Writers with agents-advice please

[RidingRossPoldark]

Hello,

I signed with an agency and at the time the agent said they would be start on some MS suggested edits within 2-3 weeks. I enquired again pre-half term just to organise for time off in case I had a chunk of work but there was a delay to early June due to existing client edits for publishers (completely understandable). How long would you leave it before asking about it again? Don’t want to come across as pushy but I don’t want to edit till I’ve got the suggestions and also don’t want to leave it too late and lose touch with the book. Any advice much appreciated.

P.S not sure how often writers are in touch with their agents? I don’t tend to hear from mine (unless on Twitter) but then we are at the pre-edit stage and I am a novice so completely clueless!

Thank you!

If they gave you a timescale for early June I don't think there is any harm in sending a polite email just to check when they think they will be ready - couch it in terms of you trying to plan setting aside time rather than putting pressure on them.

My agent suggested edits at our very first meeting, but they were very broad (change the ending, less of this bit, bring out this aspect of plot) so did not require a fine detail edit at that stage, more a discussion of the broader picture. We have since been through a number of further edits - submitted to publishers and got a couple who were interested but felt needed more work, so more editing and now getting close to submitting again (I was ecstatic to get representation but it has subsequently been a long road and no guarantee of publication still! - agent still appears very positive about it though...)

Anyway, that was a slight digression. In terms of frequency of contact it varies - if she leaves me to do something we agree a timescale and don't tend to have contact in the interim unless I want to check something. When I have sent her each draft she has tended to give a timescale to get back to me, which seems to have worked. I have nudged her once or twice but not really needed to and she always responds pretty quickly to emails, We have also talked on phone quite a bit, not in a regular way but as and when needed.

Sorry, that was all a bit vague! I think they will be aware you are keen to get on with it and (esp if you have other commitments, work, kids etc) need to structure your time so no harm in a friendly email - it is not as if you are haranguing them on a daily basis!

Hi DontRock that’s really helpful. I suspected it would all be very drawn out like everything in publishing. I hardly ever email so think I might take your advice and send off a gentle enquiry. Thanks for all the insight into how it works, looks a long road ahead! 😁 all the best with your edits and submission....

Thanks. Every experience is different, so if yours is at line edit stage already your experience may be less arduous (mine is almost a different book to what I originally submitted, but very much improved!)