There is an agent who has had a partial - my first 3 chapters - for a little over a month. I've made a lot of changes since then, and it's a much better book now. I honestly believe that the agent would reject me based on the 3 chapters I sent her, and she's a really good agent and someone I would love to have represent me.
So after trolling around on the internet for a while, reading other people posting similar tales of woe, and the advice they received, I decided to email the agent with what was basically a mea culpa: the first 3 chapters I sent you sucked, but they're really good now. REALLY. THEY ARE. Can I resubmit?
Now. I wait. I hope that she doesn't hate me, or think I'm unprofessional, or whatever. But honestly, I think I had to do it. Otherwise what was I to do? Wait for the rejection that was sure to come and then tell her "oh, by the by, I changed a whole shitload of stuff a few months ago, want to read it again?"
I'll let you know how it goes.
The Shark Is Closed for Queries
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6 months ago
Please tell us what the response is because I am in a similar situation and would love to know. I'm too chicken to resend even though I know they haven't read yet.
ReplyDeleteI kind of did this with my first chapter. Sent the revised version a few weeks after first sending the partial. Explained that while my ms. was in every way "complete and polished" when I sent it to her that I had made a few changes that pumped up the first five pages some. Wound up getting a form rejection for the first partial submission -- and a couple hours later a form rejection for the second. Both were just replies to my e-mails, and the agent in question, after weeks of inactivity, was suddenly rejecting all the partials she'd been sent (as reported by contributors to Absolute Write). So I was, and am, convinced that she never bothered to read either version but decided one day just to clean out her in-box. I think you did the right thing. As you say, what was the alternative?
ReplyDeleteI hope everything works out!
ReplyDeleteIt's a really tough question but I think....well it doesn't matter what I think. It must happen all the time. The agents must be used to this. Good luck and tell us what happens!
ReplyDeleteI got an automatic response that said something along the lines of "I am currently closed to queries and will reopen on such and such a date." So even though I was replying to her reply to me, I think my email got deleted because of her query hiatus.
ReplyDeleteAt this point the plan is to wait for her to reject me, and then reply back with a "would you like to see a revised version? No? OK, thank you anyway."