3 months since full manuscript request

[MyBabyBoyBlue]

I had a full manuscript request from an agent for my commercial/women's fiction novel roughly 3 months ago and haven't heard back from the agent yet. I don't know whether to follow up with an email, write it off as a rejection or whether this is a standard length of time to wait?

[Soma]

@MyBabyBoyBlue, you should definitely follow up. A short, bright and breezy email is perfectly acceptable. Most would expect a nudge if they've asked for your full. It may ultimately be a rejection, but at least you'll know.

[MyBabyBoyBlue]

Thank you! Will send a polite nudge on Monday :)

[user48675]

How quickly did they respond to you after you first submitted your work?

[Soma]

@user48675 It varies so much from agent to agent. It could be anywhere from a day to absolute silence. A lot of submission guidelines state if you haven't heard from them after 3 months, then it's a no from them.

[AppropriateAdult]

I’m in the same boat, MyBoy - got a request for the full 3 days after sending out my initial submission, sent the full later that day... and that was four and a half months ago. I finally sent a polite nudge last week so we’ll see if anything transpires...

[MyBabyBoyBlue]

Thanks for the replies- it was 3 days after my submission that they asked for the full manuscript. I followed up on Monday, I am hoping for a sentence or two of feedback, as am assuming it's probably a rejection.

[user48675]

I'm guessing from these comments, that generally, the longer you wait for a reply (if one is forthcoming) then the less likely the response will be positive. Anyone waited several weeks and still got a positive response? I submitted my work about 5 weeks ago to a few agents and apart from one very swift rejection, I have heard nothing. I am now beginning to look into self publishing.

[MyBabyBoyBlue]

I've not heard back after my follow-up email. I am a bit surprised because I always thought that you got a couple of lines of feedback after a full manuscript request.

[TrafalgarSquare]

You don't always hear back, but I hope you do!

[MyBabyBoyBlue]

Thank you all...I heard back today - she said it was great but she didnt connect enough with my protagonist to offer representation. I was expecting a rejection, but as they go, it didnt seem to be too harsh!

[Zilla1]

Mybaby, are you planning submitting to other agents, rewriting your protagonist (difficult, I realise), self publishing or working on your next story? Good luck.

[MyBabyBoyBlue]

@Zilla1 I'm thinking a combination of the two... I'll do another edit and perhaps rewrite parts of her, maybe make her a bit less introverted. But I'm also thinking of going down the self-publishing route anyway.