Agent Question: Exclusively?

[klow]

Not sure of the best place to ask this question. I just heard back from two agents I queried. Both want to see my manuscript. One said the following in her email.
"Please confirm if I will be looking at the proposal exclusively."

I'd like to send my work out to both these agents. Is this proper? What do I tell the agent who wants to know whether she is looking at it exclusively. Do I just let her know another agent is also considering. I am fairly new to this and unsure of the protocol.

Thanks for any guidance.

[Gillhoughly]

This might help. An entry from Miss Snark. (http://misssnark.blogspot.com/2006/01/exclusivity-still-sux.html)

That's a agent's blog you should read as you'll learn tons more about that side of the business.

And here. (http://swilliamshaw.com/?p=205)

And this is an entry on this very topic (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65039) here on AW. It mentions Miss Snark's advice that you have a 30-day time limit.

I think you can, in fairness and honesty--and you WILL have to be telling the truth--let the one agent know that you are presently shopping for representation, which means that there are other agents looking at your work.

Most of them understand that!

Here's a safe place (http://anotherealm.com/prededitors/) to look for an agent, as well as get more info on the process and on writing. If you see "not recommended" next to a name run away. There's plenty of honest ones out there!

Good luck!

[klow]

Thanks for the info Gillhoughly! This really helps.

[maestrowork]

If they ask for exclusivity and you lie about it and have two agents looking at it at the same time, what kind of relationship do you think you will have with them? You need to be honest. Let them know and then grant your exclusivity accordingly, but not at the same time.

[ideagirl]

In addition to saying "No, I can't do exclusivity, because I'm looking for an agent and some others have also asked to see this," you could--if the agent seeking exclusivity seems worth it--use very limited exclusivity as another option: "I'm not really comfortable giving exclusivity because some other agents have also asked to see this, but I would be willing to give you a one-week exclusive." Or words to that effect.

[Gillhoughly]

Make it a month.

Slush piles are BIG. My agent must get 20-40 partials a day.

http://www.michellerowen.com/blog/images/tor_1.jpg

[Nateskate]

I agree with G. But again, it's also a positive- Hey, if you wait too long I'll already have a date to the prom.

[t0neg0d]

Make it a month.

Slush piles are BIG. My agent must get 20-40 partials a day.

http://www.michellerowen.com/blog/images/tor_1.jpg

>.< What a nightmare.

[Phot's Moll]

Congrats on having two agents interested though - good going!!!

[Seif]

Does an exclusivity clause enhance chances of publication or is the agent trying to be too careful?

If it is a time limited clause than it deprives you of a whole months worth of agent querying. Is it worth the risk?

[Gillhoughly]

Email subs have somewhat lessened the query time, but it still takes a minimum of 6 weeks or longer for most legit agents.

In other words, the query process usually takes TIME and lots of it.

We're living in an instant gratification age. Think of this as a cold dousing from the bucket of reality.

It took me two years to make my first novel sale (off the slush pile). During that time when the book came back I'd rewrite to make it better and finished the second and started the third.

It is my understanding from talking with other writers that I had been on the fast track since it took ONLY two years to make that sale!

Does an exclusivity clause enhance chances of publication or is the agent trying to be too careful?


Exclusivity is the agent being careful and does not increase your chance of getting placed with anyone.

If it is a time limited clause then it deprives you of a whole month's worth of agent querying. Is it worth the risk?

You put a time limit on it because some inept agents--they're OUT there!--can tie up a submission indefinitely. So yes, it is worth the risk, such as it is. As mentioned on other threads an inept agent can be worse than a scamming agent.

If the exclusivity-prone agent is a true professional, he or she will understand that having a time limit is all part of the process and not make a fuss. If they do fuss, walk away, you won't be a good fit together.

Many writers don't understand that the agent works for YOU. If it's not a good fit, then you let them go and find another.

When my first agent got too busy to answer my calls, fobbed me off onto the phone girl, screwed up a book deal, and arbitrarily passed on another that could have made me some money, it was time to fire him. He was very unhappy, but what did he expect? It wasn't like I called him up every day to have my hand held, I had real business to discuss.

My "new" agent--we've been working together for 11 years now--is pure magic. She finds publishers for me, sells me overseas, and arranges anthology deals with the publishers, all with a smile and a zest for the work.

She has the people skills; I have the words.

