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 ☺️

I did mine through IAMINPRINT. Jericho writers area good option too.

I'd looked at both of those.

Jericho writers is about 5 times the price!

I've also had a Cornerstones editorial report that was really useful, but didn't cover a lot of the synopsis and not the query letter at all, which is what I think needs the work now.
Part of me says go back to Cornerstone (but that's even more expensive than Jericho) because they were really good, but, other than the price, I wonder whether it would be good to get a different view.

What about joining a writing group and getting feedback from the other writers? I am on WriteMentor (which is mainly children's writers) but there's also Writers HQ which is free for the basic access I think.

I'm on Scribophile which has been absolutely brilliant and really helped get my book into this position.
I've had loads of feedback, but I'm still struggling with the synopsis. I think in the US, the synopsis and query letter are different emphasis, so I haven't found it as useful as the rest of the book.

I have been on WriteMentor (get their emails anyway), so I might go and have another look on there. I haven't been on it for ages.

I definitely recommend iaminprint. It’s done via zoom so you get face to face time. Their website is very transparent and you can select an agent that you really want to speak to. Not every organisation will have that. It’s money well spent with iaminprint and they really care about writers. Good luck.

I'm going to give the IAMINPRINT a go. I was a bit limited on agents as they're all daytime during the week (which is fair enough) but also I work those times! I've got one for the end of the day so I can come home an hour early for that day, and I really liked the agent it applied to so a win all round (hopefully!)

How is everyone doing? I'm currently writing my next children's book as I have no good news to report yet on the picture book I'm currently querying.

I've had my IAMINPRINT consultation.

First thing I'll say is it felt really short-which they do warn you, but I could have sworn we were still on the introductions when they said one minute to go!

I would say the Cornerstones gave hugely more, but you also paid hugely more. But I think the good thing about the Cornerstone was you got a report, then you had a consultation (and my chap was very generous - I think they say an hour and we were over two) so you've got questions from the report and you can answer some of the things they've raised.
The good thing about the Iaminprint was you are with an agent, and this is what they deal with. They do check in with you before and after, and there is a little time for asking questions.

Because it's so short there isn't really time for a discussion on most things. They asked a couple of questions, but not time to get a full discussion unfortunately.

So I did get some useful things out of it - but I'm also left with a questions. Some of the things the Cornerstone person really liked, the Iaminprint thought I should cut down, for example. I'm left not knowing whether to fully alter it, partially alter it, or leave it as it is.
They also did very little on synopsis and query letter which was the main thing I wanted, focusing on the first three chapters - which until then I was happy with🤣

But the Iaminprint did go thoroughly over what I'd sent, they'd clearly read it and thought about it. So I think maybe I'm just feeling that it didn't go far enough, which is purely a matter of time. I wish you could have the option of asking say one or two questions afterwards. That would probably just get the completeness that I feel I'm missing.

Although it could simply be ego, because the Cornerstones person said several times how much they'd liked it, and bits they particularly liked, and there just wasn't time for that side of it with Iaminprint as correcting it was far more important.

I think if I was doing it again I'd do the Iaminprint first, get basic ideas, and then do the Cornerstone afterwards for a more detailed analysis.
If you only want to do one, I'd do the Cornerstones one, money permitting.
But the iaminprint is definitely worth doing. I think you get good value for money and you are talking with an agency insider.

I know, 15 mins isn't long at all but I am glad you got value from it. Was the agent open to you querying them?

@ponygirlcurtis they didn't mention querying them, so I'd probably be inclined to give them a swerve, especially as I'm not sure about all the advice they gave.

Don't get me wrong, a lot of the advice was really helpful, but there were a couple of things that I don't think I'd implement fully because others have had really different opinions. And I'd imagine that she'd recognise the story and that I hadn't done it, so it would be a straight off "no".
She also wasn't that enthusiastic, which could be just story fatigue at the end of a long day, so I'd imagine I'd get the standard response "thank you but I don't feel excited enough to take it on".

I do think she's helped, and I do think she's an excellent agent, just don't think my story was for her if that makes sense.

That does make sense. It's so hard to know what the right thing to do is, especially when it is so subjective. But at least you have some actions to take from it.

I'd certainly say to someone considering it that it's worth doing. And I'd say my agent was lovely and had clearly put in work, and I'm really grateful to her. If someone asked, I'd happily recommend her, as I could tell she'd definitely thought about it.

