What if an agent doesn't like the revision I'm working on especially for her?

This is part of the "Tell GK your worries" series. Every day this week, I'll respond to one of them. Post your worries here.

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I'm worried that the agent who loved my work and phoned me to request an R&R will not like the revision I'm working on especially for her. Even though she is so enthusiastic and we really hit it off, I'm scared I'm imagining the vibes I got from her and she won't want to take me on as a client :(

You're in a better place than most writers for a number of reasons:

1. An agent loves your work--and enough to call. This means even more than an "I love this" via email--and it means other agents are likely to feel similarly. It probably means that your writing is great, but you made some choices in the storytelling that could (in her mind) be stronger. This is far easier to work with than someone with a fabulous premise who does not write well.
2. You got good vibes. It's hard to fake vibes over the phone.
3. She already started making changes--which makes it more likely she'll ask for more changes, rather than just say no, if she doesn't like this version. It's like people who walk into a house they're considering buying and say, "Oh, honey! Our sectional couch would look great in that corner!" "Yes, sweetie, and wouldn't this room look great in a pale marmalade?" "Why yes! It would go with my porcelain pigs collection! We could put a shelf there..."
4. If she does say no, she'll likely be helpful about it.
5. If this work doesn't get picked up, she's very likely to want to see the next. 

AND the very best reason: assuming you like the revision, and this is the version you'll use from now on, Now you can go to other agents and tell them an agent liked this enough to give you edits.

This will put you head and shoulders above other submissions.

How do I know? Because it worked with me just this week. 

Here's a post about how to do that. 

Also, you should note that some agents do not take on works until they are already, in their minds, perfect. Some do this in order to prepare the work to share with their colleagues; some just want to make sure that the work can get there before signing their clients. 

This means that, even if she doesn't sign you after this round, but asks for more edits--that doesn't mean she's not interested, it just means that she needs more from you first.

Now, I should mention that, if you get notes from an agent, try them (you should at least give them a good faith effort) and still don't like them, it's perfectly acceptable to try to figure out what that agent wanted (see post below this one) and find another solution for getting there. 

It sounds like you weren't 100 percent happy with the changes--or would never have made them yourself, were it not for her suggestions. If that's the case, it's possible that you two aren't the perfect fit--or you should have a longer talk about how you see the work.

If you're really uncomfortable with the changes, and don't think they helped your work (and perhaps made it worse), it may be wise to do what a number of the Iron Chefs do, when they know the secret ingredient (prescribed by someone other than themselves--goose fat! Castor oil! Chocolate-covered raisins!) just isn't working: admit it. And suggest an alternative.

How to write a "this isn't working but here's an alternative" note? GK will tackle this in a future post.