Got an agent, didn't get a publishing deal

[everythingcrossed]

Just that really - I thought that getting an agent was the hardest part but turns out I was wrong . I've seen a few people on other threads in a similar position, does anyone want to join this one for a bit of mutual moaning, consolation, support getting the next book done?

Thank you @jacqelinedaniels - I hope so. I’m on holiday this week, anyway, so trying to put the whole thing out of my head completely and I’ll have another look at things on Monday if I’ve made no progress.

Got a reply! She has been off sick for a little while which has obviously delayed replies. Feeling reassured now, thank you all for your support on this thread.

It’s a rollercoaster, isn’t it?

That is excellent news! 😁 Phew! You have also reminded me I should really check in with mine, but as I know doing that will mean she passes on the latest rejections and put me off my current enjoyable writing stride I’ve been putting it off …

That’s great news @cakerage - hope you can enjoy rest of your holiday now. It is so stressful not knowing, it becomes all-consuming!

Thank you, I’m definitely feeling a lot more relaxed now!

And I know what you mean about the writing stride. It’s so hard pouring your heart into a new project when the old one is taking a battering. I second guess everything now, even though none of my editorial feedback was bad.

Can I ask those of you who have an agent but whose first novel failed to find a publisher, how it went when your agent read your second MS? Mine was very enthusiastic about my first novel, disappointed and surprised it didn’t sell, and a year and a half on, has had my (very different) second MS for three weeks. She’s apologised for being slow, and is going to get back to me with a full response this week. I’ve been freaking out since I sent it. The first one not selling really knocked my confidence, especially given her belief in it.

Hi, sorry @Mushtullo can’t answer your specific question as I am still working on my second novel (hopefully not long to go!) after having what sounds like a similar experience to you with the first. Just wanted to ask to what extent your agent was involved in the process of writing the second one? My agent has pretty much ghosted me, however have been continuing regardless!

Hope you hear good news soon - must be nerve-wracking. Are the 2 novels in different styles/ genres?

@celestebellman

Hi, sorry *@Mushtullo* can’t answer your specific question as I am still working on my second novel (hopefully not long to go!) after having what sounds like a similar experience to you with the first. Just wanted to ask to what extent your agent was involved in the process of writing the second one? My agent has pretty much ghosted me, however have been continuing regardless!

Hope you hear good news soon - must be nerve-wracking. Are the 2 novels in different styles/ genres?

Thanks, @celestebellman. Agent has been supportive and offered to look at second MS, but I wanted to give her a full draft, as I revise a lot en route (so if I’d given her the first 30k, it would have just looked like an incoherent mess…) . And yes, both are literary fiction, but completely different types of novel as regards setting, period, narrative voice etc. Hence the nerves! I’m thinking through my options if she’s not enthusiastic… A novelist friend has just read it and thinks it’s publishable and good, but has some notes on problems she wants to give on the phone.

Good luck with yours.

I didn't get a deal for the book my agent signed, but I did for the next one. Hang in there!

It might help to reframe the situation in your mind: it is actually harder to get an agent than a publisher, if you're willing to sign with a small press. But you're aiming high, as you should be, and the payoff is worth it.

I've been in the exact same position as you @Mushtullo - happy to say I heard back today with a positive response from my agent. It has taken several weeks due to other factors, which is obviously plenty of time to imagine all kinds of outcomes, but I'm feeling reassured this evening! Hope you get some good news soon.

@Hotpinkparade

I've been in the exact same position as you *@Mushtullo* - happy to say I heard back today with a positive response from my agent. It has taken several weeks due to other factors, which is obviously plenty of time to imagine all kinds of outcomes, but I'm feeling reassured this evening! Hope you get some good news soon.

Oh, that’s great, @Hotpinkparade — it’s really encouraging to hear of someone getting a good response. Can I ask whether your second novel was very different to the one your agent signed you on?

And best wishes for sending it out. Do you have more revisions to do?

I'm sorry you're all here but pleased to have some company. Possibly an even more depressing story.

Four traditionally published novels and then, after a long break, finally wrote another. My longtime agent loved it, sent it out with her co-agent in another country, who also loved it, resoundingly rejected everywhere. Too similar to something else, humour is subjective, not fitting neatly into a genre, too clever for the closest genre, too literary, not literary enough, main character not 'nice' enough.

