Wait times on fulls...

colealpaugh · Mar 23, 2009

I was just curious what other people have experienced as to their wait times to hear back on fulls requested and sent via email. Not trying to peg a date for when I should expect to hear, but just wondering about common experiences.

I've already started a new WIP and swore I'd just forget about it, but every few hours I refresh my email to see if the rejection has arrived. I don't want to mention names, but it's a well regarded agent per BBC.

The doubts creep in about the agent even receiving it, despite following specific subject line instructions. It's only been a few days, but after reading "no attachments---they go right to trash" so many times, the mind wanders to a worst case scenario. I suppose I'm also wondering if there's a certain amount of time before dropping a quick email with "Just wanted to confirm your receipt of XXXX, emailed per your request on March XX"?

Man, do I sound like a complete tool or what? :e2thud:

cwfgal · Mar 23, 2009

Did you do your homework on this agent? If so, you should have some idea of what his/her usual response time is. Is it an exclusive? If so, you should have agreed to a time frame up front. If you sent the full as an attachment and that's what the agent told you to do, I'd say you're fine. But if he/she says no attachments and you sent it that way, then I'd say you're screwed (though it's hard to imagine anyone requesting a full be sent in the body of an email).

Response times vary quite a bit between agents and some have a policy of only responding if they're interested. If you have no idea about what this agent's usual time frame is, I'd suggest you do some research and try to find out. Barring that, I'd give it a good two to three weeks minimum. You can continue to send out queries during that time. Or work on your new WIP. If you can uncover a stated time frame for this agent, it would be acceptable to inquire on status at the end of that period.

Beth

colealpaugh · Mar 23, 2009

cwfgal said:
Did you do your homework on this agent? If so, you should have some idea of what his/her usual response time is. Is it an exclusive? If so, you should have agreed to a time frame up front. If you sent the full as an attachment and that's what the agent told you to do, I'd say you're fine. But if he/she says no attachments and you sent it that way, then I'd say you're screwed (though it's hard to imagine anyone requesting a full be sent in the body of an email).

Response times vary quite a bit between agents and some have a policy of only responding if they're interested. If you have no idea about what this agent's usual time frame is, I'd suggest you do some research and try to find out. Barring that, I'd give it a good two to three weeks minimum. You can continue to send out queries during that time. Or work on your new WIP. If you can uncover a stated time frame for this agent, it would be acceptable to inquire on status at the end of that period.

Beth

Thanks, Beth!

On different MB's, I found only vague mentions of how long this agent takes. Just gobs and gobs of praise regarding professionalism and his/her ability to sell. As to background, I hate to even say how perfect he/she would be for my MS. To be blunt, it's going to suck when the rejection comes from him/her, but I'm totally prepared. No worries.

No mention of it as an exclusive, just a quick and very funny note from the agent along with some specific instructions for the subject line. It went as a Word doc also assuming sticking 900k worth of text into an email seemed highly unusual.

Wait! An agent wouldn't notify you of a rejection after requesting a full? Really? I think we need a new rule if that's the case

Cyia · Mar 23, 2009

If you don't hear back in 3 months, send a status query.

RainbowDragon · Mar 23, 2009

If they request a partial or full, they should send something, rejection or otherwise. Here's hoping it's otherwise!

KTC · Mar 23, 2009

I have 2 fulls out that have been out for 4 months and 1 full out that has been out for 5 months. I've had an email from one of the 4 month fulls--just an update saying they are still considering it and they haven't forgotten me. The other 2...nothing yet. I've been told to send a query follow up after 3 months and I've been told to wait for 6 months. I'm going with patience. I find I don't even think about them. I'm working on something else.

colealpaugh · Mar 23, 2009

Cyia said:
If you don't hear back in 3 months, send a status query.

The term status query has now been researched and part of my small and slowly expanding vat/jug/cup of knowledge.

And thank you Rainbow, as well!

colealpaugh · Mar 23, 2009

KTC said:
I have 2 fulls out that have been out for 4 months and 1 full out that has been out for 5 months. I've had an email from one of the 4 month fulls--just an update saying they are still considering it and they haven't forgotten me. The other 2...nothing yet. I've been told to send a query follow up after 3 months and I've been told to wait for 6 months. I'm going with patience. I find I don't even think about them. I'm working on something else.

So you are in fact not easily distracted?

Thanks, KTC, and good luck to you...

KTC · Mar 23, 2009

colealpaugh said:
So you are in fact not easily distracted?

Thanks, KTC, and good luck to you...

And to you. (-;

TrixieLox · Mar 24, 2009

10 days. Then I got an agent. She kept in touch all the way through so I didn't freak out. But I also hear of people waiting 6 months, then getting an agent. So it's one of those 'how long's a piece of string' thangs.

