Can I expect many replies to email queries?

I established an email relationship with one agent but, she "doesn't get anything from my stories." I take it to mean that she wants some big finishes.

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Hmm, doesn't sound too promising...maybe you should ask if the problem is indeed a lack of "big finishes" - or maybe she's not interested?

A few other agents reply quickly. And the others will they ever reply to my query?

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I sent an email query to an editor at Boyds Mill Press...have started getting emails with writers' tips and info about Highlights Foundation...but no reply yet to my query...

Patrick Bhaldwraithe said:

Hi, I am new to querying by email. How many replies can I expect from 10 queries? I established an email relationship with one agent but, she "doesn't get anything from my stories." I take it to mean that she wants some big finishes.

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It depends, sometimes no reply is standard for rejections. It's pretty annoying really.

But hon, I know you have a bit of an issue about conformity and stuff, but please don't jump to conclusions about what an agent might or might not mean. She said she didn't get anything from your stories. That is too bad. But where on earth did she say she wanted a "big finish"? Maybe she is the queen of hating big finishes, maybe she found your book too normal. Maybe she loves crazy off the wall stuff that is even further off the beaten path than yours. You have as much proof of that in her response as you do that she wants a big finish.

You may think the reason you are being rejected is because you aren't compromising to the evil industry standards, but maybe it really just is that she didn't get anything from your story. And what's more, that someone else might.

And I still must admit to being really confused as to why you want an agent at all as they are part of the industry that causes authors to conform. Why not self publish? (genuine question)

I don't understand how one can 'establish a relationship' with an Agent who apparently gets nothing from one's stories, nor how if one has such a relationship one can't understand what the Agent means.

So you have decided to go the commercial route. You are trying to get an agent who works for a lit agency who outlays money in the hope of making even more money. And how do they do that? They sign writer's whose works they believe they can sell to publishers and thereby earn commissions on sales. And publishers buy books they believe will sell and earn them a profit. All very commercial.

You can't put a number on answers to be received from 10 email requests. Of course you hope for 10, but be prepared to receive zero requests.

What makes you assume the agent likes big finishes?

Check the guidelines for the agent/literary agency to see what their policies are regarding replies and status. Follow these carefully and to the letter.

There's no way to know how many replies you'll get. Like Toothpaste said, many companies are moving toward the no reply equals a reject.

I've had a couple of submissions that have fallen into the black hole, even after appropriate status checks. It happens. Just be mindful of the guidelines and proceed according to them.

I sent out hundreds of queries while searching for an agent. I only sent e-queries. I would say that on average I received actual replies to 5 or 6 out of 10.

Millencake,

Actually those stats don't sound too bad - it's the 0/10 "no replies" that is scary!

Statistically, I'm getting 90% response rate within 30 days of querying. Only 2% did not respond within 60 days--out of 125 queries to date.

But then again, not all of these were rejections. Only about half were straight up *story does not click* auto-responses. I've been fortunate enough to get a lot of partials and fulls out there.

However, there really isn't any such thing as an email 'relationship' with an agent who isn't representing your work. You query her, get her response, and call it a day unless she asks for more. Only then would you have more than one email to that agent. So, I'm not sure where the idea of a 'relationship' with an uninterested agent could come from. Donald Maass didn't think my story clicked with him and I wouldn't call the two emails we exchanged a 'relationship.'

just sayin'...

"If it takes me a year or two or until the end of time it doesn't matter."

I like the sound of: "If it takes me a year or two past the end of time"

Patrick Bhaldwraithe said:

Most people who write about agents say that they are impatient, rude, and unforgiving. That hasn't been my experience.

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Nor mine. I've never heard of anyone writing such things about agents. I don't know where you get this information, but I would seriously question the source. You won't find anyone at AW saying such things, that's for sure. I have a wonderful agent and I feel very fortunate to have her on my side.

Patrick Bhaldwraithe said:

If someone says they don't get anything from my story, I assume they are talking about the payoff.

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And the agent who said that might mean something wholly different.

Make no assumptions--get some feedback. I sure needed it on my first book!

I once got the classic "You're a good writer, but unpublishable" line from an agent, which only teed me off. It didn't tell me how to fix the flaws, or even what those were, so I rewrote the whole book again just to show him he didn't know anything. By then I'd had some beta readers check it over so I knew what needed work.

Two more tries and it did sell.

Finding an agent is like finding the right Significant Other. Not every one is going to click with your writing, but when they do, you'll know it!

Good luck!

joyofcooking said:

Millencake,

Actually those stats don't sound too bad - it's the 0/10 "no replies" that is scary!

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The only reason I said you may get 10 out of 10 replies or 0 out of 10 was to make the point that we can't be sure that any agent will reply, have to be prepared for the worst and not let it debilitate us. In reality I think that 5-7 will reply, be it an acceptance, request for additional material, personalized rejection, or form rejection. Even though we live in a digital world I have always had greater success when I submit by snail mail. Why, I don't know.