Generally speaking I'm my own harshest critic, but I honestly really like this book and keep thinking it should have another shot. I spent a long time banging my head against the wall and have now re-written significantly. I know it's not going to work to have the same agents re-submit, but I'm not sure what to do. I'm halfway tempted to start fresh with a new agent (assuming I can find one).

@Mushtullo I would say it's similar in style and probably fits in to the same bracket in terms of marketing etc, although the subject matter is different. So, yes and no? My agent has suggested one more round of revisions and then she'll send it out this autumn, which is the result I wanted, so I'm really pleased :)

Oh. Really interesting.....and hideously depressing thread. I feel like this is definitely something people don't talk about.

I've had two books published, but SIX others have been rejected by my agent. And, yes, I'd written them fully. I feel like it has meant I don't really have a gauge for quality anymore, or the confidence to really write properly (although obviously I'm about to start another).

Yeah, finding it really hard at the moment.

Going to go back and read all your posts again....

Oh, bella, that's really demoralising for you. I suppose there's no harm in sending it to other agents and entering it in a few competitions to see if it grabs anyone else - but it might make you feel that you're right in the foothills or publishing again.

Curious - I never fail to be impressed by the resilience of writers who get back in the saddle after those sorts of knockbacks. Does your agent just outright say no or does she want you to rework them in ways that you don't feel are right?

@everythingcrossed

Oh, bella, that's really demoralising for you. I suppose there's no harm in sending it to other agents and entering it in a few competitions to see if it grabs anyone else - but it might make you feel that you're right in the foothills or publishing again.

Curious - I never fail to be impressed by the resilience of writers who get back in the saddle after those sorts of knockbacks. Does your agent just outright say no or does she want you to rework them in ways that you don't feel are right?

So I guess it's a combination of things. I am with a big name agent and am very much small fry. Several of her other authors have had million pound+ advances in the past year, whereas my last was £25,000. On that basis I just never feel that she wants to spend much time on me- however lovely she is. Also, I am prepared to admit I'm quite fast. By the time she's back with her negative review of one thing, I've moved on to another so I guess I never appear that devastated- which I'm not. It's just an overall seeping feeling of crapness.

Yes, if she says no to my next thing (which I will absolutely pitch before writing this time) I will sit down with her and go through my books in more detail. She's always said nice things about the style- it's always been marketability as the reason for her rejections. I suspect she really only wants to bother with books that have the potential to be massive.

@Curioushorse oh I feel your pain. My last couple of books did not do well enough for my publisher to want more. My agent does not like the latest thing I have written. I am trying a rewrite but it is very hard going and I feel really ground down. Such a tough industry and I am not sure it is for me any longer!

I was on the thread earlier but have NC. My agent has had my second MS (first one didn’t sell) for almost five weeks, admittedly including her annual leave, but still hasn’t got back to me with a full response. She has just mailed me to say she wants to include it in ‘the rights guide’ and has given it to a colleague who deals with overseas rights for her response. I’ve mailed her back for clarification, but am genuinely confused.

Does anyone have thoughts?

Could she mean the rights guide for Frankfurt Book Fair? I think it is happening virtually this year, though I may be wrong...

Nope I am wrong, it will be a "hybrid" event apparently.

@SeriouslyISuppose

I was on the thread earlier but have NC. My agent has had my second MS (first one didn’t sell) for almost five weeks, admittedly including her annual leave, but still hasn’t got back to me with a full response. She has just mailed me to say she wants to include it in ‘the rights guide’ and has given it to a colleague who deals with overseas rights for her response. I’ve mailed her back for clarification, but am genuinely confused.

Does anyone have thoughts?

My agent wanted to do this (I had to send a photo for my bio - very exciting). From what I could tell, it was to see if they could sell the MS to a foreign language publisher and get a bit of a buzz going. It sounds as if your agent still considers you a worthwhile client but the wait must be infuriating .

Thanks, @krystalweedon and @everythingcrossed — I did wonder about Frankfurt, it just seemed a bit mad when she hasn’t actually finished the MS or said anything about whether she thinks it’s viable!

In my case, the foreign rights person had read it and wanted to include it, iirc - it could well be that your agent (especially if she is quite senior) has delegated your book to someone else to get a first reaction before she settles down with it.

No, mine is young and hungry! And has said she’s just passed it on to her colleague, who is apparently going to join us on a Zoom call next week.

I don't think they'd be Zooming if they were going to tell you they thought it was a non-runner. Leaving you hanging five weeks was a bit crass but it seems they are genuinely interested. That's great news - please cheer us all up with an update.