Query Question

[LaurieWipp]

I'm not sure if this is the place to post my question.:Shrug:

How many queries do you think one ought to have outstanding at one time? I have four just now. Going one at a time seems like a waste of my time, but sending 20 at one time seems problematic.

Also, if you've had no response from an agent in two weks is it fair to figure that they are not interested?

Should you always expect some sort of a reply unless they clearly state you will not receive one?

Thanks for any advice you can offer.

[ChaosTitan]

I used to keep between eight and twelve queries out at a time. Smallish batches are good, because it lets you measure the query itself. Flat rejections across the board could indicate a problem with the query; requests mean the query is working.

Also, two weeks is nothing. Time moves slower in publishing. Even if a particular agent gives you a time period in which they say they respond, tack on at least two extra weeks. If you haven't heard anything after three months or more, then you can start chalking it up to "no=rejection."

[kaitie]

I've got out about twelve at the moment, but I've also got a spreadsheet to keep everything organized. Everyone is listed, in order, with links to submissions pages, columns for dates (when I send out, when I got the response), what the response was, what the wait time is, does the agent respond, etc. It helps me keep track of everything in one location and is easy to update, so when I get a rejection I just go to the next one on the list and send off the next. I also have agents from the same agency grouped together so I can make sure I don't accidentally send to different agents at the same agency at once. Doing it this way isn't hard at all. Sure, it took time to set up the spreadsheet, but it's all so organized now that I could in theory send out fifty at a time if I felt like it and still be okay. I wouldn't for all the reasons Chaos mentioned, but I could.

[LaurieWipp]

Thanks - yes- I'm doing the spread sheet thing and it does help keep organized. Thanks for the opinions. It really helps.

[Jamesaritchie]

I like your number. Four is good. But one at a time is not a time waster, either. The real time waster is getting rejections, and when you send out a bunch of queries at once, it had better be a wonderful query. You only get one chanec at each agent, and you can burn through a lot of agents very fast with large numbers of queries.

There are only so many good agents for each genere out there, and the number is a lot smaller than most want to believe. Burn through them with a bad query, and even if you do get an agent, she probably won't be anywhere near the top tier.

Give yourself a chance to rewrite the query, and possibly the sample pages, before all the good agents are gone.

[RJK]

I don't know the optimum number to push out there at one time, but I'm getting rejections from ones I sent 30 to 45 days ago. I also have several that just haven't responded. Personally, I don't wish to wait over a month for a rejection, before I send a second letter.

[Jamesaritchie]

. Personally, I don't wish to wait over a month for a rejection, before I send a second letter.

How long do you want to wait for a rejection? Why do you want rejetcions at all? Personally, I'd rather wait for an acceptance, and the best way to get an acceptance is to take your time and not burn trhough all the good agents at once.

If you worry about time and rejections, the thing you will get is a lot of rejections.