Hi,

Thanks for the comments I've already received in previous posts. I was wondering if someone could tell me what happens once an agent has agreed to take you on. Do they invite you in for a chat/interview? Do you have to sign a contract? If you do, can you change your mind at a later date and go with another agency. What is the normal procedure when one has found an agent?

Many thanks

Remy

My understanding of the process is that they will invite you in for an informal interview/chat, and, if that goes well, then they may (but not always) offer to represent you. If they do make the offer and you agree, then there will be a contract to sign. Once signed then they are your agent and it would be highly improper for you to approach another agent without good cause. If a few months or years down the line you find the relationship between yourself and the agent is not working, then you could approach the Society of Authors for help in extracting you from the contract, leaving you free to seek alternative representation.



- NaomiM

<Added>

You don't have to sign a contract then and there - it might come through the post at a later date - but when you have an offer of representation you can take the contract to the Society of Authors and ask them to give it the once over to check everything is in order.

Yes, a meeting is good, though I have friends who have a great telephone and email relationship with their agent without ever having met in the flesh.

The key thing with a meeting is to come away knowing where you are: often if you all get on they'll make you an offer to represent you; but sometimes it's only about them suggesting revisions and they won't take you on till they're happy with it - so be sure you're happy to do the revisions anyway; and occasionally it's just, 'We loved it, we're not taking you on, but we'd love to see the next thing you write.' So you need to know. And you really don't have to commit yourself there and then: it can be very disorienting to have someone take so much enthusiastic interest in you, but you need to be confident that they get the book the way you do, and will persevere in selling it, and that any revisions they suggest are ones you're happy to do. So if in doubt say how pleased you are, and you'll let them know as soon as possible...

Generally speaking, in the book trade, most things are agreed on a handshake, and the paperwork comes trundling along when everyone gets round to it. But it would be a bad idea to agree that handshake with one agent, then back out before things are signed, though of course it has been done (Earls Court Exhibs did it to the Frankfurt Book Fair, when they had a better offer from the London Book Fair, as I recall.). But it's a small trade, and word gets around, so if you're in discussions with more than one agent try to play fair...

There are still agents who don't really have written contracts - though they may have a letter of engagement which sets out the terms under which they're representing you. Though of course the fact that nothing's written down doesn't mean a contract doesn't exist, only that it's verbal. The notice period for parting company should be stated in the contract - I think 3 months is common. Generally speaking you can't go looking for another agent until you've given notice to your current one, and the contract should set out what will happen with books the old agent represented. Whatever it is, as soon as you've been offered representation you can join the Society of Authors, and they'll then take their legendary magnifying glass to any agreement, and, as Naomi suggests, also help you if things get tricky later on.

Emma

I had lots of email communication with my agent before I signed with him.
What always came through was his humour and his enthusiasm.
Then he asked for some revisions, which I did, and he offered to represent me.
When we finally met up for lunch, I'd already had the contract for a few weeks. Oneof the first things my agent said to me in person was, 'are you going to sign that bloody thing or not?'
HB x