the art of nudging your agent (alternate title: is this weird?)

bookishjen said:

I am new to all of this, but do realize that the publishing world is specialized. Normally, I would email her and politely ask where things are and what she might expect.

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That sounds perfectly reasonable to me. Keep it short and professional and don't fall all over yourself apologizing for your existence. (I know we sometimes feel like doing this, but don't ask me how I know.)

Just ask!

I very much doubt your worst fears are coming to flower, but if somehow that were the case, better to know now.

Again, don't ask me how I know this.

It's been a month and a half since you last heard word? I don't think it would be unreasonable to email at this point. Every week? Sure, that'd be annoying, but it's been more than a month.

I know it makes you nervous to appear high maintenance, but you're not querying. You're under contract; this agent reps you. You shouldn't be a pest on a weekly basis, but don't be afraid to communicate with your agent at reasonable intervals if you have questions.

If it makes you feel bad calling it a nudge, then just think of it as checking the status so you can stay informed.

Not unreasonable to email at this point. That's a rather long wait, judging from the prior enthusiasm. However, it is not uncommon for an agent to get side-tracked with another situation that needs immediate attention, like a sale, preempt or the hint of an auction. It took my agent over 40 days to compile a list for a second round and begin her subs to the biggies. I just had to bear with it.

I swear, this industry is glacier slow, rife with miscommunications or lack thereof. Tighten your seat belt, knowing that you are in for a long, sometimes slow ride.

tri

Wait, you signed almost THREE MONTHS AGO, and to your knowledge the book hasn't even been sent out--and if it has, you have no submission list?

I would call her up and ask if it has been sent out.

And if it has not, I would sever the agreement andgo talk to one of the other agents.

This is a hint at your future relationship with her. If she can't even send out your material for three months, do you want to know how long it takes her to negotaite your contract? mail the funds? Read your next work so that it can be submitted?

Unless she has a good reason- like oh hey i'm sorry I found out of i have cancer/there's been a death in the family/etc-- you've had an agent for three months in name only, and if she hasn't shopped it you could still go with the other agent(s) in stead.

bookishjen, there's no reason to feel bad about going back to other agents. (As long as you've terminated with your current agent first and follow your contract requirements.) It happens. Relationships and agents don't always pan out the way we hope they will. If you're professional and brief in saying it wasn't a good fit, I'm guessing it won't be a problem for most agents, especially if they were enthusiastic about your project.

The timing is a bit concerning to me, too, probably because it reminds me of my ex-agent, from whom I never got a signed agency agreement even after I asked for it directly. I got a submission list a couple of months later, and then he went dark. He never followed up on my request for a call nor my polite once-a-month email inquiries about my submission status. Turns out he wasn't pitching it anywhere at all. My ex-agent was probably the exception because he was busy exiting the business (unbeknownst to me). But still I learned that slow agents are just slow. Unresponsive agents are just unresponsive. There's no changing their communication style. You have to decide what you're comfortable with. After a non-responder, I also learned I don't tolerate it well. (And I thought I would be fine with it.)

Good luck! I hope things turn out well with your agent.

MandyHubbard said:

Wait, you signed almost THREE MONTHS AGO, and to your knowledge the book hasn't even been sent out--and if it has, you have no submission list?

I would call her up and ask if it has been sent out.

And if it has not, I would sever the agreement andgo talk to one of the other agents.

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That seems far too swift and extreme a reaction to me.

The last three months have been a bit busy in the publishing world. There might well be reasonable explanations for the delay.

I have to agree with Old Hack. The publishing world runs in "seasons". If you signed on three months ago, you signed during the unofficial "post-summer" flurry of activity. The summer months in NYC are filled with short days (keeping electricity costs in buildings down) and staff vacations. September returns the pub business back to a sort of frantic activity to make up for the lost months.Then things start to slow down again for the holiday months (November & December) and pick back up come January.

My advice is to let the holiday go by and email the agent in January. My bet is that if the agent is worth her salt, she realized her early delay (for whatever reason) likely caused a situation where the ms. would get buried in the holiday rubble on editors' desks. The solution? Wait to submit until January when minds and desks are clear again.

I'm not excusing the early delay, but a couple more weeks won't hurt anything in the scheme of things. And, if you're still unsatisfied come January, you're in a prime reading time for other agents too.

She should have sent it out already. If there's no editing involved, then the book doesn't need to sit on her shelves for months while she tries to find 10 minutes to sit down and plan her strategy.

That said, agents do get frantically busy and things fall between the cracks. They travel a lot, too---many attend at least a couple of international book fairs a year, each of which requires a month of work before and after. You don't want to be pissy, but you don't want to be silent, either. I had a student once who went with an agent I recommended. The agent loved her novel but couldn't quite figure out how to sell it. Because my student was timid and unsure of herself and never nudged, it ended up with a whole year passing and no submissions made. What a waste. My student ended up taking the book back and finding another agent, who sold it to Random House in short order.

