This is a two-parter. So, first:
If you receive an offer of representation from multiple agents, is it wise to tell the "losing" agents why they, well, lost?
I'd take a two-pronged approach.
First, sort your reason into the following categories (if you have other reasons, let me know in the comments section and I'll sort them for you):
Category 1
- Editorial vision--that is, the other agent had a vision closer to what you were thinking.
- You just had a feeling when you heard from the "winning" agent and/or there was a feeling of fate (weird coincidences/things in common). Hey, it happens.
Category 2
- The losing agent's sales record/years of experience.
- The losing agent's contacts/experience in your genre--perhaps he/she said that this was a new area for him/her, so all of the editors who'd receive your work had never heard from this agent before.
- That agent's other clients--perhaps the "winning" agent has a great big list of bestsellers.
Category 3
- You don't like them. Maybe they sound neurotic on the phone, talk too fast for you to hear, or seem untrustworthy.
- You're worried that agent won't make time for you. You seem to be a low priority.
- The agent just seems mean. You're afraid he/she will yell if you say the wrong thing.
- You were otherwise offended by said agent.
- You think the agent is too old/young/unpleasant/poorly read/evil.
Got it? Mmm-kay. So.
If your reasons are closest to category one, go ahead and offer them when you tell the agent why. If your responses are in category two, wait for that agent to ask for a reason. If they don't, don't bring it up. If it's category three, fudge the details. Yes, really.
There simply is no point in having that discussion (especially since you won't be working with him/her and there's really nothing he/she can say to change your mind) so, if they ask, say something general like, "It just didn't feel right."
Also, just so that you don't put the agent in an awkward position, it's generally best to deliver this bad news via (thoughtful) e-mail.
*
Now. How do you let other agents know you have an offer? Well. You should e-mail everyone who received a query and/or manuscript who has not yet sent a rejection. It may spark interest in those who did not request a partial/manuscript/proposal.
I think this formula works well:
Subject line: An offer of representation for [name of your work]
Email body:
Dear [Agent name],
Just a quick note to let you know that I've received an offer of representation for [name of work].
I'd love to hear from you by [date that is one week from the date of this e-mail]. [If they don't already have your manuscript/proposal, say something like, "My proposal/manuscript is attached."]
I look forward to hearing from you. [Or other niceties.]
All best wishes,
[You]
16 comments:
What a useful form letter. I'll have to steel it:)
Thanks for the advice. May we all be lucky enough to have this problem!
Literally perfect timing on this post. I'm faced with this exact problem at the moment, and I spent the whole day scouring the internet for The Best Way to Reject Agents. I came up with nada... Until now, that is!
Now I just have to make a decision. Le sigh.
Good to know! I'm hoping to one day need this advice. I'll tuck it away in my brain! :)
If you do a lot of research (as you should) then hopefully Cat.3 will not ever be an issue.
Of course, that makes the decision even more difficult.
Love the 'offer of rep' letter! Simple and straight to the point.
Funny, I just experienced this last week. I received 8 offers during the course of the crazy week, and that was great, but I am most proud of the way I handled myself. I immediately sent out that "OFFER" email to all agents who had fulls, and informed them I was making a decision in one week. I then emailed those who had partials and queries/submissions and asked if they wanted the full. Like 10 said "yes, send it now!" From one offer to eight, I had a decision to make a week later, so I needed one entire day to sort things out. I took that day and emailed the 7 agents I wasn't signing with and listed the reasons why I was signing with the "nameless, winning" agent. I included her experience, the way we "clicked" when we talked, our vision being similar, and her track record.
I understand why you might say to hold back on "this" or "that," but I disagree. I just felt, and feel, a professionally honest, yet not disparaging, explanation is warranted in such a scenario. In fact, I believe it is pretty darn hypocritical not to supply the reasons, since many authors hate when they get form rejections with no explanation. Do unto others. Be the bigger person. Those types of things.
Cheers!
Good work, Michael!
But I disagree. Just as it's not always constructive to tell a writer every bit of feedback available (category 1: a fixable plot point isn't working, category 2: the characters are unlikable and there doesn't seem to be an easy fix, category 3: the writing is terrible), it's not always nice to tell an agent, "Yeah, I would have gone with you...but you seem like an evil, manipulative, fast-talking, inexperienced, out-of-touch agent." Or something like that.
In case any of you are worrying, just because I do not always give feedback does not mean that I think there's something category 3 at work--there are many, many other reasons why I sometimes do not give feedback. This is just the one reason that applies to Michael's comment.
Thanks so much for this (another!) wonderful, spot-on, informative post.
A lot of the anxiety we writers feel during the query process can be alleviated with such clear-cut rules of etiquette.
I've learned so much about the do's, don't's, and how-to's of the query journey as a reader of your blog.
The "evil" part cracked me up. : )
Thank you for answering the bloggers question GK, it is great information to have.