It works.http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/images/icons/icon10.gif

[Karen Duvall]

Klow, while I was querying agents, I was SO worried about his very thing happening. Rest assured that not all agents will ask for an exclusive. I had 7 full requests, all at the same time, and not one asked for an exclusive. So they all got the manuscript at the same time. Three of them read fairly quickly, and of those I accepted representation from one. I withdrew the manuscript from consideration by the others so they never wasted their time. I think that's an agent's big fear: wasting time on a lost cause when they're already so dang busy.

The part that I don't get about exclusivity is that if a number of agents request the full, and a couple of them want exclusivity, what makes them so sure you're going to accept their offer of representation without hearing from the others first? Multiple offers will usually have the author calling the other requesters to let them know and give them a week to consider and get back to you. If the offering agent really wants the manuscript, they'll wait.

I didn't have multiple offers. I had two reject, and one make an offer, and she was so fabulous I couldn't say no. I'll never know about the other four because they never got the chance, and they were all so gracious with their congratulations. I've had real good fortune with the agents I've dealt with this time. It hasn't always been that way, though. I could tell you stories... :D

[GJB]

Here's my take: 1) Send off to the non-exclusive. 2) A day or so later send off to the second (the exclusive) with a very short and gracious explanation that you are confirming she has an exclusive but not as to those agents to whom you have already sent requested materials, ask if a 30-day period is sufficient, and tell her you will of course let her know during the 30-day period if one of the others offers representation.
If after you have both off, you receive more requests, I'd let #2 know and ask her if she has a problem either shortening the 30 days or letting you send elsewhere. Said another way, if you agreed to every requested exclusive period of 30 days or more (not talking a week here, which I find more reasonable), the world would be flat by the time you find the right agent.

Good job and good luck. g.

[maestrowork]

Does an exclusivity clause enhance chances of publication or is the agent trying to be too careful?


It doesn't enhance your chances -- the only thing that will enhance your chances is the quality of your work. Exclusivity is to protect the agent, not you, in case they're interested in the work, it wouldn't have gone to someone else already -- that would be a waste of their time.

However, since exclusivity imposes such limitation on the author, it gets your work read faster within the exclusivity period (one month? six weeks?) -- as opposed to three months -- so that's a plus. If an agent asks for an exclusive read, generally it means she really is interested.

If it is a time limited clause than it deprives you of a whole months worth of agent querying. Is it worth the risk?

A month is NOTHING in the world of publishing. Like I said, if you grant exclusivity (30 days, for example), you will be read within that period.

Also, just because an agent has an exclusive read doesn't mean you can't query other agents. "Query" is the key word. You can't really let them read the ms. but you can still send them queries. And like I said, a month is hardly a long wait. Normally you have to wait six weeks to 3 months (if that) for a reply.

[scope]

Maybe we are reading just a bit too much into the remarks of the agent who asked you about exclusivity. If her words were as you said -- "Please confirm that I will be looking at the proposal exclusively." -- she didn't really say that she ONLY looks at proposals where she might be the exclusive agent doing so. While it's logical to assume that she wants exclusive rights, agents who absolutely do don't tend to mince words -- they tell writers the only types of works they will consider. So, there may be hope if don't grant her exclusive rights, which in your case I wouldn't suggest at this very early stage in your writing career. Other here have eloquently told you what to say to this agent, and I second their advice. Be honest when you answer her question and send you proposal, but I'd like to see you send it to the other agent as well. If you don't already have a list of additional agents you want to query, that's something you should jump on right away.

All the best.

[Gillhoughly]

A day or so later send off to the second (the exclusive) with a very short and gracious explanation that you are confirming she has an exclusive but not as to those agents to whom you have already sent requested materials,

I'm not able to wrap my head around this. Is there a typo? Or some words left out?

Anyway- Occam's razor. Keep it simple; keep it honest.

Tell her you are agent-shopping. Before spending money on postage, let her know you have sent it to other agents and just haven't heard back from them yet. She can turn you down or not. There's plenty more out there.

And never EVER say they have an exclusive when they don't. All agent/author relationships are based on trust. They won't touch you if they can't trust your honesty.

I wonder what Cassie Edwards's (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/12/books/12roma.html) agent is doing these days....

[DeadlyAccurate]

Simply say, "Another agent is also reading this manuscript (or proposal, if that's what it is), so I'm unable to grant exclusivity at this time. Should I receive an offer, I will contact you before making any decision."

It's truthful and doesn't tie your manuscript up. Also, you don't want the agent who did not ask for exclusivity to feel slighted, less important.

And besides, the agent did say "Please let me know," not "I would like this to be an exclusive."