Tuesday, October 03, 2017

I've got an offer, what's the agent doing while I'm considering?

I am fortunate enough to have had an agent offer rep on Friday. I have sent emails to everyone who has a query or any of my material, and am now responding to their request for more in some cases, and it makes me wonder... What is the offering agent doing during this week while I decide what to do? She had already researched me, I found out when we called, but is there anything else she'd be doing this week? Besides, maybe, worrying that someone else will steal me away?

I can't find anything about this online, and I'm just curious how the process feels and works from the other side. I'm sure it's different for every agent, but are there any universal things to be doing?


This is interesting timing because I have two offers out right now, and I'm in the midst of wating for replies.

Mostly I'm doing a lot of nothing.
(well, nothing about the pending offers!)

As you noted, I'd done my research before setting up the call. I had revision notes prepped and sent them after I'd spoken with the writers.

While they're getting in touch with my clients (and I'm hoping no one's disgruntled this week) I'm just hoping we get to the next step.

You might think I'd be putting together editor list or a working on a submission strategy but I do that only after the writer has agreed to become a client. 

I made notes in my date book about when to get in touch with the writers again, or when to expect things from them.

And of course, since I invited them to email me with any questions, I'll be watching my inbox to make sure I don't miss an email from either of them.


36 comments:

Unknown said...

Janet, what research do you do on the writers? Curious...

french sojourn said...


To save time when I query, I'm including a Police Record Check. I plan to highlight the acquittals and jot down a lighthearted comment by 3 of the 4.

The 4th one however will be tough to explain away. Maybe it will be the subject of a flash fiction contest, then I could include it. The postmark from Carkoon is quite festive.

Good question by the OP, and good luck with your decisions.

cheers.

Carolynnwith2Ns said...

That I would have to suffer the thoughts of the one holding my writer's fate in their hands...oh please, let it be me.

Kitty said...

french sojourn, OMG, that's hilarious!

Colin Smith said...

Interesting. I hope if either (or both) of these writers accept Janet's offer, there'll be some kind of announcement on the blog. Especially if these are blog regulars. Sure, there'll be jealousy. That's to be expected. Every celebration of success is tinged with a sigh, but that doesn't make the celebration less genuine. :)

Two offers? The chum must be tasty at the moment...

Timothy Lowe said...

Guess some of that reading is paying off, Janet. Hope they work out for you!

BTW, congratulations, Adib! Good to get some good news on a day that was so heavy with mourning.

Unknown said...

1) Congrats, OP!
2) Here's hoping you go two for two, Janet!
and 3) seconding Timothy, congrats, Adib, on the big PW announcement yesterday! Can't wait to see DARIUS THE GREAT IS NOT OKAY in print fall 2018!

Lisa Bodenheim said...

What wonderful news Opie! Congratulations on receiving the offer and wishing you all the best if you have choices given to you!

french sojourn: Ha! You're such a ruffian!

Sherry Howard said...

These recent blog posts have been answering so many questions that I have right now, so yay for the timing. You read things differently when you're there in the query trenches and these things are happening to you at that moment. When I search the archives for answers, it's not quite the same as reading real-time posts. I think OP had such an interesting question today, and congratulations to OP.

Good luck Your Sharkliness with the offers--hope you add the lucky authors to your group of clients.

Adib's news (I already congratulated him) made me explore Publisher's Marketplace a little more. I didn't know that it might be helpful to fill in my page so I'd be searchable there. So, I did finally fill it in. I'm not sure if that means anything, but it didn't take long and can't hurt anything. (I'd post a link to show you what I'm talking about, but I'm still a link novice.)

John Davis Frain said...

Hank,

Smart to include a recap of only 3 of your police incidents. I've read about some of your other exploits, and you're right, they'll be harder to explain away. By including the three, agents will think that covers everything, and they won't even look for more. Brilliant! I'm think I'm gonna follow your lead.



[*Portions of the preceding may have been embellished to transfer my own sordid past into Hank's life.]

Amy Schaefer said...

