I need Advice....

[scfirenice]

Okay, here's the deal. I queried The Agent in November and was called immediately and asked for the first 50 pages. I sent that out and was called immediately and asked for the entire ms. I sent that out around Thanksgiving. They asked for a 4 day exclusive and said they'd get back to me. January 5th I got an email apologizing about the delay and stating that things had gotten away from them over the holidays. Understandable. Now what? How long do I give them? I haven't sent out any more queries because I granted them an exclusive. How much more time should I give them and would an email 4 weeks after the latest one asking for a update be too soon? I realize they have more than one writer to consider, but a three month exclusive is killing me. Am I being hasty?
Thanks AWers

[maestrowork]

Just tell them you would honor your agreement and extend your exclusivity for four more days.

After that, send them out again -- you have fulfilled your obligation to the exclusivity agreement (and more, since they didn't get back to you after two months).

[triceretops]

What Maestro just said.

Tri

[Grey Malkin]

Exclusive submissions only benefit the agent, not you. If your script is good enough to get the attention of one, it might get more. So put together your pitch and hit a few more agencies (I tend to send 12 at a time). If you end up with two offers then you're in a rather powerful position, not to auction the script, because agents don't buy, but certainly to argue terms of a contract. Bear in mind that this first agent might give you an offer but have **** terms. In the UK, an awful lot of the writer/agent partnership is decided in the meeting and if you and the agent have a common "chemistry" - something that lets you know you can work with this person.

Either way, it must be as frustrating as it is exciting. Best of luck with it. Keep us informed.

Grey

[Grey Malkin]

Just tell them you would honor your agreement and extend your exclusivity for four more days.

This sounds professional and reasonable on first glance, but theres a polite "pushy-ness" about it.

Agents have more to do than read submitted work from new authors - that's something they fit in when they have time - and they are not likely to put the work of current clients on hold just to read the script of a potential new author because you've given them a deadline. A nudge like this, no matter how polite, is more likely to result in a rejection.

Keep quiet about it, and in the meantime, send it out elsewhere. It's your work; it's yours to pitch and sell.

Grey

[(grasshopper)]

I'd like to second (or perhaps third) what maestro said. You've upheld your end of the bargain.

(I'm just jumping in to add to the consensus of opinion in case that will help you feel better about your decision.)

[maestrowork]

Keep quiet about it, and in the meantime, send it out elsewhere. It's your work; it's yours to pitch and sell.


No, you don't keep quiet about it. This is business, and you need to honor verbal agreements. The agent asked for exclusivity, she granted it, and now she's willing to extend it for a few more days. That's how business is to be conducted. Everyone's supposed to be professional about this. There's no "pushiness" involved.

And it's a no-no to grant an agent exclusivity, then go ahead and submit somewhere else. You either tell the agent: 1) you're extending the exclusivity and giving them a time-frame; 2) you withdraw the exclusivity and submit somewhere else. To keep "quiet" is both unprofessional and unethical, actually.

[Cathy C]

What maestro said. :) I would grant the additional four days (make sure that they're BUSINESS days, as a courtesy) and then withdraw it. If the agent is worth having, they will understand that you're playing by the rules, and honoring your agreement. But since they suggested the initial period as satisfactory, the new timeline should be as well.


Good luck! Fingers crossed for you!

[jules]

Take this with the necessary pinch of salt for advice from an unpublished author, but one with experience of running businesses selling to other businesses:

Send them an e-mail. Remind them that they originally asked for four days exclusive and that this has expired, and then ask them if they need longer, and if so how much.

It isn't as pushy as a 4-day ultimatum, as it gives them the opportunity to define the timescale, but it reminds them that they do need to hurry up and give you a decision.

[Jamesaritchie]

There's something very strange about an agent asking for a four day exclusive. That isn't enough time to have anyone else look at it, even if you tried.

Having said this, patience really is a virtue. If this agent is a good agent, one you would definitely love having represent your novel, then don't push too hard. This is a business, but it isn't one where you gain anything by being hasty.

If you believe this is the best agent for your book, then give her however much time she needs within reason. A three month wait is no big deal, and odds are high you won't cut a second off this waiting time by sending the manuscript elsewhere.

Just get to work on a second novel, bury yourself in it, and be patient.

[Grey Malkin]

To keep "quiet" is both unprofessional and unethical, actually.

Not in a case when they are constantly moving the goalposts.

[Julie Worth]

And it's a no-no to grant an agent exclusivity, then go ahead and submit somewhere else. You either tell the agent: 1) you're extending the exclusivity and giving them a time-frame; 2) you withdraw the exclusivity and submit somewhere else. To keep "quiet" is both unprofessional and unethical, actually.

I don't agree with this. If the exclusive period runs out, it's not your duty to tell them, and there's nothing to withdraw, since the period was already limited. Telling them you're withdrawing an exclusive that has already expired will only make you seem pushy.



But why they would they ask for a 4 day exclusive? The likelihood that anyone else would snap it up in that short a time is unbelievably small.

[dragonjax]

The period of exclusivity has been met. I'd keep that manuscript there -- they are still considering it, after all -- but now it's not on an exclusive basis. I'd send out queries immediately. And now you have an answer for when someone else requests an exclusive: "I wish I could, but another agent already has the full manuscript. I would be happy to send you the full, if you are still interested."

I see no reason to further communicate with the first agent; if he or she wants to make an offer, that agent will let you know. Meanwhile, do what's best for you and query other agents while you work on your next book.

Good luck.

[Perks]

SC, I know (too well) the itch you've got. All things considered you could take either route and if you're friendly and professional about it, you should be fine in both scenarios. So, I think you should wait as long as you can stand it and be really nice and brief once you can't anymore. They're just people. If you've waited months and eventually send a pleasant inquiry and that gets their a$s on their shoulders, then it was going to be a rough relationship anyway. That's how I see it.

It's actually, in our endeavor, a pretty good problem to have!

[scfirenice]

This is a top agency and they would be perfect for me. The reason they were in such a rush is another top agency had also asked for more and these guys said they wanted to "trump them." The second agency eventually said no, but the other one doesn't know that. Or do they? I see conspiracies. I think a polite letter for follow up is in order and if they get their butt in a sling over it, then maybe they weren't perfect afterall.

Thanks everyone for your advice.

[maestrowork]

If it's a top agency and you really want them -- and think they're a good fit -- then stick it out. What's another couple of weeks?

[Julie Worth]

It’s amazing that even top agencies are so unsure of themselves that they only want something when someone else wants it. So the best way to get them is to get another agent interested. Thus the inevitable logic: keep sending it out.

[Grey Malkin]

The reason they were in such a rush is another top agency had also asked for more and these guys said they wanted to "trump them." The second agency eventually said no, but the other one doesn't know that.

I'm lost now. If it was an exclusive submission, how did another agency turn it down?

[(grasshopper)]

Holy Mackerel!

What happened to the consensus of opinion?

Surely the best way is to be straightforward and upfront . . . in other words, professional. In my opinion, one should do everything one can to avoid an "oops".

An oops would be when the agency finally calls you and says they'd like to offer a contract, and you say . . .

[Julie Worth]

Holy Mackerel!

What happened to the consensus of opinion?

Surely the best way is to be straightforward and upfront . . . in other words, professional. In my opinion, one should do everything one can to avoid an "oops".

An oops would be when the agency finally calls you and says they'd like to offer a contract, and you say . . .

That won't happen, because you will email them when you sign, withdrawing your work from consideration.

[(grasshopper)]

There. You see? (he said, feeling like his point had been driven home).

Now that's being professional.

:D