Hi, just wondered about people’s experience of literary agents. I signed with an agent 2 years ago for my first novel. It needed quite a bit of redrafting and after 10 months or so she submitted to around 20 publishers. That resulted in a lot of (mainly complimentary) rejections, a near miss and ultimately 3 editors who were interested but felt it needed more work and gave some notes to that effect. Further round of redrafts ensued, it went to the editir who was most interested last summer and she rejected it! Another round of submissions happened then, mainly to smaller presses and one editor from a large publisher who, before Christmas was considering taking it to acquisitions in the new year but ultimately decided it was a bit ‘quiet’ and she was not sure how to get it through sales and marketing. So another very complimentary rejection with an expressed wish to see my next novel (not as yet written, but I had given a vague plan to my agent and she had started plugging this enthusiastically).
This happened just before Christmas and agent was encouraging, saying should take these responses as complimentary let’s look forwards. Also that she would continue to push the next (non existent at that point) novel. In the meantime I entered the first one in a competition (which we agreed) but it didn’t get anywhere. I emailed in late January to let her know this, but since then have heard nothing!
I’m a bit confused and wondering if I’ve been dumped, though I am still under contract. I also appreciate nothing much is going on with my stuff and no news is basically no news. Also that she has a load of other authors to concentrate on, who are actually making her some money.
I am getting on with the next novel - I’ve got this far and not giving up now, but feeling a bit paranoid about the lack of contact. Also, we worked really closely on the first novel, she was really supportive and I felt she got it - it was a lot better at end of the process than when I first submitted. I’d like to think that if it had got to the point she felt there was no point in her continuing to represent me she could just let me know - after all, I know when it comes down to it it’s a commercial enterprise and she probably can’t keep essentially working for free.
Just wondering about others’ experiences? I could contact her but don’t want to sound needy, I presume she has no further news (and also don’t want to preempt a rejection I suppose).
Sorry for the essay - thanks for reading if you got this far!!