Query Dead End

Madison · Nov 5, 2007

I was just wondering if any of you ever feel like you have drained the literary world of options - you've submitted to, or at least checked out, every agent that exists; you've looked into small presses, everything; and nothing has worked out?

I know that this isn't true, because I have only submitted to about 20 places. But I can't seem to find any other places to bother. I use agentquery, this site, etc.

Any suggestions?

J. R. Tomlin · Nov 5, 2007

Well, if I had submitted to 20 agents and hadn't had any response at all, I'd be giving my query letter a good hard look.

It probably depends on how picky you are at the agents you sub to. I am VERY picky.

20 submissions doesn't come even close to bringing you to the end of the line, and plenty sell with more than that behind them. Have you gotten help with your query letter?

Madison · Nov 5, 2007

I've had a request for a partial, and three or four responses are pending. And I've had my query looked over a bazillion times. So I'm looking at markets more than queries.

blacbird · Nov 5, 2007

This is normal.

caw

Will Lavender · Nov 5, 2007

Twenty? I found at least 50 agents that had pretty substantial sales just from browsing through PreditorsandEditors. That was just on a first pass.

Twenty is just a start, I think.

JoNightshade · Nov 5, 2007

If you're frustrated, you can always write another novel.

ORION · Nov 5, 2007

I've had probably 70+ rejections for three different projects- When I got up to 20+ rejections for my first project I revised it and wrote my next novel until I started getting requests- I didn't consider quitting as an option...

PeeDee · Nov 5, 2007

Twenty is just a cup in the ocean. And if, by chance, you went through every single agent and every single publisher of any respectability and got nothing at all, then write another novel and go 'round 'em again.

rugcat · Nov 5, 2007

Will Lavender said:
Twenty? I found at least 50 agents that had pretty substantial sales just from browsing through PreditorsandEditors. That was just on a first pass.

Twenty is just a start, I think.

True in general, but it depends on the genre. Try finding fifty legit agents who rep urban fantasy.

PeeDee · Nov 5, 2007

Since I quietly wonder if urban fantasy is becoming the new "vampire romance" genre (if you see what I mean), I imagine it'll spend a while having loads of agents.

Or no agents at all. I wonder about it, and am curious to see which way it goes.

J. R. Tomlin · Nov 5, 2007

I don't think there are 50 that are really good in any type of SF/F. The genre is heavily dominated by a limited number of agents or seems to be judging by Publisher's Marketplace. Check and see who has the SF/F sales. But beyond that many do specialize in certain subgenres. I did extensive research to end up with a list of 25 who regularly sell any type of epic fantasy.

Carmy · Nov 5, 2007

I dunno about Madison but the answers on this thread give me hope.

Thanks guys and gals.

blacbird · Nov 5, 2007

JoNightshade said:
If you're frustrated, you can always write another novel.

And refine your ability to get frustrated.

caw

Prawn · Nov 6, 2007

I might consider giving up and writing something different if I had submitted to 75 or a hundred without a nibble.

allenparker · Nov 6, 2007

Well, that's okay!

I didn't start to get concerned until negotiations with the Devil degraded to the point I where I had to trade my soul for a no guarantee read with Miss Snark while she perforated me with her stilettos and then used me for a gin strainer.

If you haven't reached this point yet, continue on. If you have, take the deal!
:e2seesaw:

(anyone else check on Miss Snark's blog just to see if she might have cranked up again and not told anyone?)

Judg · Nov 6, 2007

No, but I reread part of the archives almost every day.

If you want my humble opinion, I think she's blogging under her real name elsewhere. But she can't let it all hang loose and doesn't do crapometers or anything like that and doesn't even post daily. But I do like the snide comments about clueless queriers.

Doodlebug · Nov 6, 2007

Madison said:
I was just wondering if any of you ever feel like you have drained the literary world of options - you've submitted to, or at least checked out, every agent that exists; you've looked into small presses, everything; and nothing has worked out?

A big YES to that one!! It can be *so* frustrating.

Where are you getting your leads? I found an excellent site for agents from someone at AW - it's http://querytracker.net/index.php

Just don't give up. And, as so many other wise people have suggested, take a good look at your query. If you haven't gotten so much as a nibble, you may want to redraft it.

The very best of luck to you :Sun:

bluemoonscribe · Nov 7, 2007

Try to think of the first 20 as your first batch of queries.

If you're not getting a response, have someone you trust look over your query letter and give you an honest opinion. Hold off on further submissions until you're sure you have the best query possible. Pick another 10 agents to query, researching each on resources like Agentquery.com to make sure they handle your genre and accept unsolicited queries. Also, double check their submission guidelines to make sure you're not getting dumped into the slush pile because of some technicality.

Then start all over again. Keep in mind that some agents take months to respond to queries, so don't equate a lack of immediate response with rejection. Good luck! Finding an agent feels like a full time job of its own sometimes, but it's well worth the effort.

J. R. Tomlin · Nov 7, 2007

I'd go beyond just do they look at your genre, and check Publisher's Marketplace to see if they actually sell it. But that's me.

Otherwise, bluemoonscribe seems to be giving pretty good advice, not that I've found an agent. But I'm looking.

bluemoonscribe · Nov 8, 2007

J. R. Tomlin said:
I'd go beyond just do they look at your genre, and check Publisher's Marketplace to see if they actually sell it. But that's me. .

LOL!! Good point! Also, I found it helpful to google an agents name, doubl check them against the "Preditors and Editors" list and make sure they didn't show up here on the "Beware" list.

swvaughn · Nov 8, 2007

allenparker said:
(anyone else check on Miss Snark's blog just to see if she might have cranked up again and not told anyone?)

Yes . . .

Query Dead End

Madison

summertime...

J. R. Tomlin

Madison

summertime...

blacbird

Will Lavender

Everything is what it seems.

JoNightshade

has finally arrived

ORION

Sailed away years ago

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?

rugcat

Lost in the Fog

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?

J. R. Tomlin

Carmy

blacbird

Prawn

Writing is finite,revising infinite

allenparker

Naked Futon Guy

Judg

DISENCHANTED coming soon

Doodlebug

bluemoonscribe

J. R. Tomlin

bluemoonscribe

swvaughn

adrift