Waiting on agents

[Hazelwood63]

Hello. I'm just looking for company on this long waiting game. Anyone else waiting to hear back from agents at the moment? I sent out five initial submissions at the end of January. So far I've received a really encouraging rejection and two requests for the full. Nothing from the other two so far. It's coming up to a month since I sent off the first full ms, and just over three weeks for the other one. Has anyone else waited over a month for a response to a full and been offered representation, or is it maybe time to think of moving on?

Yeah I agree. I find it really hard to figure out what's what on the site. It's worth it once I find it but I use way less than I would if I could more easily find what I'd like. And I can't figure out the townhouse/forums at all. I joined lots of interesting ones but no-one seems to use them.

Same. I find it really difficult to navigate and wished peopled posted far more.

Just checking in. Have looked at Jericho but can't really afford it at the mo. Really invested in getting my manuscript ready - had a manuscript assessment, etc and so don't feel I can justify anything else.
No word - good or bad from agents. Have a couple that are about to reach the 'if you haven't heard from us in x weeks it is a pass'
stage.
Trying to write but work is full on and had a little cry today.
Going to dust myself off and put a couple more subs through this weekend

I had a lovely rejection today (seriously!)

It was only on the opening chapters so based on my recent ghosting rate I'd have been happy with a simple "No thanks" so I could cross them off my list, but the agent gave personalised feedback which has really boosted my confidence. It's so helpful to get an idea of why she said no and whether I can do anything about it. (In this case, no.)

That's great @Moonflowered !! Glad it gave you a confidence boost. I know what you mean, I've been ghosted so much I would welcome a rejection at this point, especially a personalised one!! (I haven't had any personalised ones yet)

Another rejection for me! So funny how unfazed I am by it compared to a few weeks ago when it really hurt. It's actually just nice to get a response...!

Well done @Moonflowered That’s a sign you’re moving in the right direction.

@splothersdog I'm so sorry I missed your message and have just seen it now. Just wanted to tell you how amazing you're doing, completing a manuscript and pursuing your passion whilst still working in another job. That's huge and even though the silence/rejection is disappointing and it also does sometimes help to have a cry, well done on dusting yourself off and planning to do more subs this weekend! I hope you feel proud of everything you have accomplished, because you've already accomplished a lot.

@NewWriter thank you.
Logically I know you are right. I think that I am struggling with not having any feedback so don't know where to go next.

I'm finding the Friday feedback useful.

How's everyone doing? I spent the last week off on holiday with my family and a week off from writing for the first time since Christmas. Wanted to be really present with my family and I usually write at nap time and bed time but I wanted to use that time to spend quality time with my husband. We had the best time, but now I'm back I'm ready to knock my manuscript into shape and work some more on my new project!!

No more responses for me, not even rejections. My query package must be really bad. I'm hoping to get some useful feedback from my agent one to ones at the festival - only a couple more weeks to go!

I was wondering if anyone on the thread would be interested in having a small whatsapp group where we share helpful resources with each other? So doesn't have to be Jericho ones, but any free things we find too. I am new to all this and recently found a free character builder online (this actually is Jericho but free on not just for premium members) and it was so helpful for building out the characters for my new project.

Let me know if that might be of interest but totally understand people might want to stay anonymous. Also I would be happy to share any of the tips I get on my query pack after I've been to the festival the week after next!

Is anyone else going to the festival? I'm going to try to go to the online mixer they have on tonight, it's just that it's at my son and daughter's bedtime so need to figure that out with my husband!

I'm going to the Jericho festival on the Saturday but my children get delivered home at 7 and I need to feed them and get them up to bed so I can't do the mixer. Also happy to share any gems I get from my query feedback!

@Moonflowered only thing I've learned so far is that they plan to sit us in our genres for the gala dinner which sounds like a good idea. They've shown us videos of the venue etc but my brain can't really understand it so I'll just learn all that when I'm there 😂

@NewWriter now I'm trying to find out what genre I said I write in 🤣 It could be one of two... That sounds like a good plan though (as long as I don't end up out of my depth with hard-core Sci fi writers!!) I'd been wondering about how to find someone to sit with.

@Moonflowered Sounds like they will have genre tables and you can choose which genre you want to sit at. So if you end up making writing friends on the day you can still sit with them. Unless you have dietary requirements (which unfortunately I do as my baby has CMPA so I can't eat dairy) - if you have dietary requirements you will have assigned seating.

Also they are telling finalists of the Friday Night Live competition that they are finalists this afternoon, so good luck everyone who entered!

actually one more thing - everyone who has agent one to ones booked will be given written feedback from the agent to take away which I thought was a great idea!

@NewWriter thank you!

I'm going to go to Sunday's ask an agent anything session - does anyone have any questions they would like me to ask? My main one is going to be whether they always go through submissions chronologically or do they jump around - and if they do let a submission skip the queue, what has it been in the past about that submission that has made them do that

I'm endlessly refreshing my email now... Watched the recording of the Zoom event so now I'm wondering when their 2-hour decision-making meeting ends. Even though the odds of being picked are so slim it ups the tension!!

Wish I was coming now!

@Moonflowered haha I'm refreshing my emails still even though finalists have probably already been told by now. Can't help but hope!!

@LuciferRising I'll try to share any especially useful tips they give us at the festival! Especially navigating the world of agents!!

So excited for the festival now! If anyone on this thread would like to meet up there / figure out if we have a workshop together then PM me 😁 I know a few people are connecting on Townhouse so they can meet up this weekend but I've still not worked out how that all works TBH!

@NewWriter I was wondering if anyone on the thread would be interested in having a small whatsapp group where we share helpful resources with each other? So doesn't have to be Jericho ones, but any free things we find too.

Have you had any interest in this? I'd quite like a slightly more private group as I get extremely paranoid at times about inadvertently outing myself.

I'd want this, but keep switching between a yes and a no.

@GhostImposter @LuciferRising nope! I'm keen to have a smaller private group to share resources and help etc. Especially since we have no idea who is reading this forum (and it will no doubt be read for years to come - I know I read really old Mumsnet threads sometimes!) but totally understand people might not want to move over to WhatsApp. The offer is still there though!