@BookLover123, I dunno, when an agent is calling an author unethical, I'd say that can be interpreted as "mean." And I also believe it's industry standard to offer agents another read based on R&Rs you do for an agent, as long they are non-exclusive. After I got an R&R, I notified another agent who had rejected for similar reasons that I was revising based on agent feedback, and she was happy to read the revised version.

But if this particular agent has a problem with that, that's a good thing to note here, so others can modify their approach to her if necessary.

@BookLover123
Of course I thought about how I came across to her. I consider that when speaking with any agent at any time, as any author should. It could definitely be what you said - just a misunderstanding. That's really the only explanation I can come up with. But to get from my email to her reaction, it would have required a lot of assumptions. Anyway, I'm chalking it up to a loss and moving on. That's my experience with her.

@JadahMcCoy

I'd like to think I have a good rapport with numerous agents from the many different conferences I attend. Submissions and queries often come up in conversations and are the topic of many different panels. From what you posted, I don't see where this agent was "mean" at all. Also, from what you've posted, could it be that this agent thought you were working with another agent, and trying to query her on the side (per her "ethical" comment)? Just coming at it from a different POV. Have you ever thought about how you come across to the agent? Regardless, I wish you luck with your future queries.

@jadahmccoy Wow. How incredibly unpleasant. From everything I've read you are correct about this being common practice (I was in a similar situation recently after being given a non-exclusive R&R--I updated all other agents with material about it and they all happily said they would hold off until I sent them the revised version). If the agent giving you notes asked for an exclusive, that would be different. Maybe she has different beliefs and practices than most others, and that's fine, but there's a way to communicate that without being a jerk.

Thank you for sharing your experience. I can officially cross her off my query list.

EQ: 11/12
FR: 11/12
Rejected: 5/12/17

Buckle up, because I have some things to say about this one. Two weeks ago I received a (nonexclusive) R&R from another agent. I emailed Marlene to ask if she would like the updated MS. Her response: "Don't you have an ethical dilemma taking notes from one agent, using them, then pitching them to another agent? I do. Not interested."

To answer, no, I don't, because I will always present the best form of my work. If the other agent asked for an exclusive rewrite, that would be different. This is common practice, to my knowledge, to update agents with revised versions of your work (even Janet Reid says so). Perhaps it was a mistake to let her know it was based on general agent feedback, though.

Dodged a bullet.

Contemp WF, 70k.

EQ 5/8
ER 5/9
"Thank you very much for your query, which we have read with interest. Unfortunately, the project does not seem right for this agency, and we are sorry that we cannot offer to serve as your literary agent."

101k Hard science fiction

EQ: 4/27
ER: 4/27 - received form letter rejection 3 hours after submission

EQ: 4/27/17
ER: 4/27/17 (form)

I always appreciate a fast response.

Adult Fantasy 150k+

EQ 4/26
ER 4/26

adult SF

5/6/2016 Queried in person at a conference and she asked for a Full Manuscript with changes.
3/14/2017 Submitted manuscript with requested changes.
3/15/2017 Full rejected because she is not currently accepting young YA and MG submissions.

She seems like a very competent and nice agent. Good luck!

FQ: 4/20/2017 5pgs

Contemporary Ro 85K

EQ: 4/12/17
ER: 4/16/17
Upmarket WF 95K
Stated story sounded like many others

EQ: 4/12/17
ER: 4/13/17
Upmarket WF 89k

EQ 04/10/17
EF 04/11/17 Form

Historical Romance 105k

Query through form: 4.9.17
ER: 4.10.17

YA magical realism