So.....I've submitted my chapters to an agent who is perhaps not exactly "my agent" (they took a book from me eight years ago but failed to find a publisher) but I want to give them first option as they were so helpful before and also it's a well-known, good agent. But I am keen to try others ASAP. Should I just wait indefinitely for them to come back to me or start sending to others in a week or two? Also it seems to be that everyone approaches more than one agent at a time even though they are asked not to - am I right?

Are you still signed with this agent? Because if you still have a contract with them (even if dated several years ago) then you absolutely shouldn't start approaching others. Unless you or the agent formally ended the contract I think you would still be tied into it, regardless of whether they sold your last book (double check the fine print though). And approaching one agent while under contract to another is considered a bit infradig. It's better to end the contract first and then start searching.

Also I can't quite remember the ins and outs of your situation but is it the same agent or just the same agency you're resubmitting to? I think this makes a difference. If the agent you dealt with has left and you have no contract then I don't think you're under any moral obligation to this agency, you could just treat it as an ordinary sub.

Otherwise if you're dealing with the same agent but without a contract then you probably aren't under any legal obligation, but I think I would want to give them first refusal. If they're taking an unconscionably long time you could always give them an email nudge.

Thanks. Same agency, different agent (other has retired.) What would be a food period to wait - a month?

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Good period to wait even...

If you're not under contract then there's no reason to wait. Get submitting elsewhere.
If you are still under contract then you can't submit elsewhere.

Thanks. I've just had a look at my contract and I guess I am still under contract - there's nothing to say that I wouldn't be. Just feels weird 8 years on.....I guess I'll just have to be patient!

Have you had dealings with this new agent - feedback - advice etc?

I think it comes down to this; if you are under contract then you are a client and should be treated as a client, so you should expect a timely response and not be afraid to chase up. But equally you should treat them as your agent and not go shopping around.

If you are not under contract then it's entirely down to moral obligation - if they've given you time and advice etc.

I think I'd leave it a few weeks - a month sounds good - and then make polite contact saying that you are keen to hear from them as you have submitted exclusively, but letting them know that you plan to offer it more widely by (date) unless you hear otherwise.

But I'm no expert - see what others think.

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oh sorry - just seen your edit.

If you are under contract and your contract is with the agency then this person IS your agent (or at least some named person at the agency is) until such time as they or you end the relationship with the appropriate notice periods.

What did you send them - the whole MS or just the first three chapters? And did you make it clear in your letter that you were under contract to the agency or did it sound like a submission? Don't expect this other agent to know what the score is necessarily.

I think the fact that you're under contract makes the whole thing a lot more knotty. Are you a full member? If so maybe post in private members and ask for advice there, explaining the situation.

I think you are probably right Flora. I have been in touch a couple of times - I sent my original novel slightly reworked but being chicklit they said they liked it but couldn't market it at the mo - and then emailed to ask if she'd be happy to accept my latest submission by email or hard copy. But I haven't been in touch for editorial input or anything like that - I think with it being so long ago, different person, even different genre of book, it didn't seem appropriate. I called today to check she'd received the email which she had. So now I guess I will have to wait. As you say I think if I chase in a few weeks that's all I can do. I'm just not good at waiting though...

Sorry my edit crossed with your last post.

Don't whatever you do send the email I suggested - this was based on your NOT being under contract.

If you are under contract then you are in no position to send your MS elsewhere by date (well you can - but it's a different legal situation and will look very different from the point of view of the other agents receiving your sub).

But it does give you a very good lever to get a response out of the agent because you need to know whether they are going to sub this or not, and based on that you need to make a decision about whether you want to continue with the contract or give notice to end it (usually a month but can be longer I think).

Try posting in private members, I'm a bit out of my depth here to be honest.

Thanks. It's 90 days notice in my contract. I still think I can prompt in about a month - just have to word it differently! Hopefully I will hear well before then....

yes - definitely prompt. Just, as you say, word it a bit differently.

I think if they don't want to rep this book and you decide you definitely want out in order to offer it elsewhere, then you could probably ask them to end the contract early. 90 days seems an unnecessarily long time to wait if everyone's in agreement, and you can't sign with another agent while you're under contract.

But you can cross that bridge if you come to it. Hopefully they'll love this one and sell it instantly!

I think within those 90 days I could still approach people as far as I understand - just not get paid anything until the time is up. But I think as you say if they decide they don't want it and haven't dealt with me for so long hopefully they'd be reasonable about it!

I think within those 90 days I could still approach people as far as I understand - just not get paid anything until the time is up.

You may need to be careful with this. My daughter has just been offered representation and I was reading her contract last night & noticed that it says the agent is still entitled to her percentage even if my daughter gets work that has nothing to do with the agent (unless the contract has been officially terminated, obviously). This is acting not writing, but you may need to check that there are no unexpected pitfalls in the contract which could cause problems if you subbed elsewhere while still under contract.

Thanks. If it comes to this I guess I'll take some advice from the Society of Authors or similar.

You could approach people, sure, but as far as I understand it, you wouldn't be able to sign a contract because you have signed a contract giving agent one the exclusive right to rep your work for this period.

You can't, therefore, sign a contract giving agent two ALSO exclusive rights to rep your work.

Plus, it would be impossible for agent two to strike a deal if you were under contract to agent one, because agent one would very probably be entitled to a share of any monies from that deal (it doesn't matter when the money is received - agents can carry on profiting from monies received long after you've parted company if the original deal was struck while you were under contract).

But if they don't think they can sell the book there shouldn't be any reason for them to tie you into the contract. I think (need to look at my own contract here!) there's usually a mutual get-out clause whereby you can both agree to vary the terms.

Anyway no need to worry about that for the moment and yes, the Society of Authors would probably be a good port of call if agency one is not helpful.

Really can't stand the waiting and find it frustrating not being able to send to anyone else. Is it too soon to prompt, bearing in mind I called just over a week ago to check she had the email? Wish I'd sent a paper submission now, I'm worried my email's been forgotten about.