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Q: A year ago, a New York agent (AAR) accepted my manuscript (contemporary fiction for women) for representation, submitted it to four or five publishers, and now seems reluctant to follow up with them. Isn’t 12 months rather long for an agented manuscript to languish on an editor’s desk? I signed a 1-year contract with this agent which is coming up for renewal and right now I’m thinking of seeking representation elsewhere. But being a new author I don’t want to lose the agent I have only to find that I can’t secure another one. Help! -Maggie

A: You are right, 12 months is a little long for you to wait for some conclusive answer about your manuscript. University presses sometimes get backlogged and take that long or longer to respond, but with an agent you should not be waiting that long.

With the contract coming to a close, you can use that deadline to press your agent for an answer about whether he or she thinks they can sell it, and what they’re hearing from the editors they’ve submitted to. You say you’re worried about losing your current agent only to find you can’t secure another one, which is a valid concern. But keep in mind if the agent you’ve got can’t sell your manuscript, are you any better off than you would be if you had no agent at all? If your agent is working at a large agency, it may be a situation in which lots of manuscripts are being juggled at once. Pursuing an agent who works for a newer or smaller agency could work in your favor, in that they can be hungrier for a sale and more aggressive for you.

I interviewed Tracy Chevalier (Girl With a Pearl Earring) for this edition of Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market, and her advice was this: “Call literary agencies and ask the receptionist if there are any agents just starting out—they are far more likely to be actively seeking clients than established agents, will answer you more quickly, and may well work harder for you.” And I would add, take heart that your manuscript has already passed one hurdle.

Anne Bowling
Editor of 2001-2005 Novel & Short Story Writer's Markets
Writer's Digest Books