You liked the agent. She liked your book. The relationship is worth saving if possible. My suggestion would be to email her--phoning is confrontational--and pointing out what you did here--that's it's been 3 months and she originally indicated that the ms. would go out at once. Ask her to move forward and to keep you informed of submissions. If she ignores that email, then you'll have to take it further---call her and ask if she's still interested, or just take the book back.

I'd wait till after the new year, though. Lots of people are on vacation, including editors.

Good luck.

bookishjen said:

hello everyone
I also can't help but (internally) wonder if maybe she's lost interest in the project

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I am not represented but in my view an agent is like a manager with all the connections, the know of what works and what not, good with the pep-talk and even better with brutal honesty. Agents represent writers, you, not individual projects.



I would call now, with a mindset that it might take more time. Touch base, see what's what.

Still, no communication for 3 months if your book is ready..

If bogged down in other stuff, the agent could at least have gotten back with a "working on it" message. I would call. Be nice though.

I suppose you did your research before you signed? The agent is representing other writers and logging sales.., right?

Here's the thing. YES, agents get busy. I often say my workload is like a grocery store conveyor belt-- I can clear items off but it just moves again and more is added to the other end.

I will never NOT be busy.

If this agent has extenuating circumstances--something's happened since signing that bogged her down-- okay. But if she can't offer anything but "I got busy" then it's time to realize she WILL ALWAYS be busy. And you're the new client--she knew what her workload was when she offered.

Here's how it would go if it were me:

ME: Oh hi, X! I'm just calling as I hadn't heard from you in awhile. Were you able to get my book out on submissions?
If the answer is: Oh, um, hm.... well, no, not yet, I'm hoping too soon!
Then, I say: Oh. Uh, it's been three months and you were all ready to go in September. What's been the hold up?
if the answer is: Oh, I've just been really swamped. Lots of X, Y, Z....
Then i say: Okay. At this point, I think it would simply be best if we part ways. No harm, no foul, but I'm really looking for something different from my relationship with my agent. I hope you understand.

Of course if in this convo, instead, she's like, "god I'm so sorry, I know I haven't been able to get it out, I totally understand your frustration, X has happened and it's just thrown me for a loop, but I'm getting caught up now.."

That's a different situation. If all she has to offer is that her agenting duties are SO busy that she can't even send out your book, I would not stay.

Maybe some of you think that's rash, but there is nothing about this agent's job that is going to drastically change. What's happening now will CONTINUE to happen.

Cathy C said:

I have to agree with Old Hack. The publishing world runs in "seasons". If you signed on three months ago, you signed during the unofficial "post-summer" flurry of activity. The summer months in NYC are filled with short days (keeping electricity costs in buildings down) and staff vacations. September returns the pub business back to a sort of frantic activity to make up for the lost months.Then things start to slow down again for the holiday months (November & December) and pick back up come January.

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Submissions slow slightly, and agents tend not to submit the week OF Christmas, New years, Thanksgiving, etc, but other than that we're still working year round and I've sold books every single month of the year. Nov/Dec isn't really that slow-- I just closed a deal on Tuesday and am expecting an offer on something else today.


In the summer, it might take an extra week for an offer to come in because someone's boss is out but by and large, it's business as usual.

Not every day is shorter-- generally it's simply a half day on fridays at most publishers. It would be ridiculous to do less work all summer and then go crazy all fall trying to make up for it. My clients send me books, I read them, edit them, get them out on submissions, and sell them. I negotiate contracts, chase payments, etc. All year round.

Basically, either the agent has a good reason or it's a bunch of excuses and she's got too much on her plate.

This is all my personal opinion and how *I* would want to be treated as a client, and how I strive to operate as an agent. My clients deserve communication. And yes, sometimes I get busier than usual, but I let them know I'm hoping to get to their MS by X date.

Obviously the client/agent relationship is a personal choice/preference, so if you guys want to be patient and forigiving over 3 months of nothing being done and just accept that as status quo, it's your prerogative.

Three months without a single submission? Oh lord, that is way too long. Your book is ready for submission! I agree with everyone that suggests you confront her (politely).

MandyHubbard said:

ME: Oh hi, X! I'm just calling as I hadn't heard from you in awhile. Were you able to get my book out on submissions?
If the answer is: Oh, um, hm.... well, no, not yet, I'm hoping too soon!
Then, I say: Oh. Uh, it's been three months and you were all ready to go in September. What's been the hold up?
if the answer is: Oh, I've just been really swamped. Lots of X, Y, Z....
Then i say: Okay. At this point, I think it would simply be best if we part ways. No harm, no foul, but I'm really looking for something different from my relationship with my agent. I hope you understand.

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Hmm, perhaps ask her exactly when she can start the submission. If she gives you an ambiguous answer or any sorts of excuses or if she can't start right away, it's time to say goodbye.

Book, quick question: have you ever used a realtor to sell your house? If so, then you know they don't get paid a cent until closing.

