Agent advice - anyone with an agent please?

[Marshmarigoldssss]

I have an agent.

I'm not published - I signed with the agent last year, and have been working on edits since then. I sent new edit earlier this year, and agent got back to me pretty quickly to say when they would get back to me. So far so good. However, the issue is that since then, there has been no communication. Deadline for getting back to me passed (over 3 months ago), and eventually I emailed to query when I might hear. No reply to this email, and I sent this over 5 weeks ago.

What now? Is this usual? Of course, agent is probably overworked, yes, I understand, but I am feeling really insecure about it all, and also a little ignored.

Oh god, this happened to me. In my case they'd kind of given up and didn't want to say, but there could be a load of reasons, including illness.

Two questions - are they part of a larger agency, and have you signed a contract with them at all?

Onsen, thanks for replying.

Yes, I have a contract, and they are part of a big, reputable agency. Was that the case for you? What happened in the end?

Ah, that's a much better situation then - the answer was that I got another agent in the end, but had to write a quite stern email to get the first one to respond and release me.

It might be worth ringing up and just leaving a message to say, hope everything is OK, just wanted to check you got my last email. Then if there is some other issues, the receptionist/assistant will tell you.

Hope it works out OK.

Thank you. Glad it worked out in the end for you and you found another agent. Honestly, I thought finding an agent would mean I would stop feeling so insecure, but it hasn't so far.

Yes, I think I need to pick up the phone and find out if there is something going on.

Good luck with it. I don't know what would make the insecurity go, short of turning into JK Rowling.

I've had a book published last year, but now I am working on the second with no guarantee it will get published and if anything the angst is worse, because people are 'expecting' me to carry on.

Yes, I suspected the insecurity will never go away...

Well done on being published! This still seems a distant dream, but as you say, then there's the next one after that...I guess we love it which is why we do it; or maybe we just have to!

I don't know what else to do with myself, and that's part of the angst too!

Hi, not had the same experience but similar I guess (I started another thread about it a while ago!)
I signed with an agent a couple of years ago, also an established agency. We did lots of edits on my novel and she was really helpful throughout, always getting back in a timely manner/ when she said she would etc. Submitted initially about 9 months later and got lots of rejections with a couple of revise and resubmits. Spent another 6 months redrafting, submitted exclusively to the editor most interested, who rejected it. A bit more editing then submission to some more smaller presses and two of the larger ones who had also expressed interest initially. The big editor who was interested ultimately turned it down after looking initially like she might go for it. A couple of other rejections all around the same time before Xmas. Then nothing. Last communication from agent in December that she would continue to push the second novel (god knows when that will be finished) but then nothing. I emailed her earlier in the year to let her know I didn’t get anywhere in a competition we both agreed I should enter but heard nothing (making me wonder if not winning the competition was the final nail in the coffin...) and heard nothing since (so no idea what happened with some of the last submissions though presuming nothing interesting!

I can empathise with you that having an agent has ultimately not made me any less insecure - if anything the multiple rejection at a stage when should be getting somewhere is even worse!! I haven’t officially been let go but perhaps they have just lost interest or sitting back and waiting for me to write something else....

It is soul destroying! I think in your position where you have a concrete reason to contact I would email again (I’m too avoidant to phone in first instance!) be quite assertive and make it clear you’d like to get moving on any further edits, if no response yes probably need to phone...

Good luck - being published still seems a distant dream to me too, well done onsen on managing it!

Thanks Hamster. I think I remember reading your thread about this a while ago.

Are you still in limbo then? It must have been really tough to get so close to publication, and then for it all to go quiet - heartbreaking. And I guess it would be helpful for you to know whether she's stopped submitting or not - could you phone her for his info?

I know a few writers who have agents who haven't been published - yet - and are on their second or third novel with them. I accept that this happens. But what I find really hard is the lack of communication - I seem to be constantly refreshing my email for news that never comes.

Anyway this thread has been really helpful - it has made me feel less alone, for a start. I think I will give it bit longer and I will summon up all the confidence I can and I will phone my agent - how hard can it be to do that?! (I make difficult phone calls in my other work life all the time...!)

Just about to send you a PM.

Ha ha, yes I must sound like a stuck record on here with my tale of lack of publisher woe!

I don’t think she is still submitting currently, the last round of submissions was mainly to small presses and a couple of the bigger ones who either she’d missed before or had been interested. Heard back from all but one of the latter and has been radio silence from the rest (though I guess agents don’t get that excited about small presses as they don’t pay as much). I have considered contacting her again but to be honest not sure what I’d say, also don’t really have my ‘second novel’ as yet in a state I want to show it to her so might wait till then!

Interesting you know a couple of people in similar positions - I don’t know anyone in this position so it’s comforting to know I’m not alone!!

She will tell you if she's submitting.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with writing a quick note to say, "Just checking in to say I'm still working on book 2. I'd love an update if you have any feedback from publishers."

Then get cracking on book 2!

Hi Hollow that’s a good idea and good way of phrasing - thanks, I might do.

Hi joy, yes possibly, the thing is when we were working on the first novel it did feel like a close and nurturing relationship, we talked and emailed frequently and I felt like she really got my work... however I wonder how common it is for agents to just lose interest when they don’t manage to get a deal ? Also, when the first one has not sold do they just leave you to get on with the second one initially?

I guess part of my reluctance to make contact is having this confirmed!!

Hi again joy I just realised you may be replying to the op, rather than what I just posted. Apologies to op if it appears I’m hijacking the thread.
Joy even if your advice was not to my post at the end it was applicable!!

Hamster, no worries about a thread hijack. It's been useful to hear about your experience. Hollow's email suggestion sounds a good idea.

Thanks Marshmarigold, it is helpful to hear of others’ experiences. Maybe we both need to take the bull by the horns and make contact - good luck!

I think it's very unusual to speak to your agent several times a week. I know a very, very well known writer (no 1 in NY Times sort of thing) and her agent calls her most days, but virtually everyone else I know will have contact with their agent as and when needed, eg when an offer's been made for foreign rights, or when discussing a new idea, or ideas for edits. If an agent called everyone on her list every day she wouldn't have the time to do any work. At the same time for an agent to never be in touch, that's a real red flag. You are really not being unreasonable to write her a note now.

Ok, thanks for the encouragement Hollow, I have sent an email as you suggested. I realised in the last week or so how much the uncertainty has been getting to me - at least if it turns out agent is now not interested I can crack on with what I want to do without that worry!
Honestly, feels like being a teenager and having to contact a boy who has ghosted you for confirmation you are dumped!
Now I’ve sent it I think I will avoid my inbox for a little while......
Marshmarigolds, good luck hope you get some answers soon!

Hi all, Marshmarigold hope you have managed to get some answers by now!

I emailed my agent, at Hollows suggestion (and diplomatic wording!) and she has now responded to confirm that she’s not able to keep pushing the current novel (fair enough she did try v hard) and glad to hear I am getting on with the next. So, I guess at least she does still exist....can’t really do much now except get on and write the next one!

Marshmallow, hope things worked out ok for you.