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Topic: Waiting on an agent
| Author | Message |
| globetrotter78 | Posted – 12/11/2007 12:24:05 PM | show profile Typically, how long do you give an agent to decide if they want to represent your non-fiction book? Is 3 months with no firm answer normal? Thanks! |
| foodlit | Posted – 12/11/2007 1:22:48 PM | show profile There really is no 'normal', but that is long. It shouldn't be nearly as long to hear on non-fiction, because all they have to consider is a proposal. What is more typical is to hear back much more quickly if there's interest, say in a month or two. I'd write this one off, and query a bunch more! Good luck, Pam |
| stinking prague | Posted – 12/11/2007 1:41:22 PM | show profile waiting three months without a word is completely normal. But you shouldn't be sitting around, keep beating the bushes for more agents. you should never tie your fortunes to one bozo who may or may not give five minutes eyeball time to your project. Don't do exclusives unless the dude will get back to you within a couple days. good luck |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 12/11/2007 2:36:05 PM | show profile Until an agent asks to represent you, and you agree, there is no reason to not keep shopping it around. There is no downside to you sending the stuff to other agents while you wait for the first. --Typically, how long do you give an agent to decide if they want to represent your non-fiction book? Is 3 months with no firm answer normal? Thanks!== |
| Mr Media | Posted – 12/11/2007 3:49:11 PM | show profile I have to agree send out many proposals to all the agents you think will be best to represent your work. Never ever wait for just one agent. Three months waiting for a response I think is a bit too long. Continue to look for several other agents. Never ever wait around for one person's response you could be waiting forever. |
| globetrotter78 | Posted – 12/11/2007 4:22:20 PM | show profile Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I was just fretting because I've heard not to send proposals to multiple agents at once. This agent I'm referring to has said twice that she's interested but hasn't made a decision in follow up calls. I guess I've wasted more time waiting than necessary. |
| stinking prague | Posted – 12/11/2007 11:54:06 PM | show profile send send send |
| Village Gal | Posted – 12/12/2007 10:20:03 AM | show profile When I was seeking an agent, I had several queries alive at once; you get a rejection or no reply, send out another. Even if they don't agree to take on that book, you may establish a relationship that down the road will lead to a agent contract on another book. that's what happened to me. |
| foodlit | Posted – 12/12/2007 12:01:36 PM | show profile Globetrotter, You really have to query multiple agents. No one sends to one at a time, and it's not expected at all...not in this day and age. Imagine if all agents took three months and you waited to hear back from each one...you could be old and gray before you land an agent! I'd suggest sending out queries in batches of 8-12 at a time, and as you hear back with a 'no' from one, you send out another to take its place, so you have a constant flow out there until you land one that you like. Another thing to consider too is that by querying multiple agents, you are in a better position to make a choice. If you go one at a time, it's more on them, and if you have more than one agent interested you can ask questions and go with the one that feels like the best fit for you and your project. Because remember you are hiring them, so it's nice to have options! Good luck, Pam |
| stinking prague | Posted – 12/12/2007 2:58:50 PM | show profile while you're at it, get yerself a free subscription to publisher's lunch. about once a week they'll send out a report of twenty five to thirty book deals of the week. give you an idea who's handling what and selling to whom. A lot of time it includes the agents email address. I think that's how I got mine. |
