if you query an agent and they request three chapters and a synopsis and it’s been three months since you heard anything even though you followed up, would it be a breach of etiquette to begin to send queries out to other agents?
Rachelle

>Pam, everybody chooses how they want to do business. In most cases, I recommend asking yourself how you would handle it if it were any other situation besides an agent. My vote is always for common courtesy — EVEN THOUGH you may not be receiving that same courtesy from others.

Sure you could start querying other agents. But etiquette requires an extra step. To me, common courtesy means you write an email to the agent who has your materials, thanking them for looking at it, telling them that you’ve been holding back from submitting to others because you were letting them see it exclusively, but since you haven’t heard back, you are planning on querying other agents. And ask them to contact you if they still have interest. When you always do the most courteous thing, regardless of how you are being treated by others, you never have to ask yourself whether you handled it properly, because you know you did you best.
Melissa Marsh

>I once emailed an agent who looked at my full manuscript a few years ago and offered me some pointers, and thanked her for taking the time to give me comments. She sent me an email back and said, “You’re welcome!” It was a small gesture, but I really appreciated it.
Pam Halter

>Thank you, Rachelle. I agree with you, but I have writing friends who are urging me to forge ahead.

Thanks for reassuring me I’m doing the right thing.
Linda Harris

>Thanks for this advice. My question is, at what point do you tell the other agent or editor (who has not been working with you) that you are withdrawing your materials from their consideration? Is it when you’ve signed with the one you have been working with?