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 a tricky one. Who asked first?

Today I feel I can join this thread rather than just lurk. I've had my first ever request for a full MS!

Any top tips?

Deluding to say i've also had a request for a full! She sounded really keen too and said how impressed she was by the first 50 pages. Very exciting but i'm assuming it will end with rejection, just so I'm not too upset when/if that happens.
It's been a boost to my confidence though!

Trenzalor well done. Get on with subitting to other agents if you can and get on and keep busy. Much better to be moving forward in a positive way so you don't go potty

Great news, Trenzalor! Best of luck and let us know what happens next!

Hey all, haven't posted for ages as not much to say really. But have been keeping up to date on everyone's news - good to hear you're all still persevering.

So, I had three full MS requested and never heard back from two so presume that's a big fat no as it's been five months or so.

The third was also a no but the freelance reader who got back to me was very encouraging and gave me a bit of feedback but not really enough to do anything with. After a bit of digging I discovered that the reader is a freelance editor so after yet another redraft, I decided to see whether they would do me a paid for report, which is what happened. I'm so glad I spent the money and did this, just wish I'd done it earlier.

I got the 6 page report back a few weeks ago and although it was really positive about a lot of the book, it also gave me loads to think about and suggestions for reworking. I was totally overwhelmed at first and completely daunted at the process of such a massive rewrite, which was basically what was suggested, but having stewed on it for a while, I think I've figured out how to make it work and what to change/ cut.

Obviously I kind of wish I'd done this at the beginning of the sending-out-to-agents process because once this rewrites done I'm not sure who to send it out to. I sent the original draft out to about 20 agents all at once, so there are not really many left who are looking for the genre I write in.

Do you think I could resubmit to some of the same agents but say I've done a major rewrite or is that a no-no?

Ooh, nice to hear of so many requests for fulls recently! There must be something in the air...

Mybrain, I don't know anything about Carina, but as far as I know it's considered good form to let any agents/publishers who request a full know about any other fulls you have out.

wishful, I think I would - the worst they can do is say no.

Wishful definitely re-send, making it clear as you say. Keep putting one foot in front of the other with the re-write. It can feel very cold out there in new/old ground but the only way to it is through it.

Congrats Trenzalor and Chocolate cake. That's lovely.

My update....

Signed with an agent in September of last year (women's fiction). Delivered new draft in Feb. Agent said basically 'What's happened? You've sorted out lots of story but much of the first half is worse, and why have you added in this boyfriend?' So.... I got back to it. In May/June Imperial Blether read the first three chapters and had a gazillionty excellent 'why this and why that?' questions and other very useful genre feedback. I wrote on and on and on, sent new draft to agent in September and she was v v happy, thank the sweet lord. Still hadn't cracked the v beginning and the first 50 pages were 'baggy,' so I went back in. Redelivered on Monday. Sent ideas for 2 further books which she hasn't commented on and a bio she loved. Wrote a blurb yesterday which she said was more of a synposis/review. She sent me a suggested blurb this morning which was lovely and I tweaked it and I think I will be getting an email from her this afternoon which will say that she has...

SENT IT TO EIGHT EDITORS.

What an experience. Started the book just before the London Olympics. Told myself repeatedly it didn't matter it was taking a long time: I was learning to write a book by writing a book. Anyway..... that's it. Soup and a walk in the park with DH now (ignores heap of actual paid work I need to do).

Well done! That's very exciting! X

Well done Wordassociationfootball, best of luck with the editors!

That's really wonderful and inspiring wordassociation. Do keep us updating with everything that happens - it's stories like this that keep me going.

And thanks- yes will keep on with the redrafting.

Great news about all the full manuscript requests!

Wordassociation that's great, congratulations , really inspiring to hear that hard work and redrafting can pay off! When you say it has been sent to editors, do you mean she is looking for a publisher now?

I am just starting the daunting process of redrafting based on an agent's suggestions - feels like a bit of a gamble as no guarantee even then it will be taken on! There are still two agents I submitted to I haven't heard from but assuming them to be rejections!

Yes, submitting to publishers. She has sent it. To ten editors. With a deadline for response of 24th November. I've said not to filter through any bad news for a bit - just want a bit of clear space - but deffo to pass on any good.

Don'trock. Unless you think the advice is solid, it must be hard to wed yourself to it.

Thanks word association - that's exciting, best of luck!

Good point, yes I think her feedback was useful and that she has a good point - she thought there was a problem with one of the narrative threads in that it needed more build up and felt too separate from the rest of the novel. I agree with what she said but if is so hard to know from which direction to approach redrafting (hence am procrastinating on here....)

It has also gone out to 29 scouts/publishers globally and will go to more later this week. I feel extremely odd. In a good but distracted way.

Aaaah! After lurking on this thread for months, I finally sent out my first batch of queries on Monday. Got a (brief but kind) rejection on Wednesday, and then a very nice request for the full MS this afternoon!

I know it may come to nothing, but it's such a boost to have someone be complimentary about what they've read and excited to see more. It's a good day

Congratulations Cel982, fingers crossed for you!

Congrats cel982 ! I submitted a revised version of my picture book back to an agent after she asked if I would consider making changes. That was 3 weeks ago, at least I've other stuff to work on but the waiting is so frustrating

Wow, congragulations Cel982 and wordassociation! :) Great news, hoping to hear more positive news soon!

Any word on yours Stripy? Keeping fingers crossed!

I've been off the thread a while due to moving house which has taken all my time and energy, but finally getting down to the last few boxes now and might even find time to write, and submit to more agents - no luck since last rejection of full MS :( Had some more good feedback from beta readers though and have started a creative writing uni course which I'm absolutely loving. Tutor is very encouraging, he said I should submit some of my poetry to journals - never even thought of doing this as I've been so submersed in the novel, but not a bad idea to look at something different for a while.

How is everyone else doing - any more news?

Thanks for all the encouragement, everyone! The requested full was rejected today, although in a fairly positive way, I think; she was very complimentary about the writing, but had issues with the plot. She did offer to look at it again if I decide to revise it, and said she'd be interested to see other work in the future.

I'm going to see what sort of response I get from the other agents I've queried (radio silence so far), but if that's a recurring theme then I'll definitely rethink the possible weaknesses in the plot and resubmit.

Anyone else got any news?

I've got a full out, and an email from the agent in my inbox that I can't bring myself to open. She's clearing her desk of junk for the weekend, right? I feel sick at the thought of another rejection, life has been quite challenging lately and I've had 2 revise and resubmits turned down in the past for this one. It's in better shape now, but still, what are the chances, on a Friday afternoon?

Hope is so darn dangerous.

Oh Lord, wasninah, open it! Fingers crossed for you.

Thanks Cel! I know this is really stupid but I'm going to wait and do it just before my spin class on Sunday. I really can't cope with it now. At spin class you can't think of anything else but how much you're sweating.

Sounds like a plan Best of luck.