For those who want to read it, here is (hopefully) the link to Adib's announcement in PW. Very exciting, and add my congratulations to the pile!

And congratulations to Opie as well on getting an offer. May you end up with the perfect agent for your work.

Amy Schaefer said...

...and it seems that didn't work. Here is the URL; someone else (read: Colin) can link it properly.

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/book-deals/article/74933-book-deals-week-of-october-2-2017.html

Colin Smith said...

Here ya go, Amy:

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/book-deals/article/74933-book-deals-week-of-october-2-2017.html

Steve Stubbs said...

OP: Congratulations. That is an amazing victory. I hope your book rockets to the NYT bestseller list and that you are the next Dan Brown.

Running a business is very demanding. If your agent is in business to make money (not all business people are) my guess is, she intends to do nothing unless and until she hears from you,

Colin Smith said...
"Sure, there'll be jealousy. That's to be expected. Every celebration of success is tinged with a sigh."

Not true of everybody. I know I jump for joy when anyone achieves any kind of success. When they fail it causes me pain.

The counselor in me says the difference may have to do with one's interpretation of success. A lot of people I have known personally believe they should be rewarded somehow merely for being on the planet. If someone else gets rewarded, they feel cheated. They did not get their "fair share", whatever that is. If they believe rewards should come to those who earn them, they are encouraged when someone proves that - yes - it does happen. I am not saying one interpretation is valid and the other invalid. But they do produce different results.

Best wishes to Ms. Reid also with her two new clients. Hard work pays off!

french sojourn said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
french sojourn said...


Steve, I agree, but I imagine Colin may have meant a slight tinge of envy.

He comes across as a completely supportive soul in this community. It sounds like a hiccup in wording, just my take.

I think it was the first time I've ever used the word tinge...what do you know.

Joseph S. said...


Adib

Like wow - Like big-time WOW. Congratulations. I hope the twelve month wait until publication date zooms by.

I'm off to Houston for a week. This cheerful news is adding good spirit to my drive.

Joseph S. said...

and french sojourn

That was a great read to start my day!

See y'all in a week.

Sherry Howard said...

Adib That must be so exciting. They must be pushing it through to quick publication. I write YA, so read it a lot. Your book will appeal to kids in so many ways, and teachers will love it! So happy for you!

Beth Carpenter said...

Congratulations, OP. Here's hoping you find the perfect agent and sell a million books.

Congratulations to Janet as well. Two offers out at once? That's great news.

Colin Smith said...

Tinged with a sigh, Steve. A sigh. My joy for each and every Reef-dweller who experiences any kind of publishing success, or achieves any landmark in their publishing goals, is real and sincere. And there's a part of me that would like to be celebrating similar successes in my own career. I'm not ungrateful for what I have. But should we not be spurred on by each other? Should I be satisfied with one short story sale and not desire multiple sales (like Jennifer)? Can I not rejoice with Adib and Sam Hawke, and likewise think "One day, may that be me"?

Yes, there are some in this world who only see in the achievements of others that which has been denied, even stolen from them. I know my heart is not pure, and I'm far from perfect. But I'd like to think that's not me.

BJ Muntain said...

My first thought was, well, the agent is going to be busy working with current clients, so they'll probably be spending their waiting time productively.

My second thought was, Janet has two offers out? There may be two new members of the fabulosity? Reading others' comments here, I think I'm not the only one experiencing a weee bit of envy.

french sojourn said...


Colin; I meant that the "Sure there'll be Jealousy could have been replaced with a tinge of envy. I don't think there is an exception to the "tinged with a sigh." Steve's point was the use of the word Jealousy. I don't think it applies to this community.

sigh.

RosannaM said...

A huge congrats from me to Adib! I hope the ride is exciting and you enjoy every minute of it.

Hank ooh, I think I want to hear more of your past exploits--maybe some day over a glass of wine?

OP What a fun time this is for you. Keep us in the loop--we live vicariously here at times. At most times.

And to the two lucky writers out there considering signing with Janet--best of luck to you both and come out of hiding and let us share in your glory!

Timothy Lowe said...

