Waiting on agents

[IceRoadDucker]

I'm a regular but frequent name changer, if that matters to anyone.

My first novel went out for query at the end of last month. So far I have a great success rate - 11 rejections, 3 partials and 1 full. The first partial only went out on 5 Feb but the wait is already killing me! I've been taking the rejections really, really well but I know a rejection on a partial or full will sting.

I'm trying to put my energy into writing my third novel - 48k words in - but I can't write continually and whenever I have a spare moment I'm impatiently drumming my fingers on any hard surface I can find.

No reason for posting this thread except that I need to keep my hands from refreshing Gmail every 10 seconds even though it's way too early to expect replies, I have desktop notifications AND it updates itself automatically.

I'd probably wait for a full mss request and then say, BTW, blah blah is reading this - but yours is a good proactive approach. Nothing to lose is there.

I certainly wouldn't think anything is a rejection until I have the rejection in my inbox!

That's good to know.

Helmetbymidnight - i got a full request, so would be using this as my in/nudge.

Think I'll do it... got nothing to lose I guess.

I wonder how many people do this when they haven't really had any full requests tho..

Yes, I've wondered that too!

Yes I would do it. I would say "Susan Scary has asked for a full mss, could I ask if you have read it yet?"

I hadn't thought to actually name the agent.

Great, thanks all!

I found agents were falling over themselves to read mine when I told them someone had asked for the full ms. Someone had asked, too - I wouldn't have the nerve to tell them a lie in case they said, "Better stick with them, then..." I think they're always scared of missing out on something.

Did you name the agent, Imperial? Don't want to risk stepping on any toes.

No, I didn't.

I wrote this when I was asking if they'd read it:

Dear...

About three months ago I submitted the first few chapters and a synopsis of my current novel, XYZ, to X.

I believe you are X's assistant and I wonder whether you could tell me whether she has had the chance to read the manuscript yet. I have two other agents who have immediately asked for the full manuscript after reading the first three chapters but I know from X's webpage that she is interested in the same sort of novel that I enjoy writing so would welcome her opinion.

Thanks,

Thanks so much Imperial, that's hugely helpful.

I sent this to another one:

Dear X

I submitted my manuscript, XYZ, to you and a few other agents a couple of days ago.

Two agents have now asked for the full manuscript and I wondered whether it would be possible to bump my submission up your list. Out of all the agents I have considered you seem to understand the genre I am writing in and I feel with your guidance I could forge a career as a writer.

I am so sorry to chase you up after such a short time but things have moved rather quicker than I thought.

Best wishes

The name of the novel has changed now!

Thanks so much ImperialBlether - that's very generous of you to share those.

I'll let you know how I get on.

wishfulblinking - well done! It's such an exciting - and frustrating - stage! I had a full ms request around 5 weeks ago now and heard nothing yet :( Hadn't thought of sending emails to those agents I hadn't heard back from - Imperial's letter is a really good one - I guess there's nothing to lose?

Helmet - so know what you mean about veering between feeling confident and utterly hopeless - especially when reading excellent books - I find myself thinking what's the point when I read something wonderful. But like some of you, I've read some truly dreadful books on amazon lately - high up in the bestseller ranks on Kindle, and wondered how on earth these got through the net (some are traditionally published) and why they have so many good reviews. Baffled!

Had a holiday away from writing and feeling a bit lost with it all at the moment, however have a lot of editing to do on my second book, not to mention writing the third in the trilogy, so have a lot to crack on with while in this horrible waiting game.

Anyone got any more news?

I was wondering how your wait was going, Madhairday. The waiting is excruciating and I feel all your pain. I am very much in the no news is definitely not bad news camp. I think most agents have nice manners and would let you know if it were a no, rather than leaving you to wait and wonder. Do you think you'll give them a nudge at some point?

I sent four emails yesterday saying I'd received a request for a full so will wait and see if that does anything.

I've been thinking about the next book a lot but am still at the daydreaming/occasionally jotting down ideas stage. Just downloaded a book someone recommended on plotting so am reading that and hoping it'll help me. I vaguely plotted out the last one and ended up binning so many pointless meanderings so want to be more 'plotty' with this one.

I never realised how much waiting everything would involve. I have learned that this industry works more slowly than any other I can think of. There's the waiting to hear back from agents, then when I got an agent, that involved lots of waiting too. I believe that even when you get a deal, it then takes a year to get the book out, unless it's seasonal or topical.

The waiting is agony! and there's SO much waiting!

What stage of waiting are you at now missb?

I'm not sure about the nudge, wishful - don't want to annoy her! I might after say 8 weeks - do you think that would be reasonable?

For now, sitting back and trying to relax about the time taken - it really is like no other industry is it. But, given the amount agents must get to look through, it's not surprising really...just excrutiating for us on the waiting side.

Hope those emails bring some happy results for you soon, wishful.

My agent is hoping to submit this week- but They've warned that it could be 6-8 weeks before it gets read-sigh!

I'm trying to think of books to liken it to/or have influenced me (for the sub letter) - mind is completely blank!

My agent has submitted to publishers. I'm sweating just writing that!

Ooh MissB - that's so exciting! You must feel such a mixture of nerves and exhilaration at that - and then there's the waiting - here's hoping it's all quicker than 6-8 weeks (I suppose the summer holidays may slow things down too?)

meanwhile, sit back and have some and relax...

I can imagine! Ah well done tho'

I have such a sense of dread about it- my problem is that 12 yrs ago I was in this same place and it didn't happen so the thought of that again makes me cry!

I've warned the family that I may be in the gloom for the next four months!

Thanks MadHair and Helmet. I'm 98% pessimism and 2% excited. It's not as pleasant as I thought it would feel! I'm jumping every time the phone rings and very unimpressed when it's some crappy marketing call.

I had two requests for fulls last year. One of the agents, someone I'd have loved to work with, subsequently left her job and went back into publishing. The other asked me to make certain changes and resubmit, and then simply never replied any further - so much for 'nice manners'! The waiting is tortuous but after these experiences I have acquired a strong armour of pessimism which I am hoping will be helpful as I begin to submit once more.

wasninah- that's bad luck, but still hopeful. Good luck with your new round of submissions.