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.

That's brilliant, wistful - very excited for you! Hope you hear something back soon.

Still hanging on here for this one agent, it's probably almost two months now :( Maybe I should nudge.

I am going to submit to a few more as I haven't for a while and haven't had my act together lately. Going through one of those crisis of confidence things - who do I think I'm kidding and all of that. I need to get on and write to get out of this rut I've got into - a lot of stress round work in RL is taking its toll sadly.

How is everyone else doing - any more news?

Just checking in with everyone here - lots of exciting news! Good luck to everyone with work out there.

I (tentatively) think I'm about two months off being ready to query my first novel. But then, I thought that back in March and was very wrong. Have my list of suitable agents ready for when the time comes.

Well done wistful!

As for me - no news here.

Why does it take so long for them to get back ref: full MSS, mad ? Surely they've had a chance to read your book and know whether they like it or not by now? I'd start subbing elsewhere also in your shoes..

I sent a full last week-going by mad rates, I'll be knocking about on this thread for another couple of months at least before I hear Starting to think it's 95k of rubbish!

Good luck all

Don't take the waiting personally. If they're reading 95k words, that's around five hours speed reading. They will probably have many other full Mss to read too. The big agencies get thousands of submissions every year and they do try and read or look at most of them. Then there's the existing clients they have to look after, pub dates that arise, meetings, etc

It is highly unlikely that the delay is personal! Don't fret. Have faith in yourself.

missbattle not fretting at all , I'm still on a buzz from getting a full request-that voicemail has been played to death on my phone! I think you do start to doubt yourself when you haven't heard and was musing on behalf on mad as why it takes so long. Your explanation makes sense-they've got a hundred other things to do and are not waiting around for our books to turn up

You're right Cantfeel. But I wish they DID just have our books to look at and then we wouldn't have to wait so bloody long!

When the agent gets your full MS, do they usually drop you a line saying they've got it and how long it might take? I sent mine a week and a half ago-no reply confirming receipt. Wasn't too fussed except yesterday-did not find the email in my sent folder. I'm pretty certain it did get sent and I may have accidentally deleted it but feeling paranoid that I didn't send it! Don't want to pester them but do you think I should send a follow up email asking for confirmation of receipt? Meanwhile, I am stalking agent's mood on Twitter-they are currently devastated about something called Brexit so definitely not thinking about my manuscript

Can't feel, I don't think my requesters did actually. I'd wait a bit, especially if they already have the Brexit rage.

My mss is now out there apparently, so I'm on the 'anxiously waiting for publishers bench' with you MissB! Fortunately, the last few days have fully distracted me - unfortunately it's probably distracted everyone!

Fingers crossed for us all.

Welcome to my bench Helmet! It's a lonely old place. I think I'm growing a beard.

in theatre - my realm - we rarely look at a writer credentials before entering into work

I'm sure you look lovely with that beard!

My agent said expect to wait six seven weeks before we hear anything - plus there's the summer holidays and maybe brexit upheaval!

Gah.

Anyone else get some news?

Cheers helmet I'll hold off...

Sorry guys, I've nicked your cake and gin(where were you?!)

Oh good Mad not just me then...lets see which one of us hears first...it's like a snail race... but in slow motion

It's funny isn't it? The publishing industry is so incredibly busy, and backlogged yet moves so slowly. It's like a slow stately galleon with a million oars going furiously just under the surface.

Then, if you get a deal, your book can take a year to come out! Sigh...

I know, right? I had a late night rejection yesterday and actually felt sorry for the chap who was obviously still reading submissions and doing emails at an ungodly hour(London based agent so not on the other side of the pond). They are busy bods and each writer is a minute part of the giant cogwheel.

As an aside, it was a kindly worded knock back(much to admire but did not feel a connection) which didnt sting as much I have tweaked my query letters and kicked a wordy prologue out which I think is doing the trick...back to waiting mode.

Whaaa.... Do we really have to wait til September?

'Snot fair.

kicks table eats remaining cake crumbs

And wonders why the last bit went in bold when it wasn't meant too.... Grrr

Yes, it all goes quiet over the summer hols apparently. Tut.

Everything feels like it's ground to a halt here. I'm sure the referendum is playing a part in it. I'm not sure whether to send out more queries or to sit tight til September. It's with 4 agents at the moment.

I am so impatient. I hate waiting!

Hi chocolate cake. It's definitely a slow news week here too. Not a dickie bird.

I sent stuff to 16 agents/agencies 2 to 3 months ago. I've received 10 "No thank you" replies. 2 further have mailed me to say they received my work. 4 - not a sausage.

Still waiting...

4 not a sausages sounds good!

it does feel like things have ground to a halt...

Yes - I'm in limbo land too, I sent to 5 more a week ago and heard nothing back (have found in the past that when I sent a bunch of submissions out I'd get 1 or 2 immediate 'nos' and maybe 1 or 2 acknowledgements. But with this lot - nada.

And still nothing from agent with full!!

It's murder, it really is...