Hi all. I was just after some advice, if possible.

An agent has been looking at my full mansucript for over a month now, and while i realise that these things can take time, i was wondering how long people think i should leave it before contacting them.

Also, what do people think would be the best way to do that? A letter? Or an email? And saying what?

Apologies for the questions, but it would be useful to hear from people who have been in similar waiting situations.

Thanks in advance.


Dan.

Congrats on getting this far - a real plus! I would say wait 3 months before a polite email enquiring about the present position - good luck!

)

A
xxx

PS And don't forget to start/keep writing your current project ...

I’d say wait just another month, and then send an email. Make it polite (obviously!) but be professional. Remind them how long they’ve had it and say you’d appreciate either a decision or an indication how much longer they need. I would also mention that you'd be more than happy to discuss any points which might help them come to a decision, and make sure they have a daytime phone number if you're out at work. You could also offer to polish their shoes with your tongue… might help…

Good luck!

Dee

Miss Snark says 90 days for a full length novel. Good luck.
Naomi

Thanks guys. All good advice. I just wasn't sure if i should send a polite email or not, but if the fantastic Miss Snark recommends 3 months then i think i will go with that.

Seems SUCH a long time though.

Oh well, time to dig in my heels.

Thanks.

Dan

And don't forget you can send it out to other people too - I have no pride and no compunction about this (I'm exactly the same about my job and further study applications) - after all you don't have a contract that says you can't ...

A
xxx

Yeah, the sending out is another thing i have refrained from doing, though i probably shouldn't have.

i think i'll give it another fortnight, and if i haven't heard anything then i'll send out a few tasters.

i like your moral position hollyb -

Dan

I don't have a moral position, Dan, of any sort - I never have!!

)

A
xxx

Fingers crossed for you! If she didn't ask for an exclusive, you can send it out as much as you like, in principle, though you should mention to anyone else who expresses more than mild interest that it's with this agent. It's a small trade, and though you have to look after your own interests, it doesn't do to get a name for being really devious.

Emma

I see your point, Emma, but actually I'm lucky if they even remember my name, let alone what sort of reputation is supposed to be attached to it! I'd rather be remembered for deviousness than not at all ...

Mike Gayle once expressed a similar viewpoint at a presentation he was making a year or so back - I liked his attitude!

)

A
xxx

Thanks for the crossed fingers - I'm trying not to think about it too much - better if I just wait and get a pleasant surprise either way, (i figure at the very least there will be some sort of dialogue between the agency and myself so I WOULD be happy with just that - not as happy as i could be but...)

As for the sending to other agents - i decided to send a tentative email earlier today to another prospective one. Just a query - but I figured that it is in my best interest to keep stirring the cauldron - so to speak.

I'll keep you all updated - thanks for the support.

dan.

Dan
I hope I don't sound like some awful prophet of doom, but the first time an agent had my full ms I also thought that even if it was a 'no', then at least it would open a dialogue. It was a no, and she did say she'd be happy to look at the next thing, but that was all. I was a bit crushed about all this and I remember a conversation with Terry Edge on this site where he told me that these days agents just don't get involved if they are not going to take you on and sell your book. I have a friend who had a highly unusual experience with an agent who did lots of hand-holding and lunches and general communication and thought this was what happened if they broadly liked the book, but didn't think it was there yet.
Anyway, not sure why I'm telling you all this other than not wanting you to have too high expectations of this stage. I hope all this is irrelevant and you get taken on! And I really hope I don't sound like a wet blanket.

these days agents just don't get involved if they are not going to take you on and sell your book.

I think that's broadly true. How much handholding/work/talking over lunch they're prepared to do before they take you on does vary, but in the main, they only do it at all if they're assuming that they will be taking you on.

That said, they're human, and most of them know how much aspiring writers yearn for feedback, and some do sometimes break the rule. I wonder if one in the UK will ever take that a step further and set up a blog like Miss Snark.

Emma

Hi

I've had a full MS out with 2 agents, one in the US and one in the UK. The US agent has had it since last June, the UK one since September.

I followed up with the US agent at Christmas. He said he was snowed under but getting to it. I checked with the UK agent in March, and he said he liked what he had read so far (how much is that?) and would get back to me soon.

I comfort myself with the knowledge that having a full MS requested is a good sign, but I do have bad days. Any suggestions anyone? Would you wait? Push? Query others?

Thanks, Ikastes

Ikastes, as has been said, three months is a reasonable moment to ask, and they should get on with it after that. The UK agent might yet get back to you, but maybe you should give up on the US agent. You can either tell them you're withdrawing it, or simply send it out to other agents (in which case you ought, early on, to tell any interested new agent that it's technically still with SlowUS agent, so a formal withdrawal might be better). You could always try to prod the UK agent into more action by letting them know that you're sending it out elsewhere, but be prepared for a sigh of relief at the other end and the return of your MS. Some agents are hopeless at giving bad news, and don't do it. Some are just hopeless at organisation - it can be that they've lost the MS and don't want to admit it.

Emma