Support thread for those waiting to hear back from agents.

[Showmethefood]

Hi everyone ☺️

I'm currently querying literary agents for my children’s picture book and the wall of silence/waiting game is driving me up the wall 🙈. Sent queries to around 30 agents and have received 4 rejections so far. Started querying three weeks ago. Would anyone like to join by keeping each other company/keeping each other motivated during this difficult time?

The more the merrier ☺️

Sorry, I feel your pain. But three weeks is still very recent. Even when you get an agent (I have one at the mo) it often doesn’t improve - it can take ages to hear back from them. My current one is responsive but not how id like them to be. My last agent was worse - took eight (count ‘em) months to reply to me once 😱. I read an article that said the best skill a writer can cultivate is patience - I think there’s a lot in that. Good luck with getting an agent though!

@SmugglersHaunt 8 months of waiting for a reply is awful 🙈🙈😱. Do you mind if I ask how long it took you to find an agent? I’ve heard that if an agent is interested they get back to you pretty quickly, but surely that can’t always be the case as they are busy?

So my first agent got back to me in about a month if I remember correctly. The current one faster than that - but both were for film/TV writing so faster to read - so fiction would be longer. I’d give it six/seven weeks and then follow the advice on their sites re: following up (if there’s no advice then a polite follow up agree that time is fine I’d say)

But in general, trying to understand what the f agents do / why they’re so “busy” (isn’t everyone?) ends in madness as I can testify!

I can understand that. 🙈 I keep trying to distract myself and not constantly refresh my emails 200 times a day.

Honestly, try to write something else in the meantime, or make a list of agents you want to contact in a second round. I’m currently in the next stage of madness where my agent has put my book out on sub to publishers. Waiting is horrendous, especially with an agent who I have to badger CONSTANTLY to get the merest update. Feel like I’m going insane 🤪

It’s really tough. Some agents seem to respond very quickly (positively or negatively) but most take weeks and weeks. I found it helpful to make a spreadsheet of agents I had contacted and the date I expected to hear back by (they tend to say on their websites).

I ended up with more than one agent keen after thinking I’d never get an agent at all but I don’t have a publisher yet. My book is out on sub at the moment which means yet more waiting and hoping. I’m lucky that my agent does keep me updated but it’s so hard and frustrating. Good luck!

I always thought that getting the agent was the hardest part and that it was all plain sailing after that (foolish I know). @WriterRighter you’re right about the spreadsheet idea - I’ve found it does help keep track. How long have you both been waiting so far? Wishing you all the very best and sending positive publishing vibes 🤞🤞

Well, getting an agent is the first step and each step feels like a big hurdle. I’ve been waiting a few weeks, maybe a month. I know I need to be patient but it’s so difficult when you’ve invested so much time, energy and passion into something! I’d hope your children’s picture book might be quicker to assess.

The waiting is difficult 😔. You’re right about all the time and energy too. So far I’ve had three form rejections and one personalised one. They happened a while ago though, so haven’t heard anything recently. It’s crazy, but you get to the point where a rejection is better than silence! 😂

I've been trying with my middle grade, but not getting very far.
I tend to mentally write them off after 10-12 weeks, to stop myself thinking too much about it.

I wish they wouldn't do the spiel about "I enjoyed reading it, but it wasn't for me" (because it sounds positive, but I think it's standard "no") or "Unfortunately we are unable to give feedback because we're so busy" because I'm not submitting it for feedback, and whereas it might be nice if they did give me some ideas, I don't expect it. Telling me I'm not getting something I didn't expect seems more negative then just not getting it.

I think my synopsis and covering letter let me down. When I've had people read the whole thing they're pretty enthusiastic (and I'm talking about independent people who should know a bit of what they're talking about), but I suspect a lot aren't getting that far because of those.

I'd just like one to come back and say they liked it, even if they didn't take it on at the moment.

@MargaretThursday I get your frustration. How many agents have you queried so far? I started off only sending to a few, but this past week I’ve sent off loads.

@MargaretThursday it might be worth relooking at your letter and synopsis and maybe doing a one to one with an agent online if you honestly think that’s letting you down. We all invest so much time in the book but actually it’s the letter and synopsis that needs to grab the agent’s attention. My synopsis got better over time. Good luck

Feeling your agony, @Showmethefood. Wishing you all the best. The personalised rejection is sort of encouraging, though?

@WriterRighter and @SmugglersHaunt Best of luck with your subs. Please let us know how they turn out!

Thank you @DefiantlyDaringDunnock . I suppose it is in a way. I think what he actually said was - “I don’t think your story is complete or well rounded enough.” 😳😳😂 But that’s ok ….

Hoping to hear from at least one agent this coming week. 🤞

@Showmethefood I feel like I've queried loads. I've done 8 recently, although I did 8 on an earlier version.
Of the 8 I have done I've had 3 standard answers, one a bit more positive, and 2 I queried in August so I've written off, and waiting for 2.

I have had editorial help from Cornerstones, and the editor there was really nice about it, and said it he thought it was good enough to get published, but was a case of hitting the right agent at the right time.
I'm wondering whether to go back and ask for a synopsis and query letter only, which is why I haven't been doing massive querying.

It would actually be helpful if the agents said something like "didn't bother reading the three chapters because the synopsis was rubbish" or "didn't get past the query letter because it was boring.

I agree - it would be helpful 😂. I’ve often thought to myself that I’d pay good money to be able read their thoughts when they see my query/synopsis! The editorial feedback sounds promising. How much writing have you done this week? I haven’t done as much as I should - purely because I’ve thought “What’s the point if they think my ideas are rubbish?” Yes, I know that’s bad thinking - but it is honest 😂

@Showmethefood I'm trying to write the sequel for NaNoWriMo, but finding it hard going. I think in the back of my mind I'm thinking that if I don't find an agent for this one, I'd be better starting a new story than doing a sequel.
I have done about 15k words for NaNo, but it feels sluggish at the moment.

@MargaretThursday well done on writing 15,000 words though! I’ve really got to knuckle down and do some writing tomorrow. Hoping I hear something this week 🤞

Woke up to a rejection this morning - prefer that to the wall of silence 😂

Sorry @Showmethefood

It’s good to know and not be in limbo but it’s so frustrating. Hope you have a better luck with someone else.

Thank you ☺️ @WriterRighter Keeping positive. How are things going your end?

Another rejection this afternoon. I have a feeling I might get quite a few emails this week! 🙈😂

Just had another one this very minute 😂😂😂

Hi everyone, I'm in the same boat with querying agents and happy to find this thread. I started sending queries just over three weeks ago. I had two quick replies, both rejections but personalised and complimentary, which I think raised my hopes a bit too much. I've sent to 20 in total and have had nothing but silence otherwise. I know it's still early days, and I'm trying to get stuck into writing something else, but it's so hard to move on and stop checking my email for responses!

@Strampalata Hi and welcome 🤗 I understand what you mean. Yesterday I was constantly checking my emails. So far I’ve sent around 30ish queries and received 8 rejections. It’s been 5 weeks tomorrow since I first started. Had three rejections last Tuesday pretty much back to back 🙈, but haven’t heard anything since.