Waiting on an agent

Manxom Vroom · Jul 20, 2006

In the first week of April I sent my entire manuscript to an agent, who asked to see the whole thing after a professional writer referred me to the agent.

Three months passed with no word, and I sent a nudge to the agent via snail mail. She emailed me back on June 30th saying that she had read my first two chapters and wants to read more, but won't be able to get back to it for a few weeks.

I'm not sure that I really have a question, but I'm posting this here in order to resist the urge to email another nudge (Miss Snark's post on this yesterday was written especially for me, I'm sure). I take the agents desire to read more as a definite good sign, but no guarentee of anything.

I'm trying to get started writing my next novel, but this tactic worked for about three days. I'm trying very hard to sit tight and be patient, and so what I guess I'm asking for are patient vibes to shore myself up with. At the moment I'm hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst.

Branwyn · Jul 20, 2006

I wish I could help you, but I ran out of patience --no wait-- I never had patience. :e2fairy:

Here's the Fairy of Good Luck though.

Manxom Vroom · Jul 20, 2006

Thank you!

davids · Jul 20, 2006

Just pretend that Godot is coming-at least you will have something to do

NeuroFizz · Jul 20, 2006

Above all, resist the temptation to send another nudge. Hard as it is, also resist hanging on the mailbox or obsessively checking your e-mail. This situation is already altering your writing, as you admit. If you let this impatience keep you from writing your next story, what will you do if the agent says no? You will have wasted both time and energy. If you can, get back to your writing and let the submission process take its course. It still could be weeks before you get an answer.

stephblake24 · Jul 20, 2006

No nudging unless you want a rejection. Start something else...and take a vacation from the email box. A watched pot never boils.

I am giving you this advice and taking it myself. A publisher has had 3 ch of my novel since June 9th, and I have since reworked and finished the book and have NOT made contact, although email makes it very tempting!

maestrowork · Jul 20, 2006

No more nudging for at least six to eight weeks. The agent already responded and she didn't reject you. Wait. Let her do her job. Are you in a big hurry to be rich and famous?

Go and write something else. Take a vacation. Volunteer at your local charities. Anything to keep your mind off of this. Forget it about it for now.

Manxom Vroom · Jul 20, 2006

Thanks again. Posting this here has helped. It allows me to vent my impatience in a safe, non-nudging way.

Maprilynne · Jul 20, 2006

This is so so so so so hard to do, but if you can manage, it is really nice. Fugedaboutit. Seriously. Work on the next novel, take up golfing (ick!), learn how to knit, what ever you can. Try to just leave it tucked away, wrapped in a nice little package in the back of your mind. It sucks, I know. Try querying someone else. Then you can get nervous about something else.

Think about your baby off with the agent once a day, then put it away. It works. It's hard, but it works. Good Luck!

Maprilynne

blackbird · Jul 20, 2006

Your agent has given you encouraging words, so best thing now is to hang tight and don't pester her. I'm with you because I'm pretty much in the same boat right now, that is, I have an agent but am now waiting to hear back from the publishers, as well as the agent's response to my latest novel. Every day that you don't hear anything feels like "a little piece of eternity" (couldn't resist; I love that phrase!)

For awhile, I was busy with my job and school, so that helped fill a lot of the time. I was kept too busy to dwell on whether or not any response had come that day. But then came...summer. And with it, all that empty time to fill, so yes, every day that I wait can feel like a century if I don't keep myself occupied.

Here's a little trick that has worked for me, for what it's worth. I learned that if I check my email and phone messages first thing in the morning, only to hear nothing, it really clouds my whole day. I feel depressed; I can't focus on my new projects. So these days I consciously make a habit of NOT checking email or phone mesasges until late at night, sometimes before bed. Instead of worrying about my email or phone messages, I wake up and immediately go to work on my writing. I block everything out except the project at hand. Throughout the day, I look forward to checking my messages at night to see what the day brought.
Even if it's nothing (the case more likely than not) I don't feel quite so bad. I can still feel satisfied with what I accomplished that day, and can set my sights on tomorrow.

