Fox Literary Agency (Diana Fox)

cnorman18 · Jul 28, 2013

Fox Literary (agency)

Two questions:

(1) Does anyone have any experience with Diana Fox at Fox Literary?

(2) In response to a query, she asked for the complete manuscript of my 140,000-word novel. This was about two weeks ago. How long should I wait before I follow up -- or should I follow up at all?

Thanks,

cnorman18

Aggy B. · Jul 28, 2013

cnorman18 said:
Two questions:

(1) Does anyone have any experience with Diana Fox at Fox Literary?

(2) In response to a query, she asked for the complete manuscript of my 140,000-word novel. This was about two weeks ago. How long should I wait before I follow up -- or should I follow up at all?

Thanks,

cnorman18

In general, you want to respond to requests for materials (either partial or full) as promptly as possible. It's okay to wait a few days while doing one last read through to kill typos, etc, but you should respond promptly and in a businesslike fashion.

I'm also curious why you would have queried someone you aren't certain you want to follow up with? Seems to me like that sort of research should happen before you query to avoid wasting everyone's time.

cnorman18 · Jul 28, 2013

Aggy B. said:
In general, you want to respond to requests for materials (either partial or full) as promptly as possible. It's okay to wait a few days while doing one last read through to kill typos, etc, but you should respond promptly and in a businesslike fashion.

I'm also curious why you would have queried someone you aren't certain you want to follow up with? Seems to me like that sort of research should happen before you query to avoid wasting everyone's time.

Sorry; let me clarify. This was my first post to the Cooler, and I just wondered if there was any additional information available. I wasn't asking about whether to follow up on her request for my MS -- I sent it within an hour of her request -- but on when I should follow up after sending. I was going to wait two weeks and then ask if she received it, but after reading this thread, that's obviously too quick. 2-3 months for responses to MS requests seems to be typical, so I'll just get back to work on my current project as well as sending out more queries. Thanks!

Filigree · Jul 28, 2013

Diana took nearly eight months to respond to one of my queries a couple of years ago, and that was only after I'd emailed her to let her know I had a slightly new version available. She asked for a partial, and got back with me a few months after that. It was still a 'no', but she did give me some detailed and valuable feedback.

For literary-style SF&F and contemporary stuff, she's be a great agent. Just be aware she's busy with existing clients, and her time frame might drive you nuts.

Two weeks is too short a time for any agent. When you query or send a mms, simply be prepared to let it bide for at least 3 months, if they don't give a time-limit of their own.

cnorman18 · Jul 29, 2013

Filigree said:
Diana took nearly eight months to respond to one of my queries a couple of years ago, and that was only after I'd emailed her to let her know I had a slightly new version available. She asked for a partial, and got back with me a few months after that. It was still a 'no', but she did give me some detailed and valuable feedback.

For literary-style SF&F and contemporary stuff, she's be a great agent. Just be aware she's busy with existing clients, and her time frame might drive you nuts.

Two weeks is too short a time for any agent. When you query or send a mms, simply be prepared to let it bide for at least 3 months, if they don't give a time-limit of their own.

Thanks very much for the tips! This isn't my first rodeo -- about thirty years ago, I had an agent for a YA novel I'd written, and it took a few weeks for everything -- but that was back in the days of snail mail only. Strange that things take so much longer now that we have instant email. Anyway, thanks for dragging me into the 21st.

Filigree · Jul 29, 2013

Hey, I came back to the game after only a 12-year hiatus, and it was a weird new world. Just remember that, though email and social media can provide faster initial contact, agents' workloads have to focus on existing clients and projects. That takes time.

Cel_Fleur · Dec 15, 2014

Any recent interactions with Diana? From what I've read, she appears to be a good agent, despite not seeming to have much of an online presence. Is http://www.foxliterary.com active any more, by the way? It's listed on PM, but the link only redirects back.

Filigree · Dec 15, 2014

As I've said before, she's a great agent for more 'literary' genre works. Even though she said 'no' to my partial a few years back, she was one of 2 agents, out of 70 queried, to give me useful feedback.

