Question about querying...

reenkam · Sep 10, 2007

Sorry my title isn't more descriptive, I just couldn't think of something to write...

So several months ago (5? 6? I can't even remember anymore) I sent a full to an agent. I sent one status check at the 3 month mark, but I haven't heard anything since then. I'm assuming it's a "no". The thing is, I have another manuscript that the agent might like. I only think this because she recently mentioned in an interview that she was looking for a specific thing and (randomly) my other work has it. So here's my question:

Should I send a status query that's also a query for the new work, just assuming that she doesn't want the old? Or should I status query and, once the rejection comes, send the new query right away? Or do I have to have some waiting time and send a status, get a rejection, wait a while, then query with the new?

Or should I just not do anything at all...

EriRae · Sep 10, 2007

Hopefully you can get someone else to back this up, but what I would do is send query #2 like query #1 doesn't exist, using that information (That you recently saw that this is what the agent wants).

Shady Lane · Sep 10, 2007

But he's still got a full with her. As far as he knows, she's still considering it.

EriRae · Sep 10, 2007

And so do you, or a partial...right? It's THAT agent?

amber_grosjean · Sep 10, 2007

I would go ahead and query for the second title. In the same email, you could ask about the first since they did request the full material. Sometimes it does take a while to read a full and depending how many other titles are front of this agent may determine the time frame when he or she is finished with yours.

When sending the letter, make sure you are being as professional as you can. They may not have liked the first one but that doesn't mean they will turn the second down. Keep trying, and send some out to other places too, don't just wait around. And keep writing too.

Amber

Shady Lane · Sep 10, 2007

Erinmiller77 said:
And so do you, or a partial...right? It's THAT agent?

Haha, yep. I do indeed have a full with THAT agent.

Nice memory.

Karen Junker · Sep 10, 2007

Boy, I don't know. I'd do a little recon to see if they've expressed any feelings about getting a second query before the first one has been accepted/rejected. Do they have a blog or other interviews somewhere? Six months isn't a terribly long time for a full to be under consideration.

lkp · Sep 10, 2007

I would do another status check in which i would casually mention that you have another ms. that might suit the agent. Something like: "Just checking in to see if you're still considering ms. A. I thought of you recently because I read your interview where you said x and I have another ms. that is all about x."
If he/she has a full and is still pondering it, I think you'll look like a nutball if you query with a new ms. as if the two of you are strangers. It's not as if the agent just has a query from you.

JoniBGoode · Sep 10, 2007

Erinmiller77 said:
Hopefully you can get someone else to back this up, but what I would do is send query #2 like query #1 doesn't exist, using that information (That you recently saw that this is what the agent wants).

I agree. I would send a nice letter that said, "When I saw you at XYZ conference, you mentioned that you were looking for a novel with a green transsexual Martian vampire, and as luck would have it..."

My thought process is that you have nothing to lose by this tactic. Either she won't remember you but she'll say "Eureka! I've finally found it!!" or she'll remember your first novel and maybe feel a little guilty that she hasn't gotten back to you.

The problem with querying novel #2 while nagging about novel #1 is that if she didn't like #1, she may ignore the new novel. If she does like #2, that might be a great time to mention #1 again. Maybe.

reenkam · Sep 10, 2007

Thanks for all the opinions and such, everyone!

I think I might try status querying and mentioning the other project briefly....or maybe I'll just status query....

*sigh* I dunno what I'll do...

Carmy · Sep 10, 2007

Be careful. By accident I submitted a second query (different novel) to Prospect Agency and got a snotty reply.

Question about querying...

reenkam

aka cupcake

EriRae

:P

Shady Lane

my name is hannah

EriRae

:P

amber_grosjean

AW Addict

Shady Lane

my name is hannah

Karen Junker

Live a little. Write a lot.

lkp

JoniBGoode

reenkam

aka cupcake

Carmy