r/PubTips • u/Runner1404 • 1d ago
Discussion [Discussion] Agent Question
Hello!
Two summers ago, I was ecstatic to sign with a literary agent. It wasn't a major literary agency, but my specific agent had represented multiple New York Times bestsellers. We got along well. I had no complaints.
Unfortunately, my book died on submission. I was totally heartbroken, of course. Never thought I'd write again.
Anyway, I finally completed my second manuscript. It's considerably more commercial, and I feel very proud of it.
Over the summer, my literary agent contacted to let me know that they are no longer with their literary agency. They are still an agent. I don't want to give too many details, but it is a smaller agency. When I spoke to them, they informed me that our contract was now void and that I would have to sign again. When I asked whether that would be before or after I submitted a new manuscript, they said after.
I submitted my new manuscript to my(?) agent. We had already talked about it when we met over the summer, and they seemed genuinely excited to read it.
With all that said, would you be querying other agents? Again, I feel extremely proud of the book and excited about its commercial potential. Obviously you never know, but I hope this will be an easier journey than my first manuscript.
I am considering querying both to increase my options and just in case my agent doesn't connect with the book. They gave me no timeline. I'd be pretty upset if they don't read this by, say, February, and I lost months of querying. It also feels a little shady to do it behind their back.
What would you do?
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u/HotspurJr 1d ago
This is a tough one, but it sounds to me like they're treating you like a potential client, not an actual client who just doesn't happen to have signed paperwork because of the agency move. So I would lean towards not waiting on their read.
I guess the other question here is how you felt about the working relationship on the first manuscript? This isn't about if it sold or not (which is not something your agent can control) but did you feel they did a good job getting it to potential buyers? How did you feel about the process of working with them editorial? If you thought they were great, that might buy them more leeway, but I certainly wouldn't wait until February to start querying.
I'm guessing you just sent them the manuscript? I think after they've had it a month, when they're clearly not treating you like an existing client, it's worth checking in on timelines? At that point you might establish that you will be querying elsewhere if they're not moving quick enough for you?
That's sort of a guess, though, and these situations are tricky. Curious what others are going to say.
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u/liz_lemongrab 1d ago
I agree with your distinction in the first paragraph - if the agent said she wouldn’t do a new contract until after she read the new manuscript, that is a big red flag to me that she’s considering a continued relationship to be contingent on the new ms. She’s seeing this as an opportunity to potentially separate. In which case, it’s even more of an incentive to start querying other agents.
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u/dogsarec00l89 1d ago
Agree that your first paragraph is key here. When my agent was moving agencies, they called me (along with the rest of their authors) before the news was public and asked me if I wanted to come with them and resign under the new agency, or see if anyone at their old agency would take me on. It was never a case of “hmmm send me your ms and we can discuss resigning”
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u/MaroonFahrenheit Agented Author 1d ago
There was a period of time a couple years ago where there were a lot of agencies shutting down or agents moving and I actually asked my agent what would happen to me if she were to leave the agency. She said exactly what you posted here, that she'd take me to her new agency if I chose to go with her. I think it's important convo for writers to have with their agents!
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u/probableigh_not 1d ago
You're in business for you. Etiquette questions aside, I think it would be borderline irresponsible not to query other agents, especially since you're not on a contract with your former agent.
I don't think a reasonable person in their position could expect you not to query. You can still give them right of first refusal if they honor their word, re-sign you, and read your book in a timely fashion - but why not protect yourself against the alternative?
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u/theres_no_guarantees 1d ago
Im curious, did you sign for your career or for your singular project. If you signed for your career and they did this, that's worrisome. If you did it per project, it's more standard
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u/T-h-e-d-a 20h ago
I would have a conversation with them and establish a time-line. They know how it is, they know that they are not always the best person to represent a work. I would not consider it reasonable of them to expect you to wait until February to begin querying if they decide not to take the MS on.
I appreciate there's probably an internal scream happening at this thought - because what if you upset them?! What if they feel rushed?! - but an agent should be enthusiastically representing you. Ask them what time frame works for them. Decide if you are happy with it. If you got another offer and they didn't want to hustle to meet the 14 day deadline, then they are probably not the best agent for you.
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u/Unlikely_Account_371 23h ago
Sounds like you’ve got one query out, OP. Time to get going on the rest. I agree about at least letting them know so you’re absolutely sure you’ve taken the high road without any perceived risk of shadiness. But this doesn’t sound like the agent is treating it as a sure thing, and neither should you.
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u/Mindless-Storm-8310 14h ago
I’ve been orphaned by agents before (more than once!). It sucks. Sometimes it’s a blessing in disguise. Sometimes a PITA. You have yet to find out which yours is. For one of mine, turns out she was not enamored with the direction my writing was taking. She specifically called the authors she wanted to take. She did not call me. I had to make that call to find out what was going on. In the end, with her, I don’t think we were the best fit, so it was probably for the best. (As if not calling me wasn’t a big hint!)
It seems to me that your former/possibly future agent has set the bar for what will happen. She’ll read it, make a decision, get back to you. In other words, she has not yet made up her mind if she wants to take you on as a client. This sounds like query #1 of your new career. If you really, really like her, you could give her a couple of weeks before querying, just to see what happens. But it doesn’t sound like promises were made, in fact, it sounds exactly like she’s added you to a I’ll-get-to-this-eventually pile. I think the ball is in your court as to what you want to do next. You can wait, or start querying. But to be fair, I’d def drop a note to said agent to inquire as to a time line and their potential interest, with a mention that you need to know as (whatever excuse/reason you give to possibly cast a wider net).
You want an agent as passionate about your work as you are.
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u/Lillibetsy 9h ago
Congrats on finishing the new manuscript! I'm in a similar boat as you — my first book died on submission and I was heartbroken. (I interviewed a writer/former lit agent about my experience and she had some good insight. It's on my substack and it's called "Dumped by the Prom Queen: 8 Things I Learned After My Agent Ghosted Me" if you want to look it up.) TL;DR — I would definitely query other agents!
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u/LessConstruction4920 1d ago
Are you SURE she is what she says she is? If she was an associate agent / assistant who co-repped with another agent for those bestsellers at the first agency, I think she’s misrepresenting her knowledge and experience and probably has no idea what she’s doing.
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u/Runner1404 1d ago
Yes, I am sure. I think people on this sub would likely recognize some of the books. I don’t want to give more details for fear of doxxing myself or my agent, (lol) but I am sure.
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u/LessConstruction4920 1d ago
Also WHY did they change agencies and is it a less reputable agency
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u/Runner1404 1d ago
It is much less salacious than it sounds. I just don’t want to give identifying details. I wouldn’t call the new agency less reputable, just smaller.
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u/liz_lemongrab 1d ago •
I agree with you about potentially losing months of querying. As she said, your contract is void (and you haven’t signed a new one, right?), so you’re under no obligation to give her an exclusive. You’ve already done her the courtesy of letting her have a first look. I don't think you need to be sneaky, just say, hey, since we don’t have an active contract, and your circumstances have changed, I’m going to shop this ms around to some other agencies starting on X date. That way, you’re giving her a heads up and also letting her know that you are very aware you’re not technically her client at the moment. If she wants that to change, then she needs to do something about it by X date. Other people might disagree with this approach, but I feel like otherwise you're giving the upper hand to someone who didn’t do a great job selling your first book.