I had not considered Michael's perspective before (congratulations btw). In fairness to both of your arguments, rejecting a few agents on one ms is far different than rejecting dozens daily, and professional criticism on a novel is not the same as personal criticism (though I understand that, unfortunately, many people make that mistake). I must admit, I for one would rather hear that my writing is terrible in a professional manner than nothing at all, but time constraints being what they are it is not always possible so we should expect nothing and hope for something.
Excellent post! Thank you!
I've got a follow-up question to this post: What's the best way to handle the, "WHO offered representation?" inquiry.
Also, I've got to say that I agree with not giving "unchosen" agents your reasons.
Writers are looking for CONSTRUCTIVE criticism in rejection letters. I can't imagine what specifics an author could tell an agent that could be considered helpful.
Yes, JB Lynn. Exactly. A lot of those reasons seem very personal. They're only a few poorly-chosen words/phrases away from something rather mean.
AG,
I understand your points, but I think writers need to have a thick skin...and so do agents.
My point: if an agent would tell me any or all of those 3 (category) types of reasons you listed as the reason she was rejecting me, even so harsh as the "writing is terrible," I would realize she is simply ONE agent and remember that reading/interest is subjective. I've never had the comment thrown my way, but let's just play devil's advo. here for a moment. Say rejecting agent A makes that comment to me. I might feel the stinging sensation at first, and then turn around and have many other agents tell me the exact opposite. Or, say 8? Now, to whom do I listen? What should put into focus? Shall I dwell on the ONE agent who hates my writing, disregarding the fact that she may not be the best agent to begin with (perhaps few sales, weak contacts, little "real" experience in the industry), or should I turn to the many other agents who praise my writing? I'd say the latter.
Now, let's turn this around and put the agent in the hot seat. Said agent has been rejected in favor of another agent and has been told something like "I chose someone else because you don't seem to know the business." That agent feels that sting, yes. But should she dwell on that ONE writer, or perhaps focus on the many clients who say the exact opposite? Again, I'd say the latter. I'd hate to be repped by an agent who dwells like that.
Just my thoughts, and as such, are personal to me. Subjectivity, right?
Cheers!
Perhaps, Michael. But not everyone has the same desire for the same amount of feedback. Some authors would like me (in an ideal world, in which I have limitless time) to tell them every single thing I found wrong with their manuscript (and perhaps that I think they should stop writing now and never write again); they'd bounce back and amuse themselves with the story later; some would, in fact, stop writing--and perhaps never create the next novel, which would have worked and gone on to be very successful. We just don't know. I don't think it's my place to make those determinations--and I don't see how such feedback is helpful, anyway.
Even in your "best case" scenario, the information is disregarded--so I see no need to impart it in the first place.
True, why impart the reasons. Unless it's asked for by the rejected agent(s), but I have to admit I didn't have even one of the seven I rejected ask me for the specific reasons. I did, however, have a lot of them asking who I signed with. One particular agent was very friendly and we made a guessing game out of it before I told her. I dealt with great agents overall. Very happy to say every single one was great to talk to.
Back to the topic. You make good points all around. Understandable reasoning applied to a realistic scenario. By the way, your blog really helped me during my search. A lot of insight I wouldn't have had otherwise. Much thanks sent your way and keep on bloggin'.
Cheers!
Great idea to attach the manuscript and give a one-week deadline. Interested? Here's all you need to get right on top of it (assuming you're not on vacay). Not interested? Feel free to delete.
Awesome form.
Here's a sample agent-rejecting letter if it's helpful:
Dear Loser Agent,
If you had been the only agent to ultimately offer rep I would have accepted. I guess the early bird doesn't always get the worm after all, huh? Life is so unfair.
Thanks for being the first, though; you got me five (5) other offers and 1 (one) almost-offer from Most Prestigious Agency Ever.
A few points to save you this kind of agony in the future.
One (1): When requesting partials, try to say something more positive than "I will review your material within 4-6 (four to 6) weeks and get back to you then." The winning agent said, "I love chapter one (1)" and gave reasons that proved she (or he) read it.
2 (two): When requesting a full, the winning agent (I'll never tell who she (or he) is! NEVER! So don't bother asking, k?) again complimented the partial, but not too much that I thought she (or he) was just buttering me up on the off chance she (or he) might like my work.
Three (III): Winning agent had winning phone personality. You sounded kind of. . .well, let's just say I wondered how much time you spent at Ruffians Bar and Grill the night prior, mmmkay? (And by "Bar and Grill" I mean just "Bar").
For (Fore (Four (4 (IV)))): Thank you for your interest. I'm afraid you're just not the right agent for me at this time. Thank you again.
:)
P. S.: Boo-ya!!!!!!!
thank you for this post- it really simplified things for me. No more um-ing and ahh-ing
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