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.

IceRoad - have seven got the full MS? That's amazing! Something good will come of this!

I've just remembered that I submitted to a few American agencies when I sent it out to UK agencies and haven't heard a word from them!

I found that UK agents really liked it if you used your own voice in submission letters - as long as you sent them what they asked for, I found they liked to be able to hear the voice behind the author.

Iceroad - exciting to be you! Keep us posted.

I've taken a leaf out of your book(!) IceRoad and subbed to three agents in the US...Eek.

Any news?!?!?!

Good luck helmet!

No news. It's not even three weeks since I submitted the first requested material, even though it feels like three months.

I'm agonising and I've only got one full MSS out there.

Imperial, you gave me false hope of a very fast turnaround!

I got a very speedy no today from the British agent I emailed on Tues (first 3 chap). Admirable. :)

How long since you submitted the MS, helmet?

I had another request yesterday a full seven minutes after sending the query. Now that's impressive! It was from one of the top romance agents in the US so I'm very excited.

Still nothing from the others. I had a spate of rejections a few days ago (does anyone else find they're like buses - nothing for ages then 5 at once?) and crickets in my inbox until the request yesterday.

Just had the full mss rejected. Feck.
Meh. One week that took.

7 minutes is brilliant! That is keen! Fingers crossed.

Onwards and upwards, Helmet!

If you're getting any full requests at all you must be getting something right. Many people never even get that far. Now you just have to carry on sending it out if applicable, and making your writing better and better.

I was so excited to get a full request so quickly. Oof. Still better to be out of the misery of not knowing!

Yes, I will keep going and continue with US agents too.

I had a request for a full ms from an agent who was on holiday and was incredibly enthusiastic about the book - "Everyone's going to want this!" etc - never heard from her again until I wrote to her later to say I had signed with an agent. "Oh great!" she said, "I knew it would get snapped up!" Yes, but not by you!!!

Their loss, Helmet! Your query is obviously good if you got a request, so others will follow.

Imperial - How frustrating.

Me... still waiting.

I fear the query outclasses the mss.

Ho hum!

Just started mailing literary agents with my 3 picture book stories.

A guide To The Identification Of Witches By Their Colour
The Problem With Giraffes
A Book Of Increasingly Inaccurate Facts About Cows

I'm finding the covering letters are taking longer to write than the stories themselves. I've started with the agents I think are the best match for me, then will expand the search when the desperation increases.

3 sent. Eleventy million left to go.

TiggyD- I read your poems- they are lovely! best of luck.

Yes tiggy, fingers crossed.

I've had one USA reply - no, one uk- no and one uk - full mss request. Eek!
Back on the roller coaster again.

Any news ice road?

I'm finding the covering letters are taking longer to write than the stories themselves.

It didn't take me quite as long as a 97,000-word novel, but it was definitely harder. I'd honestly rather write another novel than another query letter!

Good luck Tiggy! There's a special Twitter event for picture books. I think it's called #PBPitch. Might be worth a google for you?

Any news ice road?

After writing off all the UK agents on my list, I had a response from one today asking for a full. He said he enjoyed the first three chapters, I write well, and he asked if anyone else is looking at it. Sounds quite promising...

I've had one reply about my witch one. My rhymes aren't as natural as they wanted. I accept that and will try to rewrite some. They did think some bits were really good.

Have to park my books/poetry for a bit as there's a deadline approaching for a comedy scriptwriting competition coming up.

Hope it works out Ice

Tiggy, that's brilliant - getting anything other than a form rejection shows you are on the right lines.
I have noticed that sometimes your scansion is off and it might be this that he's talking about.

Morning lads can I join this thread? I sent out my first novel to agent back in November last year and forgot all about it. Three weeks ago they sent a request for full ms and I am waiting to hear back. Wondering if it is worth approaching other agents with a 'This maunscript is currently being considered by BLA BLA'? Or is that considered bad form?

This post is jerky and I am tired, sorry!

Ooh that's exciting Hustle.

Yes, it has been recommended to do that. I have said it on letters twice, but also twice I somehow couldn't bring myself to do it. It's a tricky one...

What's your novel about?

It's a suspense/ghost story for grown-ups - fairly commercial. It won a scholarship to have an editor look it over (that was brilliant, I wish I could afford to do it properly!) and they compared it to Girl On A Train so in that genre. I wasn't looking to place it like that, but I can see how it has developed.

It's been a good year for my writing so far, but I am now writing a third novel which is taking up all my free time so haven't properly looked at sending to agents/polishing and editing the second etc etc. I don't know where to start really. Last thing I want to do is piss off this agent by approaching others but similarly her request gives it some gravity IYSWIM

Agents don't expect you to submit to them exclusively.

Yeah, that's what I thought in the first instance when you're pitching to more than one. Wasn't sure of the etiquette when they have asked to look at it though (hasn't happened to me before)

'Girl on a train' did well, didn't it! you've mentioned that in the sub letter, right?

I've just seen this for ghost/crime...

www.writers-online.co.uk/news/latest-news/creative-writing-prize-good-housekeeping-novel-writing-competition