How long after full request?

[TheWankiestPuffin]

I AM DOWN TO LAST FINGERNAIL.

I've got the full out with four agents. It's been between 4 and 6 weeks. How long does this bloody take?! Is it terrible etiquette to nudge? Blargh.

In all seriousness, there's loads of advice online about how long is usual for agents to get back with a general yes / no / more response, but can't find much for how long for a response after a full request. Any experiences? Thank you

Wow that is brilliant! Congratulations!

I wouldn't nudge yet (sorry, fingernails) but if one agent replies asking to chat then I'd get onto the others immediately. Is there a particular agent you'd prefer? Don't forget you don't have to take the first one to make an offer.

What does 'full out' mean?

Sorry to hijack your post. Absolute dream of mine. Keep writing and stopping. Suppose if I was serious I would keep writing!

Big congrats for getting this far! X

Did you tell each of them you've had other requests for the full? This may move them along a little...

Good luck!

It means she sent the first few chapters but four agents asked for the full manuscript.

Good idea, Kai. They always work faster if they know they're in competition!

I haven't told two I've had other requests. I've got one I'd like, yes. We've spoken on the phone but before she read the full - she might still not have read it I suppose. I don't know what to doooooo. Should I tell the other two I've had other full requests? It might be a bit obvious, as I sent the last one 4 weeks ago so not exactly a new development to update them on...

Having a 'full' out means that after submitting the first 3 chapters / 10,000 words / 50 pages, the agent gets back to you and asks to see your whole book. Which means they're interested, but also means they can reject it once they've seen how it all pans out.

It also means if they do reject it, they're likely to give you a bit of advice. NOT THAT I THINK THAT WILL HAPPEN!

Ha you know precisely what's happening in my head...I am definitely catastrophising. But good point re feedback - I hadn't considered that amid the gloom!

So, any timescales anyone? Before I start on my actual fingers?

In my experience, 4-6 weeks is a long time to wait after a full is requested. When I got my agent she asked for the full on a Wednesday and the following Monday she emailed to ask if we could speak on the phone that day. In that phone call we agreed she'd represent me.

Having said that, I had one agent reply immediately to the 3 chapters saying she loved them and asked for the full. I told her others were reading it and she got all excited. She said she was on a flight, on holiday, and couldn't wait to read it. I never heard from her again.

I appreciate this is no help whatsoever!

Oh god. So I may never hear again, at this rate! Did you prompt the eager-but-vanished agent?

No, I didn't prompt her but when I got taken on, I emailed her to say I had now accepted representation and she was all over me, "I knew you'd do it!" etc.

FFS!

Have sent you a PM.

Hi puffin, I feel your pain, I am currently waiting to hear after my agent has submitted to publishers - so it doesn't get any easier, and I feel I might fall at this hurdle...

I had two full requests, one got back to me in 10 days with some nice comments and an offer to look at a reworked draft (based on her comments) but not taking it further at that point. The other gave me some positive feedback after a couple of days with no actual decision as she had not finished it - I did then nudge her a couple of weeks later as the other was looking at it. We then had an email exchange, a couple of phone calls and a meeting - the whole process took about 6 weeks.
Good luck - 4 requests is great so you must be doing something right!

Sounds like I'm edging towards a lack of interest given the timescales. I had the same fantasy as everyone - agent reads it, immediately wants more and then immediately signs me. I know that publishing is glacial at best but it does seem quite a long time to leave it hanging...

If it's any consolation I think the Frankfurt literary festival is coming up soon which may mean everyone is v busy....

But you don't know what's going on in their office. One agent took an interest in mine because she received it on her first day in the office. The agents you've sent yours to might ask their colleagues for an opinion and that can be taking up time. They might need approval before taking on a new client. The problem is that you don't know why they're taking time, but please don't assume it's because they're not interested.

I read a blog by someone eventually signed by a well known agent in which the agent started reading her full, loved it, then things got busy and she simply didn't have time to read the rest until things quietened down a few weeks later.
They have a lot to read.

Oh brilliant! Well done OP 👍🏽 thanks for the explanations too x

It can take days. It can take months. Nudge after three months if you haven't heard anything, and if you still don't hear anything assume it's a no.

Check out all the agents concerned. AbsoluteWrite has a good section called Bewares (and something else I think).

I work in publishing. You're welcome to send me a private message here if you like telling me who the agents are, and if I know any of them I'll let you know what I know about them.

And good luck!

That's brilliant to have four fulls out! Don't despair or read anything into the amount of time it's been - it's Frankfurt Book Fair in two weeks and the agents will be swamped trying to get themselves ready. It's their busiest time of year besides the run-up to LBF. So hold your nerve!