KikiteNeko · Mar 24, 2009

From an agent, the longest wait for me was over two months, and I nudged (that agent still hadn't finished it when I got an offer elsewhere). The shortest wait was about a week and a half.

From an editor, the longest wait was over four months. But editors are not to be nudged by the writers.

IMO there's nothing wrong with just confirming the agent got it. I don't think they usually confirm receipt.

Glenakin · Mar 24, 2009

colealpaugh said:
Thanks, Beth!

On different MB's, I found only vague mentions of how long this agent takes. Just gobs and gobs of praise regarding professionalism and his/her ability to sell. As to background, I hate to even say how perfect he/she would be for my MS. To be blunt, it's going to suck when the rejection comes from him/her, but I'm totally prepared. No worries.

No mention of it as an exclusive, just a quick and very funny note from the agent along with some specific instructions for the subject line. It went as a Word doc also assuming sticking 900k worth of text into an email seemed highly unusual.

Wait! An agent wouldn't notify you of a rejection after requesting a full? Really? I think we need a new rule if that's the case

I hope you researched the agent's gender and name, and addressed him or her accordingly (with their names), because if you didn't then you're probably going to get rejected.

Sage · Mar 24, 2009

I got a rejection on a full request (from a partial) after three days.

Of my other four full requests:

One I have been waiting on since September 1, but I received an e-mail around Thanksgiving about whether it was still available now that the agent had time to read it. She hasn't responded since. I have statused her once since.

One I sent in mid-October and haven't heard a word since, despite two status queries.

One I sent at the end of December. She told me her reading time is about three months, so I am giving her until the end of the week before status querying.

One I sent off today

Reading times vary. As you can see, one of these has been out for over 6 months, yet I got a rejection from one in only 3 days.

colealpaugh · Mar 24, 2009

Glenakin said:
I hope you researched the agent's gender and name, and addressed him or her accordingly (with their names), because if you didn't then you're probably going to get rejected.

Yes, of course I did. I used "his/her" just to be obscure in my post as I await rejection.

colealpaugh · Mar 24, 2009

Sage said:
I got a rejection on a full request (from a partial) after three days.

Of my other four full requests:

One I have been waiting on since September 1, but I received an e-mail around Thanksgiving about whether it was still available now that the agent had time to read it. She hasn't responded since. I have statused her once since.

One I sent in mid-October and haven't heard a word since, despite two status queries.

One I sent at the end of December. She told me her reading time is about three months, so I am giving her until the end of the week before status querying.

One I sent off today

Reading times vary. As you can see, one of these has been out for over 6 months, yet I got a rejection from one in only 3 days.

I've read a lot of stories like this, but it still seems pretty incredible. As a reporter, I've always experienced such a different kind of turnaround, even on long feature articles. Different world...

scope · Mar 24, 2009

After sending the full by email I would send another 2-3 days after just to confirm its receipt. You don't want to be waiting for something that may have gotten lost or misplaced.

If I had no idea of normal response time to fulls I would a status query 8-10 weeks later.

cwfgal · Mar 24, 2009

scope said:
After sending the full by email I would send another 2-3 days after just to confirm its receipt. You don't want to be waiting for something that may have gotten lost or misplaced.

If I had no idea of normal response time to fulls I would a status query 8-10 weeks later.

I assume you mean send another email, not another full.

To be honest, I wouldn't do this. If you followed the agent's submission guidelines, then trust that he/she will get it and get to it. Might it get lost? Sure. But odds are it won't and emailing again 2-3 days later makes you look nagging and desperate and risks irritating an already busy agent with yet another silly email they have to respond to. Wait for the stated response time or whatever period you think is suitable (it should be weeks, not days) and if you haven't received any word, then send an email inquiry. Just my opinion, worth what you paid for it.

You should be querying other agents during the wait time. Don't put all your eggs into one agent's basket.

Beth

vsrenard · Mar 24, 2009

My agent contacted me 3 days after getting my full asking if anyone had the manuscript. When I said no, she offered me representation. That was a little over a year ago.

Wait times on fulls...

colealpaugh

"Bear trumps Elephants!"

cwfgal

On the rocks

colealpaugh

"Bear trumps Elephants!"

Cyia

Rewriting My Destiny

RainbowDragon

Perpetuous Revisasaurus

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live

colealpaugh

"Bear trumps Elephants!"

colealpaugh

"Bear trumps Elephants!"

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live

TrixieLox

Benefactor Member

KikiteNeko

.

Glenakin

Sage

Our Lady of Parentheticals

colealpaugh

"Bear trumps Elephants!"

colealpaugh

"Bear trumps Elephants!"

scope

Commonsensical Maverick

cwfgal

On the rocks

vsrenard

Watching the Whales