tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004461851315310562.post1647391631056029598..comments2023-08-28T15:15:35.995-04:00Comments on Murphblog: Granting an ExclusivePaul Michael Murphyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17318098111985714443noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004461851315310562.post-77964712751281727012009-08-03T22:13:53.045-04:002009-08-03T22:13:53.045-04:00Class, note how Chris started his response. This a...Class, note how Chris started his response. This approach is highly recommended. A+, Chris.Paul Michael Murphyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17318098111985714443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004461851315310562.post-64246284703037457562009-08-03T21:28:33.875-04:002009-08-03T21:28:33.875-04:00Tracy, You're smart not to go toe to toe with ...Tracy, You're smart not to go toe to toe with a pregnant woman. You'd get hit in the stomach with a big, fat baby.Debra Lynn Sheltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08238268767406623274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004461851315310562.post-5095788292679400652009-08-03T16:06:28.486-04:002009-08-03T16:06:28.486-04:00Awesome post! I think every writer needs to read ...Awesome post! I think every writer needs to read this. Had I not granted my agent an exclusive twice on two separate manuscripts, I would not have a book contract right now. I know this to be true, without his help my book would not have sold.<br /><br />I looked at it the same way you did: this agent saw potential in my manuscript and wanted to help me make it better. Getting published is really hard. So why not take some time and give it a shot? Worst case scenario, as you said, is that I end up with a better manuscript in my hands and a little lost time.chrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004461851315310562.post-7509476509207400612009-08-03T15:30:53.237-04:002009-08-03T15:30:53.237-04:00I agree with most of what you said... and yes, we ...I agree with most of what you said... and yes, we can disagree and still be electronic friends. I mean, you are pregnant, and I'm not about to make enemies with a preggy. ;-) <br /><br />Next time I send out my ms, I'm spit-shining the screen before hitting send.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05514067724256745623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004461851315310562.post-67934517773750267322009-08-03T15:28:54.217-04:002009-08-03T15:28:54.217-04:00I think exclusives are cool if a well-respected ag...I think exclusives are cool if a well-respected agent is working on revisions with you, but not otherwise. Also, if a writer is kinda lazy, a request for an exclusive is a fab excuse for taking a break.Anitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06333494452915600562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004461851315310562.post-16538639580813371992009-08-03T14:45:07.995-04:002009-08-03T14:45:07.995-04:00Tracy, darling, I said, "if you feel you'...Tracy, darling, I said, "if you feel you're ms is spit-shined and polished and you're receiving good replies, than an exclusive can only slow you down." Meaning, if you're receiving requests for partials and fulls, don't accept an exclusive request. Murph said he hadn't gotten any nibbles, so he clearly had nothing to lose. Plus, he felt his novel still needed work and this would be a way of getting good, free, professional editing help. A friend of mine got asked for an exclusive, and she gave it for two weeks. Nearly three months later she finally heard back and they passed. Thankfully, after the two weeks was up, she kept sending out queries. Otherwise, she would have been bogged down for several months.<br /><br />Of course, I also said every situation is different. If the agent requesting an exclusive is one of your faves, then you may want to consider it. <br /><br />I hope you'll still love me in the morning...Debra Lynn Sheltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08238268767406623274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004461851315310562.post-52458597971493111662009-08-03T12:53:09.484-04:002009-08-03T12:53:09.484-04:00I agree w/ Amy (surprise, surprise..she is my crit...I agree w/ Amy (surprise, surprise..she is my critique group buddy).<br /><br />Sometimes it makes sense but other times it does not.<br /><br />When I queried, I recv'd an exclusive request and granted it. I didn't hear back, didn't hear back, had to remind, remind again - then hound that agent for a response because I had three other full requests pending that exclusive.<br /><br />I finally sent that agent a note stating the exclusive was off, sent the ms to the waiting agents and ended up signing w/ one of them.<br /><br />Over a month later I recvd an 'oops, sorry...are you still interested?' e mail from that original agent. Was I interested? Um, I don't think so. I had already signed a contract and worked through an initial round of edits.<br /><br />On this point, we can disagree: my time is just as valuable as my agents time. we are on equal ground and business partners. I wouldn't want an agent who feels they are above me and I would never put myself above my agent.<br /><br />that's my two cents.Tesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10014195715998913268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004461851315310562.post-17470871760597968292009-08-03T11:52:13.818-04:002009-08-03T11:52:13.818-04:00My last comment:
Writers should be "writing...My last comment: <br /><br />Writers should be "writing" not "waiting."Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05514067724256745623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004461851315310562.post-57882764131382982152009-08-03T11:49:54.520-04:002009-08-03T11:49:54.520-04:00Come on, Debra! What's waiting a few months in...Come on, Debra! What's waiting a few months in the publishing business? Slow you down? What else would an unpublished writer have going on besides family, work, and writing? Book signing? Revisions from editor? Don't think so. <br /><br />What if this Agent turned out to be a champion for your manuscript and you turned down his/her request for a full? You would deny this possibility for a few months of waiting? <br /> <br />If your ms is already out with Agents, I understand passing on an exclusive request or explaining that it's not possible. Otherwise, I don't get it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05514067724256745623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004461851315310562.post-49922235278453017142009-08-03T11:23:50.374-04:002009-08-03T11:23:50.374-04:00This time, I agree with you! (Do I get extra poin...This time, I agree with you! (Do I get extra points? Are there points?)<br /><br />I think exclusives at the level you describe with Secret Asian Man make complete sense. Exclusives at the query level...not so much. <br /><br />At a conference I went to, the esteemed Patti Gauch said if she were submitting today, she would ignore the 'exclusive' rules a lot of houses impose on unsolicited subs. She said it's a waste of the author's time to sit around waiting on a response for 4-6 weeks (these days, more like 4-6 months).<br /><br />If it's good enough for Patti, it's good enough for me.Amy Allgeyer Cookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02918884239971760853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004461851315310562.post-71793304727738512542009-08-03T11:06:42.472-04:002009-08-03T11:06:42.472-04:00Point well made. Every situation is different. How...Point well made. Every situation is different. However, if you feel you're ms is spit-shined and polished and you're receiving good replies, than an exclusive can only slow you down. Most agents agree exclusives are bad for writers, even though they're good for agents. That, in itself, speaks volumes.Debra Lynn Sheltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08238268767406623274noreply@blogger.com