Have you ever had different versions out with different agents?

[sbp725]

And I mean significantly different versions?

I just got an upgrade request from a partial to a full.  The agent has an old version of my MS.  I recently did pretty major revisions based upon a few rejections from agents where they said they weren't hooked enough in the "critical early pages" to keep reading. So I did an overhaul of my first 50 pages to frontload some of the conflict. This agent had the original first 50 and says she's definitely hooked and wants to read the rest.

I'm thinking I'll send her the rest, exactly as it was when I sent her the partial. If I send her the revised MS, it won't flow from the partial she just read (and apparently liked).  In the past, I have emailed agents and offered for them to read a revised version in lieu of an older one, but I've always managed to catch them before they read my submission. I wasn't that on top of it this time around.

There are other agents, who requested more recently, that have the new version. I guess I'm not really looking for advice, just wondering if anyone else has ever had this situation...

[MrsMcDowell]

Definitely a dilemma; I'd love to see what others say.

As I've never had this issue before (mainly because my stats are super weak), I don't know the right thing to do.

However, if I were you, and I felt that the new version was stronger, I would e-mail the agent and say recently you did some revisions based on two agents' suggestions. Just say that you will be sending the revised version to her.

Good luck!

[B]

I think this might be a win-win; I'd send the full upgrade from the version she's already reading. If she doesn't offer, you can always offer her the revision.

[YAwriter]

Ooo, good plan, B. Very strategic! I love it.

[dougie]

I think TheRaven is on the right track.  Email the agent about the changes you've made on the advice of other agents, who are now looking at the new version.  Ask which she'd prefer.  It'll let her think:

a) you're a real hard worker who will dilegently listen to others' suggestions
b) it might be a very hot property now
c) it'll give her some measure of control, since she'll have the option of asking for whatever version she wants.

Good luck!

[WhiteGardenia]

Hmm..  A dilemma, to be sure. 

If you changed your first 50 based on other agents' comments that it didn't grab them in the 'critical early pages,' haven't you already surpassed that issue with the currently-hooked agent? 

If this agent is already hooked, I would give them the rest of the original version and not complicate a good thing.  If/when you get an offer from the agent, you can always discuss edits later.  But that's just me-- oops, I forgot you weren't looking for advice!  Haha, sorry sbp725.
 

[bodwen]

Offer her the new one.  If you've had time to revise it since you've sent it, it probably means she's had it for a few weeks and hasn't jumped to make you an offer.  Showing her the revisions will up the ante.  Make sure to include a cover letter explaining where the changes are and why the make for a better manuscript.

The only time it's not acceptable to offer up revisions is if you're doing so multiple times, if the changes are simple edits like typos corrections, or if you make the mistake of saying that you are doing it at the suggestion of a beta reader, since that makes it sound as if you sent her an unfinished draft and are not ready for primetime.

[bodwen]

By the way, I've never had an agent come back with "Don't send me it to me."  They always want to see the new one.