Belated Update - Offer #2

My intention of starting this blog was to do a real-time, blow-by-blow narrative of my path to publication, but I'm failing rather miserably. The good news is, I'm failing because things are moving fast, at least as far as finding an agent is concerned.

So in my last post I mentioned that I received an offer of representation on 6/19 (via email). On 6/21 I sent out 32 emails letting other agents (who I had queried already) know that I have received an offer. Almost immediately I started getting responses. It's funny ... agents tend to move at a snail's pace and most of the time you don't hear anything back from them at all. EVER. Until you get an offer. Then they put their foot on the gas and respond lickity split! Knowing that someone else wants you makes them think they might want you, too. It's all very much like some twisted high school relationship drama: you suddenly become more attractive to others when someone new finds you attractive.


So, back to the emails...

• The first response I got was from an agent saying that she liked my book but had a few issues that would need to be addressed before she could offer representation. Her suggestions weren't without merit, and I'm definitely considering making some revisions if necessary. Over the weekend and today I got two more emails like this -- saying that they liked a lot about my story but would like to see some revisions before moving forward. So that's THREE R&R requests.
• I also got FIVE requests for fulls from agents who had not yet gotten to my query. So those emails were definitely worthwhile!
• I got THREE rejections from agents who were all very kind and complimentary, but who did not love my story enough to make an offer.
• And yesterday I got another offer of representation!
  

Last week I spoke with the first offering agent, and today I spoke with the second and let me say this: it is so nice to be able to interview them and actually choose vs. just having to jump on the first or only offer. Interviewing these two agents was like night and day, and it's easy to see how important it is to find one who is a good fit and who is excited about your novel.

At this point I am still waiting to hear back from five other agents who have fulls. I assume that they will have to really like the manuscript to offer representation, since they will be competing with other agents for it.  Can I say that it is SUCH a nice feeling being the one with some leverage for a change, to be the one courted vs. the one courting?!


So, I have a few more days to wait before I make a decision. Will I accept one of the offers I have? Will I get any new offers? Or will I decide to make revisions and resubmit? Stay tuned to find out!