Query 8/20/2025 107k Atomic Fantasy

CNR @ 42 days (6 weeks per her page's guidelines).

@BillJoseph's comment about rights of authors with their submissions is certainly troubling; in retrospect I wouldn't have submitted if I knew.

I know this agent is high-profile, but it rubs me the wrong way when legally, it seems extremely one-sided on top of an agent who can't be bothered to say "I read your query and no".

Creative Artists Agency's Submission Terms and Conditions state:

"Ideas. CAA is neither required nor obligated to keep confidential any ideas submitted as a part of the Materials. By submitting Materials, you acknowledge and agree that CAA and each of its respective officers, directors, employees, licensees, assigns or other authorized agents, which may include without limitation, related entities, affiliates, individuals, clients and each of their licensees or assigns (collectively, the “Released Parties”) may previously have independently created, developed, produced, used, exploited or acquired ideas that duplicate, resemble or contain elements that are similar or identical to the ideas contained within the submitted Materials. You also acknowledge that the Released Parties may later independently create, develop, produce, use, exploit or acquire ideas that may duplicate, resemble or contain elements that are similar or identical to the ideas contained within the Materials. YOU AGREE THAT THE RELEASED PARTIES' CREATION, DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCTION, USE, EXPLOITATION OR ACQUISITION OF ANY IDEAS THAT DUPLICATE, RESEMBLE, OR CONTAIN ELEMENTS THAT ARE SIMILAR OR IDENTICAL TO THE IDEAS WITHIN THE MATERIALS WILL NOT ENTITLE YOU TO ANY CREDIT, COMPENSATION, OR OTHER CONSIDERATION WHATSOEVER, AND YOU WAIVE AND AGREE NOT TO INTERFERE OR ASSERT ANY CLAIM OR DEMAND OF ANY KIND IN CONNECTION WITH ANY OF THE FOREGOING. [Emphasis added]"

I've submitted a few queries for which I've had to acknowledge the possibility that another author may have independently come up with similar ideas--that doesn't bother me. It's a fact of life. What I find deeply concerning about CAA's Terms is that this last sentence removes the language clarifying that competing works must have been created "previously" and "independently," potentially stripping an author of recourse even in cases of slavish reproduction. For this reason, I will not be submitting queries to this agency.

Queried 9/5
Upmarket Thriller 94k words

Queried 08/06/25
CNR 09/18/25 (43 days)

YA Fantasy, 67K

EQ: 9-3-25 Upmarket/Literary