French, Colin -

No comment on whether or not jealousy is appropriate. But as far as "tinge" goes, I prefer my daughter's version (She's 8). She says "A tinch," which I think is the bastard child of "tinge" and "pinch".

Do you want some blueberries in your pancakes, sweetie?

"Ummm...just a tinch."

Lennon Faris said...

I always like the fly-on-the-wall viewpoint of things.

Hank, that was hilarious.

Adib - congratulations!! I love YA. Will definitely check that out.

Colin Smith said...

Hank: Absolutely--I don't think there's rampant jealousy of any kind in this community... at least none that I can see. Perhaps just a tinch, the kind that lights a fire up our backsides, that inspires us toward our own goals. In fact the only thing rampant in these parts is talent. And that's scary enough! ;)

Cecilia Ortiz Luna said...

A Tinch of Blueberries... good title for a picture book

A Tinch of Jealousy... good title for a domestic suspense

Unknown said...

So much happy news here today! Thanks, I needed that. And congrats and good luck to all. [It's] just around the corner...
(That was the title of my favorite childhood book, and a good philosophy to lead a hopeful life!)

Kate Larkindale said...

So much good news today! Congratulations, Adib! I can't wait to read your book. And good luck to Opie and to Janet. Hopefully we will see some new client announcements from you soon...

Colin Smith said...

Okay... here we go... I'm going to risk Carkoon again...

Janet: Would you PLEASE be sure to advertise loudly here when you have client books coming out (at least as soon as they're ready for pre-order), or when you sign a new client? It's possible you may prefer to let new clients announce in their own time, and that's fair enough, but as soon as the client announces, can we see something here? Please..? I'm not going to actually say you're not always on the ball with this, but... well... you know... :D :D :D

*Packs bags...*

John Davis Frain said...

Gore Vidal is credited with saying "whenever a friend succeeds, a little something in me dies."

Jealousy? Sure. Human nature? I think so. I'm excited for Adib partially because, in a strange sense, I sorta know him from hanging out in this neighborhood. We've "conversed" on occasion. So yeah, I'm absolutely excited for you, Adib.

But to deny that I'm a little bit jealous would just be untruthful. I'm not ashamed of it though. It's just fact. Now, what I do with that jealousy is the important thing. I only wish the best, and I hope to join you.

Inktruffle said...

Congratulations, OP! And to Janet as well!

I suppose on the topic of envy, I'm a bit group minded. I want everyone in my writing group to get an agent or find success in their own way, and I want any decent middle grade writer to be wildly successful. Another MG writer and myself are in the query trenches together right now, we both have our own knowledge and ideas to bring to each other. She can afford conferences, whereas I can't, but I've been able to do things she hasn't had the time for as well. The good news is that this isn't like getting a regular job or house hunting. One writer's good news isn't necessarily another writer's bad news.

Theresa said...

That's great news, OP! Congratulations.

Adib Khorram said...

Thanks so much to everyone! It's definitely been a wild ride.

And congrats to the OP!

I have two thoughts on the jealousy thing...one is that it's a pretty normal human reaction and no matter where you are in your life, it's human nature to want what someone else has. So I don't think that feeling ever goes away.

Two is that it's what you do with that feeling that matters. If you let yourself feel it—process it—and then shove it aside, and remember to keep striving, to keep lifting up those that are on the journey with you, to keep pushing those that are ahead of you, to turn back and offer a helping hand to those behind you...that is how you turn jealousy into progress.

(Boy I hope that sentence makes sense. I went back and read it and I started bleeding from my ears!)

John Davis Frain said...

That sentence makes all the sense in the world, Adib. It's no wonder you're well on your way. Here's to progress! I'm happy to know you. I mean, ya know, sorta.

If you don't mind, when I'm at the counter at Barnes & Noble with your book, I might say a little too loud to my wife "Yeah, Korrs and me, we go way back. Khorram, I mean. Adib. I knew him before he became an overnight sensation."

"And yes," I'll whisper on the way into the mall, "I'm jealous, shut up about it already."