Patrick Bhaldwraithe said:

As for the advice to self-publish. Tell your agent how horrible I am All press is good press.

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What the heck does this mean? I'm sorry, are you suggesting I am that petty? And what on earth does self publishing and me telling my agent how horrible you are have to do with each other? I asked you genuinely why you didn't self publish because in another thread you went on a rant of how the industry forces authors to conform. I genuinely don't understand why you want to participate in the industry that you revile so. You have yet to answer that question on this thread or the other.

Self publishing isn't an insult. And the fact you take it as one is a bit of an insult in turn to people who self publish. There are a lot of benefits in doing it, and if, as you say, it is about sharing your story, not about making money or anything, that could really be a good way to go.

And don't worry I won't say anything about you to my agent because he simply doesn't represent picture book authors. Also he is very commercial, loves to make money, and represents books that are likely to do so. You'd hate him.

(btw, there is such a thing as bad press. The agenting community is very small and they all know each other. You get a bad reputation with one, chances are word will get round.)

Can you expect many replies? Well, I'd say that depends.

If you have a dynamite query for a marketable concept, then you'll probably get a whole lot more replies than you will if your query letter is poorly written, unprofessional, or inappropriate.

Hard for any of us to predict.

One of the most important parts of a query letter is telling the agent/editor why your book is needed by a specific audience and why it will sell--why it's a supremely marketable work. Since you have admitted that you don't care if your book sells, how do you deal with this in your query? If you can't convince an agent/editor of same there's little chance they'll be interested.

Patrick Bhaldwraithe:
How many replies can I expect from 10 queries?

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How long is a piece of string?

How many miles must a man walk to find out that he's a man?

How much wood must a woodchuck chop if a woodchuck could chop wood?

There's no answer to this. If your story resonates with an agent, they'll respond. If it doesn't, then they won't. The key is not to go in with any expectations. Once you've sent off the query, forget about it for 3 months (or such other period as the agency specifies is their usual turn-around time).

Patrick Bhaldwraithe:
I established an email relationship with one agent but, she "doesn't get anything from my stories." I take it to mean that she wants some big finishes.

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No, the agent doesn't mean that she wants some big finishes. She means that she doesn't want your book. I'm sorry that's harsh, but "doesn't get anything from my stories" is no different to "sorry, this isn't for me" or "this isn't right for my list at my time". All it is, is a polite no. Don't waste time and emotional energy trying to decipher some kind of hidden meaning from it. If she'd wanted to give you some advice on how to improve it/change it, she'd have told you straight (that's known as a "good rejection" because it means you have something concrete to take from it).

What you can do is take another look at your manuscript and see if, with the time that's passed, you can see any other changes you need to make to it. If so, make those changes. Alternatively, you could try running the manuscript past other people to see what they think. Or you could try running your query past people to see if it can be improved. Or you can just go to the next batch of agents on your list.

Patrick Bhaldwraithe:
Most people who write about agents say that they are impatient, rude, and unforgiving.

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My guess is that those people are the ones who haven't got an agent or have fallen for a 'bad' or 'scam' agent. Best advice? Ignore those people.

There are quite a few people here on AW who have legitimate agents (and it's okay to hate those people - I know I do ). Legitimate agents behave in a professional manner. Now, sometimes authors and agents have a parting of ways - whether for professional reasons or because the personality gel isn't there - but I can honestly say that those I know who have agents speak very highly of their experience.

Patrick Bhaldwraithe:
I have an agent that is responing to all of my questions.

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Then you're very lucky that the agent is taking the time to do so. Just make sure that your questions don't become pestering.

Patrick Bhaldwraithe:
As for the advice to self-publish. Tell your agent how horrible I am All press is good press.

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No. Contrary to popular belief, not all press is good press. Please do not try to imply that anyone here on AW is going to slag you off to their agent.

The advice to self-publish was honest advice given in good faith given the views that you expressed as to the commercial industry. If you've decided that you still want to go down the commercial industry route then good luck with it. But please don't suggest that people are giving you advice in order to try and thwart your ambitions.

Patrick Bhaldwraithe:
You are all writers. It's the ending that people don't want to hear too soon. We read books because we like the title, the cover, the idea. We may fall in love with the language and various things inbetween. But the lesson is at the end.

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Not necessarily. Not every book has to have a lesson or a moral or a message to it, and if it doesn, then that lesson/moral/message can be buried within the text rather than erected at the end.

Patrick Bhaldwraithe:
If the agent does not send a "no" response. How often should I, may I query without tarnishing my name with the agent? I imagine they read the subject headings first. So, the idea needs to be there. Is there an answer to this question?

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Do you mean follow up on the original query or send a new one out? If it's a follow-up, see further up in my comment because it's usually 3 months or however long the agency specifies. If you're querying for a new book, I'd say give it a couple of months before going back to that agent unless they've specifically said that they want to see any new material that you've got.

MM