Question about re-querying same agent with different project?

hester · Mar 25, 2010

Just curious to get some takes on this (not that I'm at this stage yet, but I'm working on it). I read on Kristin Nelson's blog that four weeks between querying on new projects is reasonable...does anyone think a longer span is better?

Thanks in advance!

job · Mar 25, 2010

hester said:
Just curious to get some takes on this (not that I'm at this stage yet, but I'm working on it). I read on Kristin Nelson's blog that four weeks between querying on new projects is reasonable...does anyone think a longer span is better?

Thanks in advance!

I don't want to go against Kristin Nelson's advice on this. She's the agent. I'm not.

But if I got turned down on one manuscript -- especially if I'd earned a,
"Not this one, but let me see your next work,"
I'd come right back with,
"I happen to have another completed manuscript. Would you like to see it?"

I wouldn't want the agent to forget me, which she would do after a month had passed.

I'm not saying I'd do this with eight manuscripts in a row, but I'd do it with two, if I had two manuscripts ready.

Phaeal · Mar 25, 2010

As job says, if the agent said to send more, I'd send more within a week or so -- SO LONG AS THAT "MORE" WAS POLISHED AND READY FOR MARKETING (don't jump the gun with excitement and rush something off before its time.

) And whether you send the "more" at once or much later, politely remind the agent in the new query that she asked to see another project.

If the agent didn't ask to see more, then I'd give him a month's break and pester other agents with the new stuff in the meantime.

Aubie · Mar 25, 2010

Thanks for asking this. I made the newbie mistake of querrying before I was ready, and I had already started my second project. So, my first is on hold and I'm 23 K into my second. My goal is about 50K (it's YA) and I'm hoping to reach the goal of late May that I set for myself. I querried Kristin Nelson, along with about 12 or 13 others in late Feb, so I guess with this advice I'll be fine.

Good luck.

Lydia Sharp · Mar 25, 2010

hester said:
Just curious to get some takes on this (not that I'm at this stage yet, but I'm working on it). I read on Kristin Nelson's blog that four weeks between querying on new projects is reasonable...does anyone think a longer span is better?

Thanks in advance!

Depends on the agent. Nothing against Ms. Nelson, but she can't speak for all agents (and she probably wasn't anyway; she knows better). She has a super quick turn around on query letters (less than a week, and sometimes, less than a day), so four weeks is really nothing to her. Of course she would say that.
Some agents take up to three months just to respond to a query letter. In that instance, four weeks would not be reasonable. Research every agent individually and use your best judgment.

hester · Mar 25, 2010

Thanks so much y'all!

I'm working on project two (well, realistically it's more like project two hundred eighty-six given how many I've trunked

). I figure it'll probably take a few more months to polish and get it to betas, so no querying until then...

Danthia · Mar 25, 2010

Every agent will have their own preference. One to three months seems to be the average from what I've heard/read various agents say.

hester · Mar 26, 2010

Thanks Danthia! And again, thanks to everyone for their advice and suggestions-with querying you don't always know which end is up (or down!)

Chris P · Mar 26, 2010

If I got a "doesn't fit our goals/not at this time/didn't hold my interest" then I'd give it some time, and four weeks sounds good to me. I can see an agent getting very annoyed by a string of "how about this one, then?" submissions in rapid succession.

But as others have said, if I were requested to show something else then the agent is probably expecting something else soon. I don't know for sure, just me putting myself in their shoes.

Arkie · Mar 26, 2010

Some agencies are tracking submissions by title and author, and won't look at the same one twice. I mistakenly resubmitted to one agency after about 6 months. Got a letter back saying they had already looked at (title) and didn't want to look at it again.

hester · Mar 26, 2010

Thanks for the replies Chris P and Arkie!

I think based on everything here I'm going to wait at least four weeks (probably more, given that Number Two is nowhere near submission shape).

Renee Collins · Mar 26, 2010

Aw man!!

About a month ago an agent (an amazing agent, who I would be beyond thrilled to work with) rejected my full with a full page of explanation/encouragement. She was very complimentary. And she closed by saying she is "definitely interested in seeing future projects."

Trouble is, I'm still only writing the first draft of my next project. It will take me at least two months to finish and get it query ready. Have I shot myself in the foot here? Will she have forgotten all about me? I'm kind of freaking out right now . . .

Question about re-querying same agent with different project?

hester

New year, new avatar.

job

In the end, it's just you and the manuscript

Phaeal

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

Aubie

Live and let live

Lydia Sharp

for the love of love

hester

New year, new avatar.

Danthia

hester

New year, new avatar.

Chris P

Likes metaphors mixed, not stirred

Arkie

a reader's ear and a writer's heart

hester

New year, new avatar.

Renee Collins

Plotting . . .