An encouraging Agent!!
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Send to friendHi all. I recently submitted a synopsis and few chapters of my husbands debut novel to an agent who has susequently replied in a very encouraging manner . He wants to submit it to two publishers as he feels it is excellent and very commercially viable. We have not sent it to another agent - should we ?? or should we sign the agreement he has sent us binding my husbands presentand al future work? The agent has a good reputation and is very excited about the novel - is this promising or are we on a fools errand? Can any body tell us?? We are real novices at this!!!
It is not often that an agent will react on the basis of a synopsis and a few chapters without a request for a 'full' before submission to publishers.
You say it's a reputable agent and at the same time, admit you are real novices, so the question really is on what basis are you suggesting the agents reputation? If you have checked them out thoroughly and only heard good things from your peer group then it should be as good as gold.
Hi Suzanne,
My advice is that you run the contract by a lawyer before you sign anything. Also, if you're comfortable sharing the name of the agency, other users might be able to provide some additional background that would help you.
Best,
Chris
Hi thanks for your reply. We are novices and her reputation is based on googling her . He was onto her today again and she has forwarded in the last 24 hours what he has written to 2 fairly big publishers she feels may be very interested!! I hope this means she thinks he is really good and wants the deal in the bag!! I will post again to keep you all updated on his progress.
Suz
Suzanne,
Have you checked this agent out at Preditors&Editors? Or Writer Beware? Both of these places are watchdog sites for writers.
These are the links:
http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/
Be sure to look at the list of the Top 20 Worse Agents on Writer Beware. If this agent wants to refer you to a critique service or asks for other fees upfront, run away. It's a scam.
I don't want to discourage you, but it's extremely rare for an agent to submit an unknown writer's work to publishers based on a a few chapters and an synopsis.
Best of luck,
Jeanne
I'm a tad concerned. Have you tried finding this person on http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/? The folks there will respond quickly and as a group are quite knowledgable. Good luck!
In addition to checking out the sites that were mentioned, I would definitely check her track record in bringing books to print on something like Publisher's Weekly. Lots of recent publications with big publishing houses (not self-published) is definitely what you want to see.
GL!
Kris
IF--and that's a big if--your husband's novel is completed, it's logical for the agent to want to shop it around. For fiction, most agents aren't willing to deal with anything but a completed work. The reason is simple: if a publisher wants to see the whole thing, he'd want to get it immediately.
A good contract these days includes an agent's fee of 15% for domestic sales (U.S. and Canada) with a higher percentage overseas. The best contracts only bind you for work the agent represents. Not every agent represents all genres, so if your husband plans to write in several genres of fiction, he should be free to do shop work around if it's outside his agent's sphere.
Be sure to check the "Predators and Editors" list on the Science Fiction Writers of America website which covers all genres or writing and identifies agents who engage in unsound business practices. Good Luck!
Love2Win
Who is a GOOD agent , a reliable and trustworthy one for Science fiction? Thanx!
Congrats to you and your husband, but this smells a bit fishy... proceed with caution! I agree with jlgwriter in checking both websites. Sadly, there are many scam-artists out there looking to prey on just the kind of hope we writers live with every day.
Check out P & E and Writer Beware before submitting another thing and, in spite of all our warnings, KEEP THE FAITH!
Since you and the hubby are so new at this game, caution is definitely advised. In fiction, I've NEVER heard of an agent taking a client on before first reading the ENTIRE manuscript.
The other thing I'd recommend is to contact a local writer's group in your area and talk to some of those writers who might have some hands on experience with this particular agent or may be able to recommend another agent.
What's the length of commitment with this agent and also is there a 30 day separation clause.
Molly
I just read about a first time writer finding representation for her novel, that she hadn't finished writing yet, so I guess it does happen.
What doesn't happen, though, is an agent shopping your book around without a signed contract with you. What's to stop you then approaching the editor directly or vice versa and cutting her out? That's highly unprofessional of her. Now if you sign with another agent, that house has already seen the novel and there could be legal ramifications.
Or maybe it was a casual thing she talked about your novel over drinks. That doesn't sound like a problem.
Check her out on Writer Beware.
