My Ms got a LOT of interest in #PitchWars

My book got a lot of requests from agents during #PitchWars. I have three offers of rep already, and a dozen other agents still looking at it. I'm excited (duh!) but it's a lot to take in. Be careful what you wish for I guess, but what do I do now?

Huzzah on writing a manuscript that generated that kind of interest. That bodes well for a writing career!

I assume that you want to make writing your career. That means you need an agency that can not only get you a significant deal with a US publisher, but can also sell your work overseas.  An agency that doesn't have the ability to sell foreign rights on your behalf will let the US publisher have world rights and that means less money for you. So ask prospective agents: how do you handle foreign rights?

A publishing deal seems like the final goal right now, but STAYING published is harder than it looks. Ask prospective agents what happens if your book doesn't sell, or your series doesn't do well. In other words, how will they help you pick yourself up and dust yourself off and start again if it all goes to hell (which of course you can't imagine it will, but still, ask.)

Ask how they handle film rights. A lot of agencies have powerhouse books that never get film deals. Film deals are harder (MUCH harder) to get than publishing deals.  Does the agent have film deals for her books?

Agents can drop dead or get hit by the cross-town bus.  You need to know what happens if the agent who love love loves your work is suddenly unavailable. Do other agents at the agency love love love your work? Have you met any of the other agents? This is a hard question to ask, but it's really important.

Are prospective agents asking what you want or just telling you how fabulous they are? A good agent's first question is "what's your goal?" and they talk about how to get there with you.

Most important, if you have a really hot project with this much interest, you want to make sure the agent you sign with can execute a significant deal for you. Look at their website. Do they have authors you've heard of and liked? Check Publishers Marketplace. Have they sold more than one book in a significant deal?  

Then, once your book is sold, what does the agency do to help you find readers?  A lot of promotion falls on the author these days and you're going to need help. How will this agent help you with that.

Some of these are yes/no answers and if you have multiple offers you're going to end up with a lot of agents who all seem pretty good.

Now is when you get into rapport. Did you like her? Have you emailed her other clients to ask about what it's like to work with her? You're at a lovely point in your career where nothing has yet gone wrong. Ask the clients what happens when the fecal matter hits the rotating device. The true measure of an agent is being able to prevent problems, and if problems arise, getting you out of them.

This is a key decision and it's easy to get overwhelmed with choices. You might want to take a second person with you to meetings, or have on the phone just to take notes. You're in a whirlwind right now, but you want to make sure you don't get blown off course.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes, ok?