Page 2 | Feedback on submission of a full

blackcoffee · 2014-03-04T11:55:11+00:00

I was asked to submit a full in January and my finger are bitten to stumps by now! how long? (busy agency) Also, book is part of a series, am now in position to submit first part of second book, is it worth doing that to chase up? aaaargh!

Guilianna · 24/06/2014 15:19

No timescale but realistically it'll be a summer hols job. It's a topical novel (by sheer random coincidence) so although there's a fair bit of work it would be good to finish soonish!
I wasn't planning on contacting the agents with fulls because as it stands it's a rejection.
I like the sound of the collaborative work on yours. Sometimes you can tell the agent has an enhanced vision of where it could go which actually needs spelling out.
One change I'm still mulling is lose the title. Ow!
It's so good to talk about this, thoughts. All my mates just think, oh guilianna and her rejections, nearlys, and of course they all love it uncritically because they are my mates and say thing like 'well when you think of all the crap that DOES get published'

thoughtsandall · 03/07/2014 11:47

That's great news- have you got a preferred agent out of the two who have asked you to R and R? Just think - one more and you may be at the finish line! I will be cheering you on! I received a 4 page report from my agent on mon and it is full of really good suggestions- things I was aware of but not sure how to put right. She is so encouraging and positive and has offered lots of directions the plot could go but ultimately told me to follow my heart with them.

Have just e-mailed with my plot point revisions and I am hoping that they work for her. It's so exciting! I am trying to not worry about whether she will rep me more or not. Either way I feel like it is a win- win situation: representation at the end or a much improved book, not to mention how much I am learning in the process. It is the first book I have ever written and I have learnt so much already.

Guilianna · 03/07/2014 21:21

I don't have a clear favourite, no. I am quite excited about making changes but still mulling over the final shape it will take. Thanks for the encouragement! much appreciated in this waiting period .. Sounds like your agent is pretty keen, giving so much feedback now. Did she just ask for synopsis of plot revisions, then? agent 2 said similar to me but I'm not sure I can get it right without full rw first! I want to be done this summer ...
Also I've just started a writers' group and one of the members was quite dismissive which made me think, also ..

thoughtsandall · 02/09/2014 12:46

Guilianna, Just wondering whether you managed to 'kick your manuscript into shape' over the summer? You said you had a couple of R + R's, so which one did you decide to go with? Have you heard anything yet?

I've had a summer full of writing and editing, editing and writing, and you were right... my R+R did feel like 'the final sprint at the end of a cross country race with legs like jelly'. The agent suggested some excellent ways to develop the plot and add complexity (4 pages of notes) and I then offered suggestions on the direction I wanted it to take and how I was going to go about it. I did a fairly extensive rewrite on my MG ms at the beginning of July and it doubled in size in 3 days.

The book is much, much better as a result and I really enjoyed the process. The agent loved it and offered representation and I have just signed the contracts, so I guess it is official. I can't quite believe it and I am still trying to take it all in. I am just waiting for the line edits to come through and need to get the ms is ready for submission in the run up to Frankfurt Book Fair. The next agonising wait will be to see if a publisher wants to buy it...

Please let me know how you (and anyone else who is in the submission process) are getting on.

thoughtsandall · 02/09/2014 12:47

Guilianna, Just wondering whether you managed to 'kick your manuscript into shape' over the summer? You said you had a couple of R + R's, so which one did you decide to go with? Have you heard anything yet?

I've had a summer full of writing and editing, editing and writing, and you were right... my R+R did feel like 'the final sprint at the end of a cross country race with legs like jelly'. The agent suggested some excellent ways to develop the plot and add complexity (4 pages of notes) and I then offered suggestions on the direction I wanted it to take and how I was going to go about it. I did a fairly extensive rewrite on my MG ms at the beginning of July and it doubled in size in 3 days.

The book is much, much better as a result and I really enjoyed the process. The agent loved it and offered representation and I have just signed the contracts, so I guess it is official. I can't quite believe it and I am still trying to take it all in. I am just waiting for the line edits to come through and need to get the ms is ready for submission in the run up to Frankfurt Book Fair. The next agonising wait will be to see if a publisher wants to buy it...

Please let me know how you (and anyone else who is in the submission process) are getting on

thoughtsandall · 02/09/2014 12:52

Having computer problems so apologies for posting twice.

BigPawsBrown · 02/09/2014 22:54

Thoughtsandall I got an agent in July and am submitting in the next two weeks!

Guilianna · 03/09/2014 20:11

Thoughts, that's wonderful news! how very exciting. When is Frankfurt, October time? I used to work in publishing, I should know, but it was a long time ago!
Thanks for asking - I finally let go of the revisions last week, after giving them a lot of thought, and I've sent the ms to both agents who requested it. Waiting now ....
Good luck, BPB! hope it all goes well for you.

