Query (literary/book club, 91K): 23/06/25
Full request: 29/07/25
Nudged with offer: 25/10/25
Kind rejection: 27/10/25

Hillary confirmed receipt too, which I always appreciate!

@WritingMyHeartOut

About CAA's terms and conditions...

The reason CAA’s terms and conditions are so broad is that their focus is the entertainment industry first, not traditional literary representation. They’re constantly reviewing pitches, scripts, and treatments that overlap in theme or premise. You can’t copyright a concept—only the unique expression of it. While we all like to think our ideas are singular starbursts of brilliance, the truth is that if they’re marketable, they probably exist within a larger thematic constellation—and someone else’s expression of that idea may simply shine brighter. It doesn’t mean CAA has stolen your idea or intends to; it’s simply their way of legally codifying the reality that there’s “nothing new under the sun.”

If those terms feel uncomfortable, it’s better to query agencies that specialize in literary representation rather than entertainment IP development. And before submitting to CAA (or any major entertainment agency), it’s smart to register your work with the WGA for timestamp protection and with the U.S. Copyright Office for full legal ownership.

If you’re on a tight budget, you can mail yourself a sealed copy of your manuscript as a quick, date-stamped record—sometimes called a “poor man’s copyright.” Just know that it’s not legally enforceable on its own; think of it as an informal backup, not a substitute for official registration.

Note: I’m not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV. But like you, I had concerns before submitting my manuscript to CAA—so I did my homework. And like most folks on QT, I’m a feral author, unsigned, sending queries into the black hole, hoping beyond hope that my little manuscript will be the one to twinkle brightest for an agent.

Queried 9th October
88k conrom/romcom
Amazed she's apparently still reading queries while on mat leave

Query: 10/2
Full request after offer nudge: 10/21
Full rejection: 10/27

upmarket speculative, 93k

I submitted, got rejected and didn't see this till after rejection (thankful for the rejection):

To summarize their terms and conditions, you agree to:

1. CAA doesn’t have to keep your ideas confidential.

2. They might already have (or later come up with) similar or identical ideas on their own.

3. If they use those similar ideas, you don’t get credit, payment, or any claim.

4. By submitting, you agree not to sue or demand anything over that.

Beware.