BTW, when you are shopping around your husband's novel, you mean you're doing the paperwork but sending the queries as if he'd written then. Editors/agents don't like to receive queries from anyone but the author themselves. "My son's novel", "my husband's book", are no-no's in submission land.
All of the above.
Please remember that your husband has spend time and effort in this Manuscript and, for an agent to accept the MS before he knows how it's going to end is suspicious. Agents have to SELL the book to publishers and they want to know the hero doesn't magically sprout wings unless he happens to be a bespeckled, teen aged wizard.
Definitely and Agent won't lift a finger without a contract signed and that means they are in EXCLUSIVE possession of a final draft of the novel. This may end up tying your MS up with someone who gets a much more attractive MS the following week. Tread with care.
Need I say that, like publishers, Agents that are reputable do not charge until the MS makes money. Do not pay in advance for anything.
A reputable Agent will have some track record, other authors for instance, or they will be part of a chartered Agent's body. Check this out. If they aren't chartered or registered members of one or other of the larger institutes, bodies this might indicate their level of professionalism.
Agents are like detectives, they are the ones supposed to be doing the digging for you, and nobody would come to Philip Marlowe or Sam Spade in real life.
Where is this agent's office? Is there an address you can see? A website with their premises visible? Is this agent part of a company or are they individuals working out of their home? All these factors are extremely important.
Make sure you know all these things before sending out the MS, and need I say it? Keep a dated copy with your lawyer.
If you are satisfied that all the above pitfalls have been avoided great! If not - do not part with your MS - it is your property and you shouldn't surrender your copyright at any stage until you have talked with the publisher.
Finally, some agents will negotiate a fee for you on acceptance by a publisher others won't. It's a slow process so maybe a bit of cash up front might see you guys through the wait. If the agent doesn't promise you that then think about slicing of a % or two from the agent's fee. Also, publishers want to retain all the possible copyright (sequels, spin-offs, merchandise, TV / Movie adaptations) just make sure they acknowledge your rights and PAY you for these ancillaries.
THIS IS YOUR PROPERTY.
Yours Gary Canton
Well guys, everything seems to be going well. We signed with the agent and the book is nearly completed. She is so enthuasiastic about it that she has submitted it to 6 top publishing firms in London and is expecting bidding to begin anyday now!! I checked her out and has very good reputation with a history working in publishing. Say a prayer for us please - we really need this to work out and are getting excited!!
If he is not on the Beware List. Sign Sign Sign. Agents are to hard to come by. Take a chance and jump in for the Gusto.
Congrats and Good Luck!!! Hope it becomes a Best Seller.
Suzanne
Take a few moments to write a log of everything that has happened so far. Dates, who said what and if you've e-mails take a printed copy and file in date order. highlight any type of action indicated.
This year 2010, I've decided for me, is a year of asking questions. It is l good for any writer to do, even with agents at this early stage.
Imagine what questions you might like answered.
(Will there be a contract between you and the agent? Cost in US is how much per hour? Is a notary needed?Will a second contract be needed between Publisher and author for every possible rights.? There are for instance audio rights and digital audio rights. Think of WAV, cassettes and Cds etc and you 'll soon become wary of what you might unknowing be signing away. In the UK a notary cost me £80 an hour, not cheap).
There are many more questions to be answered.
Check out www.zoetrope.com which has an number of experts you can glean information from at an time of the day and from all around the world. As well as dedicated offices for those needing help. Check out the site and if you want to join and use the forum. Do something positive while you wait for the next step in the publihing process. And keep records.
Best wishes
Congratulations on signing . I hope everything works out well and obviously in your favour. I wonder if you might return to this site in 100 days time exactly to update everybody on the subsequent progress of the book in question. I'm sure your success will then be something to excite others and ought to be shared at no cost.
Best wishes again
your husband is lucky that someone accepted to read just a portion of an unfinished work, and I find it odd that he would have already shopped it around, but, eh! that may as well be. My opinion is to apply caution when approaching agents. if the chemistry is good with this one, if he is excited by the work and shows that he is serious and committed, then showing it to other agents could, at this point, anger that agent a bit. My suggestion is to go with that flow, especially if you have solid reasons to trust in the agent's credentials, and if the agent commits himself to establish a serious relationship with a potential client.