That's why the best ones hustle; they're salespeople. More to the point, they're YOUR salesperson. You've entered into a business arrangement with them to accomplish a certain task. Should they succeed, you're going to pay them a percentage of the sale of the property; should they NOT succeed, you cut them loose, and find someone who will.

At its core, the agent/author relationship is one of business. It's wonderful if you find one who'll guide your career, listen to your woes, cheer you when you're down, and rejoice with you when you're up.

But as we say down South, all that don't feed the bulldog. Because at the end of the day, if they're unable (or unwilling) to sell your MS to a reputable house, then no one is making money.

Call your agent and get to the bottom of this. Sooner rather than later. Tick-tock, and all that.

Way too long.

I seriously wonder if we have/had the same agent. She signed me in July/August, told me would go out "right away," because there was just a quick CE to make sure the ms was clean.

We went out at the end of November. She kept telling me how busy she was, but would get to it "soon."

She is a "big agent" and her sales records are some of the best in the business. She never shared the sub list with me, and in late January, I nudged because I hadn't heard anything.

They all passed. All 5 of them. So after nearly 7 months, this is where I was at. There's more to the story, and I won't bore you with the details, but I see your situation as a red flag as it mirrors mine.

Good luck and keep us posted.

I guess those "big agents" aren't always reliable. The agents who just start out probably will work much harder to sell your work.

cricket & bookishjen, sorry to hear about your stories and good luck!

I think many seasoned agents work really hard, too, and invest a lot of time with their authors. But yeah, bigger isn't always better. They all have different working styles, with greater and lesser degrees of hand-holding, collaboration and responsiveness. A friend of mine, a newer midlist author, recently landed one of the most powerful agents in the business. While the agent's impressive list implies that he'd be unapproachable and overly busy, he and my friend talk all the time and collaborate closely on his new manuscript.

I know another writer who had a very impressive agent that did nothing for him. But that agent went on to sell a major bestseller for another writer. And I know yet another writer who was totally blown off by the same agent that a friend of mine has -- and loves. He's sold two of her novels to the Big Five. While my first agent was busy blowing me off, he was making deals for other writers. I guess it's just very individual.

Good luck, bookishjen. You sound like you've got a good handle on the situation. I hope your agent gives you a reasonable explanation for the delay.

I'd take Agent Mandy's advice, but instead of just calling her I'd set something up first - I'd email to see if she would be available for a brief phone conversation Tuesday at 11:30 am (or whatever time is convenient to you). Here's what could happen:

- She doesn't respond to your email. I'd call Tuesday at 11:30 but I'd bet she doesn't take your call. If so, time to move on to another agent.

-Her assistant responds to your email and says your agent will not be available, but that she will contact you shortly. If I got this response, I'd still call Tuesday at 11:30.

-She responds to your email and agrees to Tuesday at 11:30 or offers an alternative time. You then call her and have the conversation Mandy suggested.

-Because she wants to avoid talking to you on the phone, she A) gives you an update via email that answers all your outstanding questions and gives you a timeline for next steps, B) gives you some vague answer that answers nothing and solves nothing, or C) tells you the market's changed or she's not as enthusiastic as she was or that your manuscript needs to be revised in some way. A is the only good answer here.

Lastly - look at how much time and energy you (and us) are putting into what should be a routine communication between an agent and a writer. Let's assume you are a talented artist, and your work is significant. Your mind and your time should be focused on your work. Shouldn't your agent be helping you?

In a sad way, I am pleased to see that others are going through the same experience! Mine is perhaps even worse, and I am glad to join this thread. Last spring a publisher asked me to send in a collection of short stories, after reading some published (and prizewinning )stories.
Print and CD versions posted on 30th June. Silence. I emailed a polite query at the end of November. Nothing.
CreateSpace beckons if nothing happens by the end of January. What else can be done, as this is blocking the way for the next collection?

Jen, I've heard from so many writers who don't talk to their agents when there's a problem: and that causes more problems, because it means the agents can't do anything to help.

You've done the right thing. I hope it works out well for you.

Bookishjen and others, I know I really shouldn't say this but I am so glad that I am not/was not the only one losing my mind and sleep over this whole unresponsive agent saga.
I signed up with a fairly well-known agent and was given a list of changes over the phone when we first chatted. The agent did seem to have a clear sense of direction and I was super thrilled. It took 2 months to get the notes. I made the changes in a month and sent them back. I heard nothing for a few weeks - which became 2 months. I nudged, mailed and called till I got through. I got an email saying would have my second set of edits before the end of the year, so I am still waiting.I see what this agent has done for other writers' careers and it is awesome stuff. In the meanwhile, I just chew my nails and wonder if she has changed her mind/she see flaws in my writing/whether I did something wrong etc etc - ah, my fragile and frail mind!
I don't know if I am being reasonable or paranoid. Obviously, I am new to all of this and while I have heard that this industry is slow, I don't have any yardstick and I don't want to come across as pushy/annoying.
Can you kind people please pass some advice? What should I do in a situation like this?
Thanks so much everyone.
S