Read books by AWers!

Welcome to the AbsoluteWrite Water Cooler! Please read The Newbie Guide To Absolute Write

editing for authors ad

A publisher or agency using Google ads to solicit your novel probably isn't anyone you want to write for.


Go Back   Absolute Write Water Cooler > Publishing > Ask the Agent
Reload this Page Querying over Christmas?
Register FAQ Calendar Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 12-15-2012, 02:15 AM   #1
merlot143
practical experience, FTW
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 176
merlot143 is on a distinguished road
Querying over Christmas?
I read a tweet that most editors will be away for Christmas though agencies will be open for queries. I read the Thanksgiving thread. What's the usual protocol for the Christian/Hanukkah/Saturnalia/holidays?
merlot143 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-15-2012, 03:37 AM   #2
Jolly-Boo
Please, call me Boo
 
Jolly-Boo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 390
Jolly-Boo has a spectacular aura
I remember reading a similar thread lately. I think the basic consensus of that thread was: query whenever you want.

Good luck. I hope you find that golden egg.
Jolly-Boo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-15-2012, 03:49 AM   #3
merlot143
practical experience, FTW
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 176
merlot143 is on a distinguished road
Yeah, I remember a similar thread. Can't seem to find it again
merlot143 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-15-2012, 03:52 AM   #4
Little Ming
practical experience, FTW
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 1,540
Little Ming should run for PresidentLittle Ming should run for PresidentLittle Ming should run for PresidentLittle Ming should run for PresidentLittle Ming should run for PresidentLittle Ming should run for President
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jolly-Boo View Post
I think the basic consensus of that thread was: query whenever you want.
x2.

Though my own preference is to avoid the holiday season, not because of the agents, but because I have enough shit to deal with that I don't want the added suspense of constantly wondering if I've been rejected yet.
Little Ming is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-15-2012, 04:14 AM   #5
AshleyEpidemic
Azarath Metrion Zinthos
 
AshleyEpidemic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Austin
Posts: 556
AshleyEpidemic has a spectacular aura
I wouldn't do it. I would wait a week or so into the new year so they can catch up with accumulated work.

But if they are open to queries there is no reason you can't.
__________________
WIPs:
Life in a Wasteland -- Horror -- trapped in the ether
Of Brass and Smoke -- Fantasy -- Preparing for the wild
The Throne vol 1 - Epic Fantasy -- Patiently waiting for edits
The Throne vol 2 - Epic fantasy -- Writing
AshleyEpidemic is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 12-15-2012, 04:20 AM   #6
JanDarby
practical experience, FTW
 
JanDarby's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,557
JanDarby is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsJanDarby is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsJanDarby is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsJanDarby is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsJanDarby is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsJanDarby is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsJanDarby is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsJanDarby is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsJanDarby is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsJanDarby is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
If you're hesitating because, like me, you're a chicken who's terrified of rejection, then wait until January 1. But acknowledge that you're doing it out of fear, nothing rational.

Otherwise, if the query and the manuscript are ready, and the agency is open to queries, and you're not a chicken looking for excuses to delay, then just send it and forget about it. No, they probably won't read it on Christmas or Christmas Eve or even the week between Christmas and New Year's, but it'll be higher in their queue than if you wait until January to send it.

ETA: JAR was posting at the same time as I was. Didn't see his response until mine went up.
JanDarby is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-15-2012, 04:27 AM   #7
BenPanced
Behold, yon interrobang!
 
BenPanced's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: WIP it, WIP it good...
Posts: 13,258
BenPanced is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsBenPanced is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsBenPanced is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsBenPanced is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsBenPanced is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsBenPanced is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsBenPanced is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsBenPanced is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsBenPanced is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsBenPanced is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsBenPanced is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
Wait until January. They're shoveling out their email boxes from the influx of post-NaNoWriMo submissions.
__________________
When you aren't looking, this sentence is in Courier font.

i can haz blogg nao? On The Frizz

Now available from Musa Publishing!
.
BenPanced is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-15-2012, 04:33 AM   #8
triceretops
Super Browser
 
triceretops's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: In a van down by the river
Posts: 10,180
triceretops is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentstriceretops is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentstriceretops is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentstriceretops is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentstriceretops is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentstriceretops is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentstriceretops is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentstriceretops is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentstriceretops is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentstriceretops is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentstriceretops is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
I already have about 30 subs out there ranging from three weeks to five months old. My agent has about ten. We both decided, once we exchanged information, to wait about two or three weeks and let our load settle in. Three publishers have also asked that I re-submit after the new year.

