June 6, 2008
Choices
I’d like to try to conduct a mini-poll here today.
I hope everyone will feel free to comment honestly. No right answers, no wrong ones. Just opinions.
Disclaimer: This question is in no way ABOUT any particular person or situation. It’s just something I’ve wondered about, and I think feedback on the subject would be valuable to others too.
Here’s the scenario:
You’re a struggling writer, trying to get a nibble from the New York pubs.
You’ve sent your latest beloved manuscript to all of the publishers and agents at the top of your wish list, and so far they’ve all turned you down.
Until now.
One hot, humid day, when the air conditioner has broken down, the kids are psycho on sugar highs, and you’re trying to get the trash can out before the truck pulls away…
You get THE CALL.
It’s a phone call from a well-known editor at a big, shiny New York publisher, and he’s fallen in love with your manuscript. He advises you, however, to recruit an agent before negotiations are conducted.
Soooooooo……………
Would you go with one of your top-of-the-list agents if they now agree to represent you, even if they’d turned this manuscript down before?
Or would you rather start a clean slate and find someone else?
Wow! That’s question and half. After some thought, I have decided yes, I would go with one of my first list agents. I think many amazing stories get lost in the query process and that agents make mistakes all the time. That doesn’t mean that when they actually get to read your story that they can’t represent you well. There’s no point in cuitting off your nose to spite your face.
I think I would - because they were top of the wish list for good reasons.
hmmm…… Maybe hit one of each–a top list and a new one. and see how they respond and pick which one meshes best w/ you–but truly, I have no clue so says the agentless……
I would go back to the ones who rejected me. Agents can change their minds and a sale just might be the thing that makes them reconsider you.
But Emma do you want an agent that said no? It’s like the guy who says if you lose 100 pounds I’ll go out with you. Do you want to date a man who will only date you if you lose that 100 pounds or do you want to date a guy who loves you regardless of what he looks like?
If I was down to the wire and really needed a date for prom, I MIGHT call an agent that rejected me especially if they were my A list but I’ve also had a deal in hand and gone to my A list agents and gotten rejected, so take that for what it’s worth. I think you’re better off looking at a fresh list–in the long run. Just my 2 cents.
…of what YOU look like.
Hm. Good question. Did said agent reject the book you now have an editor looking at? I would go back to the agents who rejected me, but I would also send it to some agents that I had never queried. Even though the dream agents were at the top of your list, doens’t mean that they’ll be a good match for you either, so…
LOL.
That’s a hard one because like CeCe pointed out those buggers already rejected. It’ll always be in the back of my mind, “Did they take me on because I had a deal”. But the Catch 22 is that any new agent you approach might be taking you on for the same reason. If it’s down to the wire I’ll look at all the agents that rejected me and the new ones on the list and pick the ones that just feels right.
My instinct is to go with someone new. You want someone who loves your work for the long term, not just because this property that they took a pass on now has editor interest. As in Cece’s experiences I’ve read agent blog post where they’ve still passed on a project that had editor interest.
I should add, if Dream Agent took a pass on this manuscript but said they loved your voice and wanted to see something else from you, or had said, they’ consider the MS if you made changes, then I would contact them again for the negotiations of the sale.
>>Even though the dream agents were at the top of your list, doens’t mean that they’ll be a good match for you
WORD!
All interesting answers.
And in case I didn’t make myself clear, the example above wouldn’t be of a query, but of a manuscript your a-list agents had ALREADY read and rejected.
So—do we want an agent who felt it wasn’t good enough before?
Do we want an agent who only reconsiders after a sale is in hand?
It certainly doesn’t mean they can’t represent you well.
And no, this is no reflection on agents in ANY way. Gawd, if I had to sift through the mountain of mss they do, I’m sure I’d make a miss or two (not to mention losing my mind!).
And I’m agreeing that you want an agent you “click” with regardless.
But I’m curious about the thoght processes, and wondering what I’d do in such a situation…
Go with a clean slate. You’ll be happier in the end. You don’t want an agent who wasn’t interested in representing your book receiving 15% of your money for the foreseeable future. You need to think about the next book (and all the books after that)–not this one. Think long-term, not short-term.
I would go with someone (whether top tier or not) I had chemistry with. Someone who may have turned me down before, but they expressed an avid interest in my writing. Someone who GOT my voice.
Here’s my two cents (and what I learned at RT). If the editor wanted an answer relatively quickly, then I would call the first choice on my wish list agent and tell them that I had an offer and needed some one to represent me for this contract. Agents will look over an offer you’ve received and represent you with out signing you on. I was told that they have to, that it’s part of their association’s code of ethics. If you have time to shop for an agent, that’s a nother matter, but I might still query my first choice agent, they might have had other considerations at the time.
Does that make sense? (I haven’t had any coffee this morning).
Agents will look over an offer you’ve received and represent you with out signing you on.
Really? I’d never heard that. Interesting.
Does that make sense? (I haven’t had any coffee this morning).
Yup, lol.
Thanks, ladies, for the valuable feedback!
Personally, I’d try someone new. The main thing you want- or at least the main thing I want ;)- is an agent who unabashedly loves your MS, not one who just wants to sell it, if that makes any sense. For example, I had 3 Dream Agents when I was in query hell. 2 rejected me, and one never replied. In the end, that was the best thing that could have happened, because the agent I ended up finding really WAS my Dream Agent; I just didn’t know it until I talked to her! Miss Amie knows what I’m talkin’ about.
So in this case, I’d start fresh!
Of course an agent would take on an already sold project; but even so, having a really savvy New York agent with contacts couldn’t hurt, even if they passed the first time. Hell, we all know they only read a handful of words in our query letters and proposals anyway. I’d go with disinterested, savvy and connected, Raine. :)
Good question, Jaq. I think I’d look for a good match, someone who was talking sense about how they’d work with me, and what we should aim for.
I’d have no problem working with an agent that had already rejected the project (note, the PROJECT, not ME!). They’re businesswomen and men: they make decisions based on the best info they have to hand. I can easily see that they might reject a project they personally love, but don’t think has a chance of selling. Remove that doubt, and if they’re big enough to admit they made a mistake, I’d be big enough to say, “let’s work together.”
Just my ill-informed and ignorant tuppence…
Rachel…she’s a DREAM! (and my THIRD which seems to be the charm
)
Rachel brings up an interesting point. Just because you THINK someone’s perfect for you, doesn’t mean they are!
Bernard….when i sold my first Aphro book, I had two agents reject me (contract in hand) so they don’t always say yes just because.
Anna!!!!!!!
I can’t wait until Wednesday!
Wow, Amie, there’s some good news. Yikes, this damn business is goofy. Thanks for the reality check. I would never have figured an agent would turn down a published writer with a contract in hand.
I see we’ve all come to a consensus here…
Excellent points throughout.
Again, thanks everyone for contributing!
A little late to the party but…
I’d shop around. I would query those who were at the top of my list and a few others. I’d research a lot in that short time.
Interesting question.
Mechele, you’re welcome any time.
Thanks for the feedback. I was surprised to see so many different answers.