STATUS: October royalty statements are rolling in. Spent some time on the phone tracking down what seemed to be missing on one of those statements. Ah, tis the season. I like ‘em better when checks are attached. hehe
What’s playing on the iPod right now? KIM THE WAITRESS by Material Issue
I got an email on Friday from a writer whose full manuscript we requested. Lo and behold, she was writing to tell us that she already had offer on the table but if we wanted to read over the weekend and respond by Monday, she’d hold off making her decision.
First off, let me tell you how much I appreciate when authors keep us apprised of the status of their work. I once read a whole manuscript over the weekend (by the writer’s request) only to receive a curt email early on Monday morning telling me the writer had decided to accept representation elsewhere. Um… thanks. If you ask me to join the party, at least give me a chance to make an offer and be considered—especially if I have expended time with the work. So, I was super happy that even though we had just asked for the manuscript, she was still open to letting us read.
So I did. Last night. And I really enjoyed the manuscript but I wrote her first thing this morning telling her I was going to pass with regret. And I meant the regret part.
So why didn’t I take her on? Did I think the manuscript was sell-able? Yes. Did I think she was a good writer? Yes. So what’s the deal?
Something just didn’t click for me. It was a fun relationship chick lit work and I said it was a great piece of chocolate but I was really in the mood for a big substantial molten lava cake with lots of layers and complexity. And that was the best way I could sum it up why I was passing. (I gave other details too but you get the picture). She has an offer on the table so I know she’s going to be fine, and I’ll probably read about the sale later.
Why do I tell you this?
Because it’s a myth that all agents will take on any project they think they can sell. This project will probably sell but I chose not to be the agent to do it.
All writers have stories of the agents who passed on their manuscript before that one person with vision took it on to glory. Do agents have remorse? Sometimes. Mostly not though. It was a good project but just not right for me.
There is something to be said for getting back a rejection that says, “I loved this, honestly, and I know it’ll sell, and sell well… but I just didn’t love it enough.”
Yes, it’s still rejection, and it stung to get that, but at the same time, it was a good feeling (from my end). It made me feel like I got honesty right up front, because I want an agent who goes bonkers to read the next chapter NOW (as much as I do for a book I love), and whether it sells… well, an agent sells the book, yes, but I want an agent who says to the editor, “you have GOT to read this, I am NOT kidding, put that down! read this!” instead of “hey, I’ve got something here that’s, uh, pretty good…”
ksgreer
I got a rejection like that a couple of years ago. While the agent was reading my manuscript, she sent me several emails saying how much she was “in love” with it and then an email saying she was going to be calling me.
Then she didn’t call. She did take my call a couple of days later and spent about 45 minutes on the phone with me — and this is a very busy, well-known agent — talking about the book. She gave me a couple of good criticisms, too. She was very generous. She said she was sure it would sell and she did love the book but that she realized she didn’t know the right editor for the book and would not be the right agent to sell it.
But it stunned me. And it made me a little crazy and unable to go forward for all this time. How do you fix something that is supposedly wonderful?
Well, I did finally come out of my funk. I’ve gone over the book and tightened it up and made it better, changed the ending. I love it. And I’m sending out queries again. (In fact, I’ve queried Kristin; that’s why I’m anonymous — I don’t want this to seem like a cheesy self-serving comment.) We’ll see!
It’s good for writers & aspiring writers to know that there are agents out there who want to represent things that excite them rather than just something that is sellable. And it shows a lot of integrity to pass something that you know will sell.
There are agent/writer fits just as there are in any other representational arrangement. Like the blog title implies, some people like dark chocolate, others milk, some even that stuff they call white chocolate but couldn’t possibly really have any chocolate in it at all (not that I have an opinion on that *grin*). Being cognizant of a good, or bad, fit can be the difference between a book selling well or only so-so or even not at all.
Here’s to us all finding that good fit agent!
I hate “good rejections.” I don’t want to hear about the great voice, terrific plot, wonderful characterization.
I don’t want my ego to be stroked. I don’t care if the agent feels torn about saying it doesn’t work for her. I think, sometimes, it’s easier just to say no.
What if she were lying in order to get you to make you want her ms? I betcha that happens, right? She may have just shot herself in the foot.
But, if it was almost good enough for Kristin Nelson, and you felt it was salable, then she’ll probably be fine.
Kristin, your honesty and kindness as expressed in this blog are so appreciated. I queried you because of your work ethic and your interest in your client’s careers. It would be great to have you as an agent. Wishful thinking, I’m sure, but hope must spring eternal if you’re a writer; otherwise, you’d give up. I was thinking this morning on how I’ve spent over ten years of my life working, learning, and studying to get to this point in my publishing career. I’ve come a long way and I feel that I’m at a crossroads. I’m already published but I know that I can’t progress in my career without an agent. I feel fortunate that you’ve even requested to read my work and I look forward to your comments–whether an offer of representation or an honest informative rejection.