Guilianna · 03/09/2014 20:14

also, and I know I'm going to regret asking this, but how long did your agent take to sign you after the rewrite?

thoughtsandall · 04/09/2014 09:32

Congratuations BPB. Are you able to say who your agent is? What kind of book have you written? Hope the submission process goes well. I can imagine that is as agonising as the rewrite/subbing to agent wait. Please keep us posted on your progess.

Guilianna, well done for getting it done. Did you write two different rewrites or send the same one to each? I read on another thread that you had a bit of a wobble when you sent it- did you resolve that? The waiting for feedback from a rewrite is so hard. I waited a few weeks and then emailed to ask for some feedback as it had passed the deadlines she had given me. She responded straight away with some general feedback so I asked her when in the process I could expect her to offer representation... and she did. She has been very open throughout the process and said she had asked for the rewrite with a view to offering represenation once she had seen how I handled the feedback etc. I guess everyone's experience is different but mine was fairly quick and I felt able to ask her the question due to her openess and encouragement throughout. Fingers crossed for you- please let us know as soon as you hear anything. What genre are you writing?

BigPawsBrown · 04/09/2014 18:52

Thoughtsandall - do you want to PM me? It's women's fiction.

Guilianna · 04/09/2014 20:24

Thanks! the actual rewrite was quite fast, then I sat on my hands for a bit! I sent the same thing to both agents and since I hadn't heard from agent one on what I'd sent already asked her to look at it instead, which was fine.
Your experience seems very smooth, thoughts.
It's a psychological thriller - at least I hope so!

Guilianna · 04/09/2014 22:37

I meant to say, the support is much appreciated! (back to 'day job' this week and v absent minded!)

BigPawsBrown · 04/09/2014 22:54

Giuliana, I took a week off to sort out my agent situations and meet up with some etc and going back to my day job after that was tough, even though I like it!

Guilianna · 05/09/2014 21:20

Six weeks in this case - no prizes for guessing what I do! I like what I do too, but I'd forgotten how exhausting it can be!

Guilianna · 13/10/2014 22:41

thoughts, any frankfurt feedback yet?!
I still haven't heard from agent 2. Agent 1 has replied asking my views on further suggestions/amendments, most of which can be accommodated quite reasonably and are not too onerous. I am vaguely considering taking a leaf out of your book and asking what stage does rep come in? or would that be pushy right now? I feel what I need now is clarity and a time frame. And a publisher. And a Bombay Sapphire.
How's everyone else? Paws, any news from you?
I thought I had patience nailed; it's hope that slays ....

BigPawsBrown · 20/10/2014 00:19

Am knee deep in final edits. Hoping to finish this week or next, then line by line edit, then submission!

Guilianna · 27/10/2014 23:08

How did you get on? I think I've finished ...

BigPawsBrown · 30/10/2014 07:54

Finished. Was brutal to be honest. Did 9-6 in day job and 7-1 at home for a a week, then 12-15 hours at weekend and day off. But it's done, happy with it, should hear back this week or next. Have had since last Thursday off writing and feel totally weird. I've got so much time! What do you DO if you get home at 7pm?! It's amazing. Will be resuming my first draft of next book on 1 nov though, as it needs to be completed by end of year.

Guilianna · 06/12/2014 10:03

Update - after a second rewrite for agent one, she is now leaving agenting! She's kindly given me a couple of names ...
Agent two has not responded yet; the ms has changed considerably since I sent it to her. It's been over 3 months now, so not looking hopeful. Should I let her know that I've revised again, or just wait for the inevitable?
Hope other posters have more positive news!

Guilianna · 21/12/2014 20:34

bump - shall I contact agent 2 who's now had ms 4 months to say I've rewritten? I've nothing to lose have I - I guess I just don't want the inevitable disappointment!
and so the year ends ...

gohaze · 27/01/2015 20:20

Hi just came across your post, unlucky but keep heart at least they asked for a full. I was asked for a full mid December and nada, only that it will take 6 weeks which is fast approaching. There are thousands or Editors, you just need to find the right one - leg work!
Good luck

guilianna · 27/01/2015 20:34

thanks! and mid Dec is no time at all, hopefully you will have a positive response soon.
I'm still living in hope although after six months it's fading! I am still querying

gohaze · 27/01/2015 21:30

Being an unpublished writer is hard, but at least you know that some editors have liked your work. There are of course other routes to publishing, I'm not going down them at present, but that's how many successful writers have gotten editors - by way of the back door so to speak.