But it would have been better if there had been time for more discussion. That's kind of what I'm thinking on the emailing a couple of questions later as a follow up.
Being able to ask "you said to cut down this part, would it work if xyz" and a reply of either "no, just cut it" or "yes that would work", would just make it feel more complete, and give me more to work from.

But I also accept that the price is very cheap. I think I'd be tempted to ask if I could book two concurrent sessions maybe. I don't know if they do that, but I think half an hour rather than 15 minutes would have allowed for some discussion.

I know, 15 mins is no time at all, there's no time for niceties. Why not email a follow-up, you've got nothing to lose (especially if you aren't planning on querying them anytime soon). Do you mind me asking which agent it was?

What about a specific synopsis review? Amy Sparkes does a synopsis and query letter review for £15, she's fab.

https://www.storygodmother.co.uk/index.php/author-services/

That looks an interesting site. Thanks.
I'm going to have a look through that. It's similar price to iaminprint for the full query letter and synopsis, but you can do just one, which could be good.

I'll Pm you the name of the agent - I don't like naming people online. Assuming pms are back working again.

No worries, I am just being nosy! I think the children's writing world is smaller than for adult fiction so you get to know the names of more agents and see the same ones pop up on social media, writing communities, etc.

Can definitely recommend Amy Sparkes, she knows her stuff - she has written lots of PBs, CBs and MG - and runs lots of affordable courses and things like that too.

Hi, I’ve been writing for a few years now, and my son has just started his first year at uni studying film directing, where he’s learning scriptwriting. He’s been helping me look for a literary agent for my sci-fi novel, which took over three years to write. I’ve now submitted it to a number of agents and was wondering how long replies usually take.

Hi @Billy01 good for you. I think it really depends. Agents usually have something on their website about how long to expect, usually anything from 4-12 weeks. Have a spreadsheet so you can mark off the response - and for every rejection, send another query package out.

But the very best thing you can do is send out to agents then start writing something new and focus on that, not the agent.

Good luck!

Thankyou, i expect they go through hundreds of submissions each week. I've already got started on the sequel.

I've just started querying my dystopian novel. Not really expecting anything as I don't think it's good enough, but I don't have the energy to make it better. But you never know, I guess. Would be nice to get at least some sort of feedback.

I’m not waiting at the mo but have done on the past. I got my first agent by networking at events and the wait wasn’t too bad actually. Psychologically I think if someone’s met you it’s harder to leave you waiting. May be go to some webinars/ conferences/ book readings etc. Prob not so many in person now, but lots online. And start talking to industry peeps. TBH I think it’s scandalous how long people leave writers waiting. Yes. They get a lots of submissions but they also know whether something has potential with a few pages. That’s 2 mins reading tops. I used to work in editorial and they just need to employ more people. They are busy but no busier than in other jobs. Imagine if an estate agent took 3 months to even value your house. 😂

Wishing everyone a flying start to the year as the publishing wheels begin to turn again!

Started querying 5 weeks ago here — one full request followed by a very kind rejection two weeks later and now wishing I hadn’t sent off quite so many queries as I’m re-drafting bits including a few lines in the first three chapters.

I must be missing something because IAMINPRINT seems like a nice way to chuck away £85. 15 minutes?! Why a video call? Surely an agent could send more useful feedback in an email? It’s heartbreaking that so many writers are spending a chunk of money to buy what must be a frustratingly short feedback session. I hope I’m wrong but isn’t it simply buying a pitch? These are agents we could all query for free

Can I ask a quick question — has anyone queried a second agent at the same agency, after not hearing back from the first in the stated time period (or after getting rejected). I queried the wrong agent at one of the first agencies I submitted to basically, and would give anything to get a second chance with a colleague of hers whose wish list matches my manuscript perfectly (imho)

Go for it, @ferntwist , you have nothing to lose. If your manuscript resonates, they aren’t going to fuss about if you already submitted to another agent. Although sometimes agents do share queries eg the agents representing children's books might share a query if they think it's more suited to a colleague. But give it a go.

Thanks so much @ponygirlcurtis. Good to know!

I submitted a picture book earlier this week - and it's already excruciating! Especially when you know that you may never hear i.e they don't even confirm rejections. I think I will take a posters previous advice and crack on with drafting other one.

Out of curiosity with anyone who was successful how long was it between submission and contact from an agent?