Should I stop querying until January?

efreysson · Oct 30, 2007

I don't know about other countries, but in my native Iceland the last few months before Christmas have bookstores absolutely flooded with new novels and publishing houses are really, really busy. Could this affect my chances of getting an agent's attention in English-speaking countries?

waylander · Oct 30, 2007

No.
The publishing business slows down for December, but this potentially gives agents a bit more reading time. I've had full manuscript reads over the Christmas period.

DeadlyAccurate · Oct 30, 2007

I received my offer the first week of January, for work that was read in November and December.

ORION · Oct 30, 2007

That being said I would not send out a Query the week of thanksgiving or Christmas or New Years- I know how much mail my agent gets then and how things get bogged down. There is no real
WRONG time- it's when your submission is ready, agent has time to read it and likes it--

scarletpeaches · Oct 30, 2007

If bookshops are flooded with new novels in December, that means the work is done. The books are out there. They've already been published.

Besides which, it's better to look for an agent first, not a publisher.

Should I stop querying until January?

efreysson

Closer than ever

waylander

Who's going for a beer?

DeadlyAccurate

Absolutely Fazed

ORION

Sailed away years ago

scarletpeaches