I've read time and time again on this site that people ignore an agent's request for an exclusive look at an MS. A lot of the biggies ask for this.

Is there anyone there who does respect this request?

I suppose my problem is that i'm not very hardnosed, and if a biggie did want to view the whole thing (wishful thinking here), i'd not enjoy having to tell them that, actually, i have sent it off to several other agents.

And as for pleading ignorance, well, most of them make it quite clear in their submission guidelines.

Any comments appreciated, although i suspect the gist of any advice will be toughen up, you don't owe them anything

Casey

No, if you think it would be uncomfortable having to say, sorry, just got a contract through the post, then don't submit to someone else, because that time will come.

Then again, if you only send off the full script to one at a time, that time might never come.

What's more important? Their feelings or your possible career?

Hmmm, i know, and i certainly wouldn't do more than a couple of exclusives. The thing is, though, even waiting for one reply seems like a waste of time when i could do a multiple submission.

I wonder what an agent thinks of someone who ignores their guidlines? probably doesn't care too much if they love the story.

Casey

What I'd do is submit your samples to as many as you can. Then, if an agent requests a partial or (more likely in the UK) the full mss send it them. Then you'll be in a better position to judge whether or not you want them to have it exclusively if/when someone else requests it.

And don't forget that agents are real people too. If you tell them someone else is interested (which I think you should because agents, like most decent people, appreciate honesty) then it could make them reaslise that a) your story's good enough to have attracted the attention of someone else, and b) they might be in competition for your signature.

Best of luck with it Casey!

Nik.

Thanks, Nik.

Yeh, that makes sense, at least i can offer someone the full MS on an exclusive basis - if i get that far! (getting first submission jitters now).

Casey

Given that agents vary wildly in how long they take to get back to you at all, let alone ask to see the whole thing, I think this usually ends up being less of a problem than it looks like it's going to be.

Emma

Sorry, Casey, I misunderstood. When you mentioned "exclusive" I assumed you were talking about multiple agents' requests for the full script. That's when the dilemma really does kick in - do you agree to an exclusive for an okay agent, only to get a request from Carole Blake or Simon Trewin a week later and think, "feck!!!"

But for submissions of samples, don't let it worry you. Pitch out several at a time, whatever you can afford. This is the norm, and most agents know that.

Colin

You know what guys, thankyou, this little thread has helped push me to follow what my instincts were telling me. Much as i try and honour guidelines, i think that asking for an exclusive on just the first 3 chaps it too much - although i would be honest about multiple submissions if asked, and would give someone an exclusive look at a full MS.

I also think you're right, Emma, the likelihood of having agents falling over themselves to view the full MS is, well, unlikely, and this is something novice writers unnecessarily worry about.

Casey

I think some of the trouble stems from the fact that a) a few agents totally fail to grasp the reality of being an aspiring writer, and just think 'I'm not interested in reading anything that might be snatched from under my nose.' But b) many more agents don't say in their guidelines what kind of submission they're talking about: I suspect when they say 'submission' they're talking about a full MS, which they want to know is worth ploughing through (i.e. it's not with five other agents). And lots and lots of agents always think they'll get to their slush more often than they do, and don't add up just how long your submission is likely to sit there.

Emma

Good luck with it, Casey, whatever you decide to do.

Yes, Casey, the very best of luck. I tried to always keep more than one on the go - the rejections weren't so bad if I knew that there was, somewhere, an agent looking at the script.

Every rejection slip is another step to your goal.

It took me ninety friggin steps!

Seriously? Ninety? Blimey. It took me thirteen, and I thought that was perseverance enough.

And you know what they say about 13. That's Sonia.

That's over several years and loads of different projects. As I started to get more positive results I began to target specific agents. With The Devil's Prayer I only made four submissions and got three requests for the full script.

I'm still proud of my big, fat folder full of rejections though.

Thanks, guys.

Yeh, i keep all of my rejections, but can never bring myself to re-read them.

Casey