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.

Thanks mad! Yes, wip is the second in the series of the one you reviewed so kindly for me.

I'm currently on the high of the rollercoaster that is writing, as went to a writers festival at the weekend and met 3 professionals (2 agents, 1 literary consultant) and they all said I write well, they cared about my character and liked and believed my concept! And one asked to see the full which is my first full request so that's progress!

Fully aware the chances are it'll come to nothing but great to have positive feedback and the weekend has definitely renewed my enthusiasm!

Keep us updated everyone, it's great to see how everyone's journeys progress!

I had an awful agent a few years back. He suggested some changes to my book, which I duly did, said it was great and he was going to submit it to five major publishers the following week. Eight months later (didn’t want to pester) I got an email from his assistant saying they were just about to send out the book and could I tell her which year it was set in?
FUME.
I knew I should say goodbye then, but I couldn’t face the hell of starting to look for another agent. Several months later, having again heard nothing, I asked him which publishers he’d submitted to. No reply. I eventually dumped him, and even then I sent the letter by registered mail so that I’d know he’d got it. I think he just had too much on his plate, but he should have been honest with me.
He was a member of the Association of Authors agents.
You can sense if someone’s interested and involved. If there are long delays in communication, lack of information etc, then always get rid. You’re not doing yourself any favours otherwise.