(This question is part of a larger subseries called Perpetual WIPs: Agented Writers. For the remaining questions, see here.)
At what point in a WIP do you approach your agent about it? How much did you discuss your other work on “the call”?
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We discussed the next thing I was working on and I sent her the first 50 of that, even though the draft isn’t complete. I did get some other eyes on that first 50 before I sent it though (with the synopsis). I won’t send the finished draft until I’ve done a double run-through and had at least two CPs’ eyes on it and done those changes. Just my personal preference.
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My agent and I talked a lot about other work on The Call. She helped me prioritize what to work on next, both in terms of our levels of excitement and in terms of marketability. Initially I didn’t plan to send any new projects her way until they were completed, at least in terms of a full draft, but she wanted to see the first half of my new project so I sent it along!
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I told her about the two other projects I was working on during the call, but she wasn’t terribly interested in either of them. I’ve since shelved both of those projects, written two completely different stories, which were a better fit for her and the market. When I initially shelved those projects I felt a little…unhappy…about it, but have since realized that my agent has a much better grasp on the market and it was a good decision.
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With my WIP, I told her about the idea during the call, and she was cool with it. She stressed that she was representing me for my career so she was very much interested in what else I was working on. After I wrote and polished up the first three chapters, I sent them to her for approval before continuing. I wanted to be sure I was on the right track.
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On all three of my offers, I discussed my other WIP. This was an EXTREMELY important point to me. I wanted an agent for my career, not just my first book. I knew I wasn’t only going to write horror and, not only that, I am also an illustrator and needed to be sure the agent knew how to represent that as well.
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I write it first. Unless I’m stuck, we may brainstorm.
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I briefly mentioned my WIP during the call, but my agent was more interested in knowing if I had sequels planned for the book she offered on (and after I signed with her I sent a proposed synopsis for the next two books in the series). For my WIP I sent her a pitch (pretty much identical to the “meat” of a query) to make sure she liked the idea.
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We didn’t talk about it on the call at all; the only thing she asked about was whether I planned to write a sequel to the book she was offering on, which I wasn’t. I didn’t mention my next WIP until I’d finished the first draft, but I won’t sent it until it’s been through a few rounds with CPs.
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I haven’t gotten to that point with a new WIP yet. On the Call, we talked about it very briefly. She said she loved my writing and would like to rep anything else I wrote, but we didn’t go into specifics about ideas or anything.
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During “the call,” one of my questions was asking if she would represent all of my work. (She said yes.) Then two and a half months after being on sub, I asked my agent when she’d consider looking at another completed ms. She said to send it, however I’ve been waiting three months for her to get back to me. She said present mss take precedence over future ones.
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On the call, I told my agent that I had some ideas, but I didn’t say what they were…because I didn’t really know. We haven’t gotten that far yet, but I suspect I will approach her with a new idea when I have one fully fleshed out and something written (synopsis, pitch, etc). Why mention ideas that I’m not 100% sure about yet?
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The Daily Dahlia 