I prefer milk chocolate myself… and lots of it!
This is so cool. I knew most agents felt that way, but hearing you talk about it (well, not really hearing, but you know what I mean) was nice. This is exactly why I’m trying not to get my heart set on any one agent. Just because an agent is nice, reputable, funny, reps my genre, etc. doesn’t make him or her “the one.” Still, it’s hard to do. It’s like trying not to have a crush on someone. No matter how hard you fight it, it’s there, and if it doesn’t work, there’s going to be heartbreak. Sigh.
And just because white chocolate doesn’t look like chocolate doesn’t mean it’s not good!
Manic brings up a good point– how do you know the author isn’t lying to get a faster reply? Can you usually tell by the quality of the work itself?
On that note, if a writer contacted you and said there was another offer, would you give the “no, wait!” for just a query and sample or only if you had requested the full?
Oh, Kristin, why is life so confusing? Pity you can’t ask for a refund…
-Ruth
PS: Word verification is ubibu. It sounds like one of those African countries you always miss on world geography tests.
All this talk of chocolate and chocolate cakes makes me so hungry, especially as I’m spending 14 hours a day on my butt now and must strictly ration chcolates. Sigh.
My favorite resolution had to be the one Thelma O’Toole (or Toole) came up with after her son John had been rejected 28 times and gave it up. She finds his well worn manuscript in the sock drawer after his funeral, calls Walker Percy, tells him she’s coming, walks over to his office, plunks it down on his desk and says, read this, my son wrote it. It’s a masterpiece. And it was. To her credit, she did let him know she was coming.
Mmmm… just finished reading Accidental Goddess, and I must say, I certainly enjoyed it! (I heard about it here… thanks for mentioning it!)
I was in a similar position very recently. My first batch of queries went out in June, with a great response: out of ten queries, seven requests, all from top agencies. Within three weeks, three rejections from those. Then for months – nothing.
So I recently sent out another round of queries. One agent responded immediately, read the partial in like an hour, requested the full, read that in like a week, sent me a mail saying she loved it and she was going to call me. Her mail comments on the ms already told me what I wanted to know: she’s the one.
So when I finally got The Call a day later I knew what I was going to say: immediate acceptance to her offer of represention – even though the ms was out with six other agents at the time.
Funny – I’d always vowed that if one of the agents offered I’d be very professional and ask him/her to wait while I got back to the others. But when it finally happened, I couldn’t. It wasn’t just impatience: it was her enthusiasm and passion that did the trick. Moreover, the very speed with which she responded to the query and the partial was a sure sign: yep, she’s the One. There was magic in the air, and I decided to run with it!
There’s something heartening in this. It means I, lonely author, am not slogging the agent trail alone. It means that my rejections don’t feel so personal (yes, I know that it’s about the writing, but I’m talking feeling here). It means that good writing isn’t enough (and so rejections don’t necessarily mean bad writing)–you’ve got to have “fit.”
Personally I prefer dark chocolate, too. But this sounds more like a clothing metaphor to me–you want the layered look and she offered you a tailored dress. Lovely, but not what you want to wear to the party.
I’m going to keep sewing-I mean writing-and sending out my lovely piece. Like this writer, with professionalism. May we both (all) will have better luck finding the right fit.
You know, as writers we make searching for agents seem like a trip to the Promise Land. So we throw a jillion queries out there silently pleading for one of these agents to make an offer.
When we manage to catch more than one fly, all of a sudden the dynamic changes, and as we stare at one offer of representation, knowing the ms is still out there being read by another agent, it’s like: hmmm…NOW I get to choose.
There’s a subtle power shift, or not so subtle, depending on the neurosis of the writer. At any rate the momentum swings, and invariably there will be an agent out there sitting on the wrong side of the fence.
This bothers me. In effect, KN was reading a ms as she sat on the wrong side of the fence, even though the writer was just following proper etiquette in letting her know beforehand.
This bothers me even though it didn’t bother KN.
I think if a writer has enough confidence in his work, and I don’t mean over-confidence, but a sure knowledge that they have written the very best they know how given their level of experience, then the writer should make up a list of 10 agents research them backwards and forwards, knowing beforehand that each one will do the best they can for you. THEN send out one query at a time, and allow that agent sufficient time to read the full ms and make an offer or not. Assuming of course it gets that far.
Is it time consuming? Yes. But an agent who likes your full ms will read it quickly and get back to you quickly. This three months stuff is for the birds. Do you hear that Miss Snark? (Well, I cut her slack because she’s the mother of 3000 snarklings) Normally though, that’s slush pile talk imo.
While time is passing, be working on your next novel, because I don’t know if you notice this or not, but publishers seem to want more than one book out of you.
Radical approach? Stupid approach? I don’t know, but I prefer to err on the side of the agent.
“Just because an agent is nice, reputable, funny, reps my genre, etc. doesn’t make him “the one.”
Remove “agent” insert “Man”
I don’t have luck with either one.