This probably sounds like a small thing, and it is, but it's what keeps me from going insane during this endless wait and from resisting the urge to email my agent twenty times a day. In other words, it helps keep me from obsessing. As one of my writing mentors once told me, "You have to take care of the creating, and let New York take care of itself--which it's going to do, anyway, and in its own good time."

HConn · Jul 20, 2006

My suggestion: Work on a new book.

Also, prep ten new query letters to send out and put them in a stack by the door. Stamp them and everything. That way, if the agent rejects you, you can send them out immediately.

Manxom Vroom · Jul 20, 2006

blackbird said:
Here's a little trick that has worked for me, for what it's worth. I learned that if I check my email and phone messages first thing in the morning, only to hear nothing, it really clouds my whole day. I feel depressed; I can't focus on my new projects. So these days I consciously make a habit of NOT checking email or phone mesasges until late at night, sometimes before bed. Instead of worrying about my email or phone messages, I wake up and immediately go to work on my writing. I block everything out except the project at hand. Throughout the day, I look forward to checking my messages at night to see what the day brought.
Even if it's nothing (the case more likely than not) I don't feel quite so bad. I can still feel satisfied with what I accomplished that day, and can set my sights on tomorrow.

This is really an excellent suggestion. It would take some willpower on my part, but if I've got the drive to finish a novel, I figure I've got the drive to change my daily routine.

Manxom Vroom · Jul 20, 2006

HConn said:
Also, prep ten new query letters to send out and put them in a stack by the door. Stamp them and everything. That way, if the agent rejects you, you can send them out immediately.

I like this suggestion, too.

Vomaxx · Jul 20, 2006

I would send out the query letters now. No agent can expect an infinite exclusive--and you didn't mention here that she asked for an exclusive at all--you have been very patient, and you should try to sell the book to other people.

Jamesaritchie · Jul 20, 2006

waiting

All agents are not created equal. If you believe this is the best agent for your book, be patient. Stay busy writing. As the proverb says, Good things come to those who wait. In this business, patience really is a virtue.

popmuze · Jul 20, 2006

blackbird said:
Your agent has given you encouraging words, so best thing now is to hang tight and don't pester her. I'm with you because I'm pretty much in the same boat right now, that is, I have an agent but am now waiting to hear back from the publishers, as well as the agent's response to my latest novel. Every day that you don't hear anything feels like "a little piece of eternity" (couldn't resist; I love that phrase!)

For awhile, I was busy with my job and school, so that helped fill a lot of the time. I was kept too busy to dwell on whether or not any response had come that day. But then came...summer. And with it, all that empty time to fill, so yes, every day that I wait can feel like a century if I don't keep myself occupied.

Here's a little trick that has worked for me, for what it's worth. I learned that if I check my email and phone messages first thing in the morning, only to hear nothing, it really clouds my whole day. I feel depressed; I can't focus on my new projects. So these days I consciously make a habit of NOT checking email or phone mesasges until late at night, sometimes before bed. Instead of worrying about my email or phone messages, I wake up and immediately go to work on my writing. I block everything out except the project at hand. Throughout the day, I look forward to checking my messages at night to see what the day brought.
Even if it's nothing (the case more likely than not) I don't feel quite so bad. I can still feel satisfied with what I accomplished that day, and can set my sights on tomorrow.

This probably sounds like a small thing, and it is, but it's what keeps me from going insane during this endless wait and from resisting the urge to email my agent twenty times a day. In other words, it helps keep me from obsessing. As one of my writing mentors once told me, "You have to take care of the creating, and let New York take care of itself--which it's going to do, anyway, and in its own good time."

Of course my big fear with this tactic is that you get an email early one morning saying "call immediately." Let's say it's on a Friday. By the time you read it it's too late. And then you've got that whole long weekend looming ahead of you.

erinbee · Jul 20, 2006

popmuze said:
Of course my big fear with this tactic is that you get an email early one morning saying "call immediately."

