Dear Miss Snark,
I had an agent who shopped my book - editors kept coming back with the same particular comment, but my agent did not agree with them and did not advise me to revise. Agent finally gave up.
During our one-year relationship (the length of the contract), said agent showed qualities that hinted the agency was way too busy for me -- although when I signed and asked, based on the mammoth success of this agent and his agency, if that would be an issue he insisted it all ran like a "well-oiled machine."
So -- over a year later, I've got another book to shop and have taken a hard look at book # 1 (not counting ms. stuffed under bed) and, taking editors comments to heart, think I can revise it to address their concerns -- but of course, I would not re-submit to those same editors/publishers who rejected it.
However, there are a few publishers my agent 'missed.'
My question: I assume even my 'revised' book is not attractive to other agents. But, if I ever sell it, am I in some way obligated to use my original agent? Or, can I approach other agents with a clear conscience if, by some miracle, I am offered a contract?
Check your contract with the Well Oiled Agent. Make sure there are no clever little clauses that give him an interest in the book after he's not your agent. If there are get him to sign a contract amendment releasing you from that clause now before there's any money at stake.
You're under no obligation to him if you sell that book. The only way you would be is if HE sold it, or you sold it to someone he showed it to within a couple months.
Agents can't be like long lost cousins of lottery winners coming out of the woodwork suddenly when there's money to be had.
Dear Miss Snark,
What happens when a writer parts ways with his agent midstream and novel #1 is still out with an editor or two? Is the submission withdrawn? Will the writer blow his chances with those editors? Will his name and his agent's name be bandied about, humiliating everyone?
Also, is there an official cooling off period before the writer should begin querying other agents? Say, sixty seconds? Six days? Six weeks?
I've been on both sides of this one.
When I get a new client who has pending submissions from a former agent, I talk to the former agent directly. Usually they just say "take it, no problemo". I do the same thing. I'm not hung up on getting "what's mine" cause I know there's a lot more to a sale than sending a manuscript.
When a client leaves me, I send them a list of where their work went and the status. I don't pull the submission normally. I just let it wither away. Without me calling to follow up, there's not much traction. On the other hand, if by some miracle an offer comes through, I tell the former client and ask how they want it handled. Amazingly most of them want back in at Snark Central.
There are no hard and fast rules here other than to behave well and not get emotional.
There is no cooling off period but you should check your contract with your agent to see what it says about notice. Absent a specific release date, most of the time you need to give him/her 30 days notice.
Miss Snark,
Though I doubt it could ever happen, I need to ask: Have you ever been dumped? By a client, that is.
Unfortunately, I need to part ways with my agent and begin the search for a new one. I get what I'm supposed to do -- letter, 30 days notice, etc.
But is there a way to soften the blow? I know, I know, I'm going to have to toughen up if I'm going to continue on this path to published, but I made the mistake of not only thinking she could sell my work, but liking her, too. Damn.
Help me be mean. In kind of a nice way, of course.
I've been dumped indeed.
And sometimes in ways that make me think of revenge and required Father Finbar to be rousted from bed for an emergency session in the confessional at St. Patricks. This being New York, not much phases (ok, sorry,
fazes) Father Finbar, but I notice he does clutch his heart when Miss Snark slithers in.
Kristen Nelson posted something about parting ways on her blog, you might google to see if you can find it.
I prefer a very short letter saying "yer toast Snarkles" cause in the end, why doesn't matter. The urge to point out flaws, mistakes, miscommunications or other indications of less than stellar performance are understandable but too late. You've decided to part company. I only want to hear about problems when I have a chance to fix them first.
There are different kinds of "dumping" too. If she hasn't sold your work, it's not all that unexpected. If she's been your agent for five years, sold three projects for increasing sums of money, and has saved you from the chopping block once or twice, well, nothing is going to soften that blow and I'm going to be mad for a good long time...err..I mean "the agent" will be mad for a good long time.
Plain, simple, straightforward, no "I'm sorry it had to be this way".
MS: "Agents can't be like long lost cousins of lottery winners coming out of the woodwork suddenly when there's money to be had."
Why not?
Dear anonymous,
They don't have to be if you read your contract and understand it. What do we say about contracts - read and understand before signing?
There's that word LOTTERY again...
If I think my agent has not sent to every publisher I think she should, I email her and ask about it, and ask if she'll contact them.
She does.
If you rejections are getting a consistent comment, by all means revise! Use Novel #2 to land a new agent, then tell him/her about #1 (once you've revised) and see if they want to do something with it. Good luck!