should i email again?

silver76 · May 24, 2011

I am being considered for pub at an independent publisher. i emailed a little less than 3 weeks ago with a revision- and they let me know my book was on its second reader and that they would let me know their decision in 3 weeks give or take a few days.
Thing is, its my bday today- and I would love to hear that they have decided to move forward.
Should I send a cutesy "its my bday email, if you have good news, it would be a great day to get it"- or just continue to wait.
If I wait- when should i check in again?

Purple Rose · May 24, 2011

No, absolutely not, please don't ask for a littl "present", which is what you clearly want. It is not cute, and you risk annoying the recipient.

If they said three weeks, then I think it is fair to follow up a week after, which means 4 weeks. Any sooner and you might be perceived as pushy.

RobinF · May 24, 2011

Happy Birthday!

I agree with Purple Rose. You need to maintain a professional relationship with this person. Cutesy is a disaster. Good luck! I hope it turns out well.

Purple Rose · May 24, 2011

Oooops, happy birthday! How thoughtless of me. I am so sorry.

Have a splendid day and eat lots of cake, the yummiest, creamiest type. :partyguy:

silver76 · May 24, 2011

Thanks i needed to be talked off the ledge- i know its crazy- but i am anxious

leahzero · May 24, 2011

Happy birthday! But don't nudge.

Don't give them the impression that you're difficult to work with, self-absorbed, etc. (While I think mentioning wanting a birthday present could come across as cute, it could also come across as narcissistic, which is a PITA to work with.)

Like Purple Rose said, I'd wait at least a week before nudging.

James Ebersole · May 24, 2011

Oh, cool you share a birthday with Bob Dylan, and my sister. I agree with what everyone else has been saying about checking back in a week. But who knows, maybe THEY KNOW it's your birthday and are waiting till the weekend to tell you good news so you can really celebrate

stormie · May 24, 2011

Just happened by to say Happy Birthday. :partyguy:

And have patience.

RobinF · May 25, 2011

silver76 said:
Thanks i needed to be talked off the ledge- i know its crazy- but i am anxious

It's exciting! I'd probably be checking email ten times a day if I were waiting to hear from a publisher.

agentpaper · May 25, 2011

I totally know how you feel! My offer came in a week before my birthday, so it's definitely a great feeling when you get good news like that on or near your birthday.

:partyguy:

Happy birthday! :partyguy:

And good luck!

ETA: Goodness! Can I say birthday any more?

silver76 · May 25, 2011

no news yesterday

but an agent who is seriously considering rep emailed to say she is having good thoughts about the manuscript and wants to give it one more quick read before making her decision.
even though the publisher is SUPER small i just want this to be over...having an agent- as I learned the last time- doesn't mean anything if publishers say no

kellion92 · May 25, 2011

Happy birthday!

It's very exciting, but don't push, especially since if you get an offer from the publisher, you should let the agents know before you say anything to the publisher, yes or no. The agents may offer, wanting to rep your negotiations, or more likely will want to hold off accepting and sub more widely to see if a better contract is possible.

Or the agents may decline, and then if you have a publisher offer you're happy with, who needs 'em?

PinkAmy · May 25, 2011

Glad you decided against sending an email.
Wait at least a few weeks, you want to be respectful of the editor's time and other work constraints. Your goal is to be published, NOT to find out what the publisher things as soon as you can. There are tons of delays in the publishing world, so three weeks might mean six weeks. You lose nothing by being patient, but you have everything to lose by being impatient.

IceCreamEmpress · May 26, 2011

Waiting is one of the hardest skills all of us writers need to learn.

but true.

Happy birthday (belated)!

Susan Coffin · May 26, 2011

silver76 said:
I am being considered for pub at an independent publisher. i emailed a little less than 3 weeks ago with a revision- and they let me know my book was on its second reader and that they would let me know their decision in 3 weeks give or take a few days.
Thing is, its my bday today- and I would love to hear that they have decided to move forward.
Should I send a cutesy "its my bday email, if you have good news, it would be a great day to get it"- or just continue to wait.
If I wait- when should i check in again?

Hi Silver,

Happy belated birthday. Glad you didn't send that email, as it would have be unprofessional. Hang in there and give them the time they need to review your work, even if they go a few days or weeks over the time alloted. Be patient.

Castle Pokemetroid · May 26, 2011

Good thing I found this topic, I almost did that.

Phaeal · May 27, 2011

Happy birthday, a little late!

My system is to double the stated response time before nudging. Or, where there was no stated time, I'll wait at least three months for a short sub (partial, short story) or six months for a large sub (full novel.)

It's only the current WIP and my sorely overused mantras that keep me from pitching daily tantrums before the empty email box. But I don't want any agents or editors to know that.

Or, to appropriate Hammerstein's lyrics:

Make believe you're patient
And the trick will take you far.
You may be as patient
As you make believe you are.

should i email again?

silver76

Living the Dream (Nightmare)

Purple Rose

practical experience, FTW

RobinF

Writing, speaking, more writing

Purple Rose

practical experience, FTW

silver76

Living the Dream (Nightmare)

leahzero

The colors! THE COLORS!

James Ebersole

Drinks too much coffee

stormie

storm central

RobinF

Writing, speaking, more writing

agentpaper

One of many

silver76

Living the Dream (Nightmare)

kellion92

A cat may not look at a king

PinkAmy

New kid, be gentle!

IceCreamEmpress

Hapless Virago

Susan Coffin

Tell it like it Is

Castle Pokemetroid

More of an animator than writer

Phaeal

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.