I just fear the January slush kill, where everything that's stacked up is taken care of by an intern who has instructions to get through this stuff as fast as possible, and with merciless abandon. Delete, click, delete, click, delete click and on and on...

tri
triceretops is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-15-2012, 10:58 AM   #9
Old Hack
You'll have to run faster than that
SuperModerator
 
Old Hack's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: In the watchtower
Posts: 11,453
Old Hack is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsOld Hack is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsOld Hack is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsOld Hack is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsOld Hack is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsOld Hack is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsOld Hack is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsOld Hack is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsOld Hack is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsOld Hack is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsOld Hack is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
The intern won't be rejecting good or appropriate submissions, though: only things which aren't up to scratch, or which the publisher doesn't publish.

Interns are very carefully briefed before they're let loose on submissions.
__________________
I blog at How Publishing Really Works and The Self-Publishing Review, and I tweet as @hprw. See you around.
Old Hack is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-15-2012, 07:27 PM   #10
Corinne Duyvis
She of the Comfortable Shoulders
 
Corinne Duyvis's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Posts: 718
Corinne Duyvis is a shiny, shiny jewelCorinne Duyvis is a shiny, shiny jewel
Quote:
Originally Posted by BenPanced View Post
Wait until January. They're shoveling out their email boxes from the influx of post-NaNoWriMo submissions.
So waiting until January means you'll end up being behind all the writers who ARE querying now. Send your query so you can get in line. Waiting longer to query means waiting longer to get an answer.

Quote:
Originally Posted by triceretops View Post
I just fear the January slush kill, where everything that's stacked up is taken care of by an intern who has instructions to get through this stuff as fast as possible, and with merciless abandon. Delete, click, delete, click, delete click and on and on...
That doesn't happen. If an agent is open to queries, it means they want good submissions, so the slush pile is still handled with care.

There are always extra-busy times in the year. There's the December holidays, and Easter, and July 4th, and Thanksgiving. And there's conferences, and personal affairs, and and and...
__________________
* Blog
* Website
* Twitter
* The Fourteenery

Represented by Ammi-Joan Paquette of Erin Murphy Literary Agency.

OTHERBOUND: a YA fantasy about a boy from our world who's spent ten years involuntarily witnessing the life of a servant girl from another world every time he blinks--and what happens when he finally learns to communicate with her. Available 2014 from Amulet Books.
Corinne Duyvis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-15-2012, 07:38 PM   #11
Undercover
Left-Handed Black Pen User
 
Undercover's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: In La La Land
Posts: 4,228
Undercover is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsUndercover is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsUndercover is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsUndercover is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsUndercover is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsUndercover is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsUndercover is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsUndercover is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsUndercover is so great that we've run out of appropriate complimentsUndercover is so great that we've run out of appropriate compliments
I agree with James here, definitely.

And Corinne said it best, "Waiting longer to query means waiting longer to get an answer."
__________________
DEEP IN THE MEADOWS (YA Novel by: Leap Books, coming 2014)
www.writingsbylisamcronkhite.blogspot.com
Undercover is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-15-2012, 08:00 PM   #12
jeffo20
practical experience, FTW
 
jeffo20's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Central New York
Posts: 1,403
jeffo20 is a glorious beacon of lightjeffo20 is a glorious beacon of lightjeffo20 is a glorious beacon of light
The only bad time to query is when the agent/editor says, "I'm closed to queries." Or when your book isn't ready.
__________________
Blogging at The Doubting Writer
jeffo20 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-16-2012, 01:17 AM   #13
FCameron
practical experience, FTW
 
FCameron's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 172
FCameron is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by jeffo20 View Post
The only bad time to query is when the agent/editor says, "I'm closed to queries." Or when your book isn't ready.
That's encouraging!
__________________
Freda Cameron

Thriller: R&R underway for agent
Thriller: WIP
Historical Fiction: Researching

When I'm not writing fiction, I blog (unedited) about what I love at Defining Your Home, Garden & Travel
FCameron is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-17-2012, 03:27 PM   #14
sandolita
New Fish; Learning About Thick Skin
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Sydney
Posts: 27
sandolita is on a distinguished road
Great info here. Thanks guys.
__________________
www.sandiedocker.blogspot.com
sandolita is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »
Thread Tools
Display Modes
Linear Mode Linear Mode

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Custom Search

Buy Scrivener 2 for Mac OS X (Regular Licence)

If this site is helpful to you,
Please consider a voluntary subscription to defray ongoing expenses.


All times are GMT +4.5. The time now is 06:07 PM.

Contact Us - Absolute Write - Archive - Top

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2013, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.