The dreaded question of partial exclusivity

[MArouet]

So I just had an agent request an exclusive read of the first three chapters of my work. This sent up red flags for me not only because I've read that one should never grant exclusivity on partials, but also because I just sent another agent a partial of my work on Friday. Should I tell the agent requesting exclusivity that I can't give it because of the other agent? Should I contact the other agent and say that someone else is requesting an exclusive read and can I get a time frame of when she will be done with the partial? Should I not say anything to either and send off the new partial without acknowledging the request?

Thanks so much for butting up with my querying neurosis!

[violet]

Personally, I'd respond to the effect of, "I'd love to give you exclusivity but unfortunately, the manuscript is already out with several agents."

This is acceptable (and true!) and it will light a fire under her/him, knowing she's got competition.

Just my .02 of course.

Good luck and congrats!! 

[Aiala]

Partial exclusivity hamstrings your submission process and frees the agent from feeling any necessity to get the lead out.

If they're genuinely interested, they'll ask for the partial without strings. If not, <bleep> 'em. Plenty more where they came from. 

~A~

[Lizzerbear]

Congrats on the partial, MArouet! I'd have asked for it, too! 

[MArouet]

Thanks so much for the encouragement and advice, guys! You have no idea how much this site has helped me through the whole querying process...

I did think of one more question: for email requests for partials, do I just send it out as a reply to the email the agent sent, or should I send a new email?

[bodwen]

Reply.  That way they can scroll down and read the details of the inital query if they need to.

Excellent wording, Violet.  You don't mind if I borrow that verbatim?   

[MArouet]

Thanks! 

[violet]

Reply.  That way they can scroll down and read the details of the inital query if they need to.

Excellent wording, Violet.  You don't mind if I borrow that verbatim?   

Always hit reply-Bowden's right--then they can see what they wrote to you, the query, etc.

Bowden-Borrow away! 

[twoheadknight]

I 3rd what Violet said  .  Agents blog about this occasionally, and basically all agree that they feel less pressure to respond quickly if something's exclusive, and love to jump all over what other agents are interested in.  If they know others have requested it, it can only help fan the flames  .

GOOD LUCK and keep us posted!

[JeanneT]

On replying via email--you may want to change the subject to "requested material" though.

[MArouet]

Good advice, thanks!!

[HorsebackWriter]

This is one of the best kind of emails to write to agents -- that other agents are already reading your ms. Enjoy it! Congrats on the requests, woo hoo for you!

I agree with JeanneT -- change the email subject heading to Requested Material.

Also, I always send partials, even email partials, with a cover letter pasted into the email.

Actually, good advice here about more than one agent reading your stuff AND cover letters:

http://www.annemini.com/?p=1858

Em