Feeling slightly crushed

Undercover · Sep 29, 2011

I had a similar experience with my former agent too. Just keep writing and keep working at it. I know that's sounds easier said than done, but I promise you things will happen if keep going. Never give up. I too still have set backs and it hurts and I wollow too, but just remember to bounce back. You are so SO close, you simply can't give up now.

Fingers crossed and much good luck to you. Keep us posted as to the updates. Remember you have lots of options too. I write YA also and know the publishing market pretty well-- the ones that take unsoliticed work and offer advances (which might be smaller than the bigger pubs that only take agented work) But that might be another route to consider.

Again, Good Luck!!!

Phaeal · Sep 29, 2011

30 queries and five requests? That's a 16% request rate, which is quite decent. As someone who queried 220 plus agents prior to accepting rep with a dreamy one, I'd say:

1. Make a list of all possible agents for your book.
2. Set up a schedule where you send out 3-5 queries a week.
3. Work on your next book while continuing to market the last one.

That the one agent put in so much time on your first novel indicates it's got a hot concept but execution that never clicked with her. That doesn't mean it won't click with someone else.

Polenth · Sep 29, 2011

First books aren't automatically bad, and the attention you've had so far says yours isn't bad. So keep querying. You've got nothing to lose, other than the time it takes to send a few letters.

Filigree · Sep 29, 2011

I agree. You've actually got some good response statistics to this one. Maybe let it rest a few weeks, but do not stop querying at only 30 agents.

pangalactic · Sep 29, 2011

I don't know how many people will agree with me on this, but if it's been a year since you last sent this one on the submissions round then why not get it back out there? It's unlikely any agents you queried last time around will remember something they said no to a year or more ago, and I'm sure the manuscript is in better shape now having been through so many revisions with somebody who's been able to cast a professional eye over it.

The worst that happens is you get a raft of no-s, surely? Something obviously worked about it for this agent to invest so much time and effort into it, so I wouldn't shelve it. Just get it back on sub with the other 2, and write something else in the meantime.

(And I'm sorry that happened to you. That must really suck.)

Mclesh · Sep 29, 2011

Phaeal said:
30 queries and five requests? That's a 16% request rate, which is quite decent. As someone who queried 220 plus agents prior to accepting rep with a dreamy one, I'd say:

1. Make a list of all possible agents for your book.
2. Set up a schedule where you send out 3-5 queries a week.
3. Work on your next book while continuing to market the last one.

That the one agent put in so much time on your first novel indicates it's got a hot concept but execution that never clicked with her. That doesn't mean it won't click with someone else.

Phaeal, I admire your resolve. Wow. Thank you for your words of encouragement!

Mclesh · Sep 29, 2011

Thank you Lisa, Polenth and Filigree for your comments. It helps.

Pangalactic: I actually didn't have an exclusive with this agent, so when I completed the last set of revisions and I was really happy with the book, I did send out a few more queries in August. I'm still waiting to hear back from the two that requested.

Who knows? Maybe something good will happen. But I'm also not too excited. I've heard that one of them requests fulls quite a bit. The other, I'm not sure.

Phaeal · Sep 29, 2011

With digital subs, it's as easy to handle a full as a partial -- no tottering piles of paper. My observation is that more and more agents are requesting fulls right off, so the days of getting more excited by a full than a partial may be numbered.

Drachen Jager · Sep 29, 2011

IMO the only time to get excited about a full is if the agent has already seen a large chunk of your manuscript. If they request a full off a query and 10 pages or less, it's only about as meaningful as a partial. On the other hand if the query had several chapters or 25+ pages then that's like moving from a partial to a full, of course actually moving through the steps, query to partial, to full is the best indicator.

Mclesh · Sep 29, 2011

DJ and Phaeal: Yeah, that's why I'm not holding my breath. I did include the first ten pages with the initial query, so I'm hoping they liked the writing in the sample pages enough to see more.

What I'm thinking now is maybe I should post my query letter up in SYW. It's gotten me a decent response so far, but I'd really like to get a larger number of requests. (Duh. Who wouldn't?)

This has been good therapy though -- I only had one glass of wine last night and not the whole bottle.

Undercover · Sep 29, 2011

Yeah you should post your query. I wouldn't see how it would hurt you any. Query Hell has a great group of die hard Query fans that are always critting and helping out.

I'll be honest, I would want to take a peek at it myself. And yes, 30 queries is not much. And the only way to increase your reading volume is increasing your submissions...duh! LOL But really it works out pretty good.

Some people might argue about how much to actually send out. Just do what you're comfortable with.

flygal716 · Sep 29, 2011

Phaeal said:
With digital subs, it's as easy to handle a full as a partial -- no tottering piles of paper. My observation is that more and more agents are requesting fulls right off, so the days of getting more excited by a full than a partial may be numbered.

I think that's true. I don't really know why any agent asks for a partial by email, unless it's that they don't want to elevate a writer's hopes prematurely.

Mclesh · Sep 29, 2011

I just posted the query I've been using and the alternate that I used once and received a form R on in SYW.

Any suggestions would be welcomed. Or if you think either is good, I'm fine with that too.

silver76 · Sep 30, 2011

MClesh rep me the agent you were working with...if you dont mind...

Nutellanut · Oct 3, 2011

At least you got as far having an agent. That in itself, I believe, is an accomplishment. I just got a rejection from Sara Crowe (Harvey Klinger Agency) the day after I e-queried her. The fast response allows me to move on...but at the same time it makes me lose hope about the other agencies I've contacted. You've made it further than many people. Easier said than done, but try to stay strong.

Feeling slightly crushed

Undercover

I got it covered

Phaeal

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

Polenth

Mushroom

Filigree

Mildly Disturbing

pangalactic

Gargling blasters

Mclesh

It's too hot

Mclesh

It's too hot

Phaeal

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

Drachen Jager

Professor of applied misanthropy

Mclesh

It's too hot

Undercover

I got it covered

flygal716

Jump in the way of good luck

Mclesh

It's too hot

silver76

Living the Dream (Nightmare)

Nutellanut