I think what’s hard is when you do have someone who loves your work, but you just know it’s not a fit. On either side. It’s so hard to break through each stage of the agent game that when you do find someone who says I like it – you have have to push one step further and figure out if this is the one.
Just like dating.
Sincerely,
36 year-old spinster
Anon 6:52 pm–I hope no agent ever does that to me. To show all that enthusiasm and to promise a phone call…only to tell you, “It’s wonderful, but not for me.” That’s being led on in a very cruel way, IMO. If it’s not right for the agent, she should send a rejection letter and be done with it.
This post was the perfect example of too much information.
If a writer tricks an agent by pretending to have an offer on the table, and then gets rejected in favor of the fictional offer, she gets what she deserves.
Plus, dishonesty would be a foolish way to start a relationship. Even if you don’t sign with her, it might come back to haunt you.
If a writer tricks an agent by pretending to have an offer on the table, and then gets rejected in favor of the fictional offer, she gets what she deserves.
Plus, dishonesty would be a foolish way to start a relationship. Even if you don’t sign with her, it might come back to haunt you.
“When we manage to catch more than one fly, all of a sudden the dynamic changes, and as we stare at one offer of representation, knowing the ms is still out there being read by another agent, it’s like: hmmm…NOW I get to choose.”
Ah, but are we neurotic enough to take that offer and knock on doors we didn’t dare approach before, saying here, so-and-so offered on this, look NOW!! And do they do it?
As an author, you need to take the time to breathe and realize this is your work and you want to work with someone who loves your writing.
So agent #1, who really loved the manuscript, had enthusiasm, vision, etc., is left holding while “poweragent” is deciding whether he wants to make a quick buck?
Sucks. And the writer who does this deserves what he gets (in the long run, career-wise)if he goes agent shopping after the fact. Do your homework up front.
anonymous 9:41:
“So agent #1, who really loved the manuscript, had enthusiasm, vision, etc., is left holding while “poweragent” is deciding whether he wants to make a quick buck? Sucks.”
Very true.
One other agent had requested my ms in the second batch of queries: a top power agency. I admit, I played with the idea of fangling the offer before him and making “my” agent wait; but I realised that (my)greed was the motivation and it could come to no good.
Word verification: rebbf. Don’t rebuf the agent who loves your story; bad karma.
Now I really want you to be my agent.
I have to agree with Breathing Out Again. Sometimes if other agents are reading the fulls (and had the fulls for several weeks with no word), but this one particular agent is your dream agent and calls to offer representation, why make him/her wait? Say yes, and immediately notify the others. It’s kind of like dating. Two guys want to marry you, but this third one comes along who’s nice and sweet and makes your heart beat faster, then go for it.
“but this one particular agent is your dream agent and calls to offer representation, why make him/her wait?”
I agree with this. However, what happens if the one who offers isn’t the one who makes your heart go pitter pat, but is on your list as an “oh well, I’ll take her if she’s the only one who offers.”
Like applying to college and having a “safety” school.
So now you take the offer, and run to the the “Ivy League” agent you think you really want. Who sells lots of books and, gets his name in PW all the time.
Is this the right agent for you? Remember, he didn’t get back to you at all yet. If you go to him, do you want someone who takes you on to add to the numbers? Or do you want that agent who thought you were the best thing she’d read all year, and would work to make your book stand out?
Is it the agent who makes the book?
Or the book that makes the agent?
Everyone’s priorities are different.
“Is it the agent who makes the book?
Or the book that makes the agent?”
Wow that’s a good question. And the answer is probably a little bit of both. But for those looking there is something to be said about going for or falling for the “high power” agent. High power agents are high power because they have a successful client list. Often that means newcomers can take a back seat. The best agent in the world – that can’t find the time to represent you – is not any better than having no agent at all.
Anon 11:38 a.m.,
I loved that you said this:
Is it the agent who makes the book? Or the book that makes the agent?
Is it the agent who makes the book? Or the book that makes the agent?
It’s true. Some agents ARE all that, and some just think they are. I don’t want an agent who will neatly fold and spindle my work into the fastest deal.
And some of the “loudest” agents are the ones who are into quantity rather than quality.
It doesn’t have to be an either or situation. If the first agent that calls is the agent that you really feel is right for you, then call the others and turn them down. If you haven’t decided yet, then call the others and inform them of the offer.
I do not advocatet his “one by one” approach that witliz does. I researched all the agents I submitted to backwards and forwards, but there are certain things you simply CANNOT know until you have that offer in hand. What they think of your book. How they intend to market it. how they see your place in the marketplace. how they plan to work with you. Of course, all of the agents you are submitting to should have stellar records and happy clients willing to sing their praises. But how do you shoose among several different kinds of fabulous?
It wasn’t until I had conversations with all the agents that offered for me on these subjects that I knew which agent would be best for me. And I like all the agents who made me an offer, and I would recommend them to other writers in a heartbeat. But I could only have one.