If it's that urgent, they should be calling you. I wouldn't sweat it. Try it for one day, maybe?

blackbird · Jul 20, 2006

popmuze said:
Of course my big fear with this tactic is that you get an email early one morning saying "call immediately." Let's say it's on a Friday. By the time you read it it's too late. And then you've got that whole long weekend looming ahead of you.

Well, I'm not saying necessarily that it's the best tactic for everyone. It works for me because I know my mental makeup, and realize that I am the type of person who, if starting my day out by thinking, oh no, another day of hearing nothing, I'll go into a funk and not even want to bother writing anything new that day.

And, yes, I've considered that scenario, but I figure if it's anything THAT urgent, they will definitely phone me. The way I figure it, I should probably be so lucky.

aruna · Jul 20, 2006

I guess I'm lucky, liiving in the UK but with fulls out to US agents! I know that when I get up and there's nothing there I need not worry - OF COURSE they were reading it all through the night, totally riveted, and only finished at 3 am, at which point they droped off th sleep in their bed with the intention of calling me first thing in the morning with the good news - which would be around midday my time!

So that's the time I start to get fidgety and try to put it out of my mind,
I akso noticed that when there's good news (in fact any news at all), it tends to come on a Monday, because agents often read mss over the weekend. So Monday is always a time of consciously forgetting - an oxymoron if there ever was one!

In fact - and this really IS a fact - the good news will ONLY come when you are not expecting it - in a moment when your ms is far from your mind. On those days when the phone rings and you are actually expecting a call from someone else - that's the agent with an offer to rep you. Trust me on this.

Manxom Vroom · Jul 21, 2006

Vomaxx said:
I would send out the query letters now. No agent can expect an infinite exclusive--and you didn't mention here that she asked for an exclusive at all--you have been very patient, and you should try to sell the book to other people.

Fortunately, this agent did not ask for an exclusive. I also have another agent who is looking at a partial that she requested. My fingers, toes and eyes are all crossed for good luck.

TeddyG · Jul 21, 2006

Am going to put in my two cents..arrrggggggggggghhhhhhhhh
July and especially August .. well the publishing business goes into deep lethargy....so dont get discouraged....
Lots of the agents are away galavanting about town, and a lot of the editors are away on vacation as well....
That I learned the hard way!

BUT....dont let it destroy your psyche...wait...
If you are freindly with your agent, then give a nudge....

(I am lucky cause I always just send news from Israel, and then add in a PS .. nudge nudge! .... so I get away with it....cause there is always NEWS! sighs)

Hang in there...wait...and continue to write...
It will happen

And I cant say enough how right Aruna is...The "great" thing will always happen when you are so NOT expecting it....

TeddyG · Jul 21, 2006

Wait...did I just admit Aruna was right about something????

NOOOOOOOOOO I take it back I take it back!!!!!!!

aruna · Jul 21, 2006

TeddyG said:
Wait...did I just admit Aruna was right about something????

NOOOOOOOOOO I take it back I take it back!!!!!!!

Admit it!

I now declare Aruna's Law official: The Call always comes when you least expect it. So go distract yourself NOW.

Manxom Vroom · Jul 21, 2006

aruna said:
Admit it! I now declare Aruna's Law official: The Call always comes when you least expect it. So go distract yourself NOW.

Consider me distracted.

Viola · Jul 21, 2006

I'm so glad I'm not alone Jeff. I almost wish they had a 'waiting room' thread for those of us chewing our nails to the quick.

I'm waiting on a publisher and an agent and it's killing me.

I am trying to focus on the next novel, figuring if I write diligently I'll have a rough done of book 2 before the publisher makes a decision on book 1 (est. wait time 4-6mos), but it's still soooooo distracting. Wondering when the rejection (or not) will come and suddenly you realize you have the potential to turn 'pro' and how ill-prepared you are for that (at least that's how I'm feeling).

V

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