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 helmet this looks aces! I think I need to rethink my pitch - it has occurred to me that I am underselling all my hard work and actually, I need to make it more noticeable. I've never mentioned Girl On A Train (acronym GOAT, tee hee!) because I thought it was frowned upon to make comparisons in agents letters. I think I may need to get some different advice.
Hope all is going better for you! It is HARD BLOODY WORK

I think it's OK to use comparisons to explain what you're doing - 'in the tradition of GOAT' - as long as you don't use it to make unjustifiable claims - 'the next GOAT'.

Agree with the Countess. You could say your book is somewhere between the Narnia Chronicles and Game of Thrones for example. Or you could say fans of Horrid Henry will enjoy the antics of um..Naughty Norman etc.

It helps them place you before they've finished the whole mss and they can also say up front "yes, I'm looking for that" or "No, we just do cookbooks/comedy". Saves a lot of time all round.

Yes and I would mention winning the award with blah blah and that editor blah blah suggested it was close to girl on a train.

Without the blah blahs of course.

Hustle - Definitely keep sending it out, but I wouldn't say "it's currently being considered by X".

I think I may have done it. I woke up to an email from an agent asking for a good time to call me. I'm trying not to get my hopes up, since I've heard of R&R requests being made by phone, but I'm really nervous! I hope they can call today or I'll be a wreck all weekend.

It's a good sign if they want to phone you. When my agent first rang me I had a contract with them later that day! NB Not a publishing contract. Not yet.

Best of luck IceRoad. An agent wanting to call you - how cool is that!
My advice for preserving sanity is to celebrate each tiny step forward (such as an agent wanting to call you) but take nothing for granted.

Awesome and fingers crossed!

Is it USA agent?

Thanks for the good wishes! It is a US agent, and I've read very good things about her. I'm trying very hard not to expect an offer of rep...

Don't forget to update here

Will do!

Wow, IceRoad that is super exciting - I think Countess gives very good advice there ^^ - celebrate all the small steps, each one is working toward your goal.

After some technical difficulties from across the pond, I had the call and an offer of representation.

I've let the other agents I queried know, and I now have nine others reading the manuscript. Will make the decision on the 16th.

It's not really sunk in yet because I was expecting a long old slog, and it's barely a month since I started querying. The agent said it's pretty much ready for publication, with a few small tweaks, which I also wasn't expecting. It's all a bit surreal at the moment.

Brilliant! Congratulations!

Yay, well-in IceRoad!

Was it an agent you particularly wanted? And that's awesome that the 9 others are all reading. It must be something special! Well done!

Fantastic news! And you only need just a few tweaks! Brilliant. Do keep us posted on your publishing news.

Excellent news. Well done!

Thank you all!

Hemlet - Yes, she's an excellent agent with very strong sales in romance. I'm trying to keep an open mind in case I get other offers, but I would certainly be happy to sign with her.

This is AMAZING! Well done IceRoad this is great news!

That's brilliant Iceroad. Did you sleep last night???

Congratulations! That's fantastic news.

I'm sleeping okay but the 16th can't come fast enough!

Any more news anyone?

I have zilch to report!

Nothing yet, although made myself send emails to two more agents. One of them asked if it was already being considered so I said yeas but vdid not say who. I'm not really sure where I'm at at the moment - I've the finished manuscript to send out, a second novel which needs a BIG edit and am working on a third. I have real momentum with the third so am reluctant to drop it to do anything else but feel like I should be pitching and editing first. Can't seem to prioritise! Good luck to everyone waiting!