JaneD · Dec 17, 2014

She would be a good fit for me, but my mail server won't recognise fox literary as a valid address. Has anybody any ideas how to get a query to her?

Filigree · Dec 17, 2014

Hmm. This worked for me, but that was two years ago: [email protected]

Have you tried sending from another browser/mail server?

Maddie · Dec 17, 2014

I used this one recently (11/30/14): [email protected]. Used "Query" in the subject line.
I'm positive it was sent and received, because I received the dreaded "R."
Note that my email account is on gmail.

JaneD · Dec 17, 2014

The address I've tried is the same as Maddie's. I'll try sending it from gmail. My usual server can be obtuse sometimes. Thanks

JaneD · Dec 17, 2014

It worked. I'll just have to remember to check my gmail account occasionally. It's one I never use.

Maddie · Dec 17, 2014

I use gmail now exclusively for professional purposes only, and another account for personal. I've never had issues sending or receiving with gmail.

JaneD · Dec 17, 2014

That was my intention when I opened the account but I'm not organised enough to keep track of two accounts. From what I've read about Ms Fox I'm going to have to check in regularly for months now.

Filigree · Dec 17, 2014

This works for me: I have a database of submissions logs which I update each time I add entries and resolutions. I also estimate the agency's/editor's response times (from their Query tracker or social media history) - or I give them a standard four months from sub date. I enter that day in my Google calendar, also with a note on required action (nudge, ignore, write off as a no).
When the date rolls around I remember it.

Then I forget about the submission and work on other things.

Thedrellum · Dec 18, 2014

You can also forward your mail from gmail (or to gmail) if you don't want to keep switching between the two. I use hotmail, and have my gmail forwarded there.

JaneD · Dec 18, 2014

Thanks for the hints. I didn't know it was possible to have mail forwarded. Sounds like a good solution.

Treehouseman · Dec 18, 2014

A Bit OT, most email programs such as Opera Mail and Thunderbird can access mail from all your accounts. (I have three!) So if something comes in you won't miss it.

On Topic, it took 5 months for Ms Fox to respond on a query. She's pretty busy.

Cel_Fleur · Dec 24, 2014

Sent query for a Fantasy Romance on 15/12/14 (from a Hotmail account, for those keeping track of email accounts - I didn't seem to experience any problems sending or receiving).
Encouraging and not 'dear author' rejection on 24/12.

JaneD · Dec 24, 2014

Sorry to hear about the R Cel Fleur and thanks for reminding me to check my gmail. Nothing yet.

JaneD · Dec 31, 2014

Well, she must have really hated it
Q: 12/17
R: 12/26.
It's genre and it's literary but it must also have that extra something that made her run a mile.

Siducer · Jul 14, 2015

Anyone queried her recently? Sent her one on 6/14. 1 month later no reply. I know she can take a while just wanted to see if anyone had any thoughts? Wonder if she is on June submissions yet.

Singers · Feb 2, 2016

I sent a query on the 21st December and a follow up on the 19th January and still heard absolutely nothing. I'm not entirely sure how to proceed without seeming *push* which, as an Englishwoman is the worst thing imaginable. We queue for tea, for goodness sake

Filigree · Feb 2, 2016

Give her at least another 3 months, and either write something else or query other agents. This thread pretty much tracks that Diana takes a long time to respond in most cases. 6 to 7 months seems the average.

Fox Literary Agency (Diana Fox)

cnorman18

Aggy B.

Not as sweet as you think

cnorman18

Filigree

Mildly Disturbing

cnorman18

Filigree

Mildly Disturbing

Cel_Fleur

Braving the query mountains

Filigree

Mildly Disturbing

JaneD

Filigree

Mildly Disturbing

Maddie

Roe Draje

JaneD

JaneD

Maddie

Roe Draje

JaneD

Filigree

Mildly Disturbing

Thedrellum

Grr. Argh.

JaneD

Treehouseman

Cel_Fleur

Braving the query mountains

JaneD

JaneD

Siducer

Singers

Filigree

Mildly Disturbing