How Long Before You Started Hearing From Editors?

Maprilynne · Mar 4, 2007

Okay, I will happily admit that I am obsessing. So don't worry, I'm aware that I'm psychotic.

Those of you who have submitted novels to publishers, how long did it take before you started hearing back? Not just those who got an offer, but rejections or whatever.

I am personally looking for info re: those whose novels were submitted by an agent, but if you submitted on your own, please feel free to respond and note whether it was an agented or un-agented submission.

And yes, I do know I'm obsessed.

But what else am I supposed to do while I wait.

Thanks for responding.

Maprilynne (who is obsessed)

Will Lavender · Mar 4, 2007

In my case, it was 3 weeks from the moment my agent submitted until the auction.

I've got my fingers crossed for you here in Kentucky.

Toothpaste · Mar 4, 2007

Oh my, Maprilynne you are too cute! I just read your blog entry, didn't your agent just like send your stuff out?!

To answer the question, mine was 4 weeks. But at the same time I always refer to the JK Rowling, who had to wait a full year after getting an agent.

You'll do fine!! And there are fingers crossed here in Toronto too!

clara bow · Mar 4, 2007

unagented-wannabe-horning-in-on-the thread alert!

This gentleman had about a three week turnaround time as well:

http://burlesqueofthedamned.blogspot.com/2007/02/word-is-out.html

The info is in there somewhere...the February posts, I think.

aruna · Mar 4, 2007

Let me elaborate - I entered four weeks in the poll, but that's not the whole story. There were six submissions, and three rejections came in the first three weeks. There are still 3 out there, and it's been almost six weeks now. These three are my big hopefulls now - one, at St. Martin's Press, seems to be very well suited to me, according to my agent. And the other two are not bad either. She wants to wait before sending out the next batch.

Anyway, good luck to you. For me, Monday is always a time to draw new breath, as Imagine they've all been reading my ms over the weekend, with bated breath of course!

My very first novel got an offer within a week, however, and then went to auction. That was in 1998.

PeeDee · Mar 4, 2007

I dunno, I think it depends a lot on the publishers. Baen Books, for example, takes, like, six years per manuscript. Others take less.

But it's still a fun poll.

My-Immortal · Mar 4, 2007

The quickest response was roughly 3-4 weeks - the longest...never (okay, it's been 13 months but I'm not holding my breath on that one anymore).

Good luck.

Maprilynne · Mar 5, 2007

Thanks for taking to poll, guys!

Oh, and yes, Toothpaste, my agent did just submitt. But I figured I'd get a couple of averages to stave off the panic for as long as possible rather than wait till I started panicking and then try to get info.

I'm not stressing yet. I've told myself I am absolutely not allowed to stress until Spring.

Maprilynne

Claudia Gray · Mar 5, 2007

When we submitted Evernight, it was still just a proposal, not a full book. Within a week, the editor said she wanted to see more. I wrote more, we submitted that, and in about one month, the editor asked for revisions. I did those, we submitted again, and two months after that, they said yes. So it seemed like it took forever, but really, each stage went pretty quickly.

PeeDee · Mar 5, 2007

ClaudiaGray said:
When we submitted Evernight, it was still just a proposal, not a full book. Within a week, the editor said she wanted to see more. I wrote more, we submitted that, and in about one month, the editor asked for revisions. I did those, we submitted again, and two months after that, they said yes. So it seemed like it took forever, but really, each stage went pretty quickly.

It's never occurred to me to try and sell something before it's written. I still don't think I'd do it, but for the sake of conversation, are there a lot of writers around here who have sold their works first and written them second?

(And I don't mean recurring authors; that much, I know and understand.)

Claudia Gray · Mar 5, 2007

It was unusual, PeeDee, and in some ways I felt very rushed by it, but it was a good thing. Short version: I was working with my agent on one manuscript and had mentioned her a YA idea that I had. She liked the idea, but it was something I was going to do later. In the future. Down the line.

Then, a couple days later, she was talking to an editor at HarperCollins who said, "You know what I'd REALLY love to find is X." And it was so like that idea that my agent immediately said, Oh, we could have a proposal to you soon. Then called me and was like, drop everything and write.

So I dropped manuscript one and wrote fast. We went back and forth on it precisely because it was only an idea and I was unpublished, but the editor liked the proposal, outline and chapters -- so she took a chance. And I'm thrilled she did!

PeeDee · Mar 5, 2007

An exception rather than a norm (which I consider a good thing), but it's still very interesting to read about, Claudia. Thanks.

swvaughn · Mar 5, 2007

Orlando Bloom. Always the best answer.

(Johnny Depp would be better, though...)

Melanie Lynne Hauser · Mar 5, 2007

Well, for what it's worth (because if there's one thing I've learned, there's nothing to be learned from these kinds of polls. Because your publication journey cannot be compared to anyone else's - there's no "norm" in this industry) - I've had 3 - no, wait, make that 4 because one's on submission now - novels submitted to publishers by agents. The first one, it took about a month before I started hearing back...that book never sold. The 2nd, I got an excited call about an editor's serious interest the day after it was submitted....but months later, it still hadn't sold. Never did. The 3rd, I started hearing about 2 weeks after submission (all rejections), but it took 3 months before I finally got an offer, and then I got two in one week.

So as you can see, there's no way you can predict this kind of thing. I don't believe the earlier you hear of interest, the more likely you are to sell - there are still too many hoops an editor has to jump through before getting the marketing committee to sign off.

johnzakour · Mar 5, 2007

Two days, to two weeks to two months. Depends on the publisher and editor.

Sit back take some breaths and work on the next book. Hang out with your hubby, play with your kids.

It's best not to worry about things you have no control over. At least that's what people tell me when I'm worrying about things I have no control over.

Maprilynne · Mar 5, 2007

I'm really just info gathering. I have several friends who are published and i know how long it was for them,and I am getting a broader sample. Although there is n element of predicting how long it will be before I hear back, mostly I'm just an info-whore and I like to know.

Thanks to those of you who answered, and it is pretty clear that allowing "Orlando Bloom"as an answer was a mistake.

Thanks Again!

Maprilynne

ORION · Mar 5, 2007

Maprilyn...Maprilyn...Maprilyn...
Go back home.
I TOLD you not to obsess.
e-mail me when you start to panic.

Diana Hignutt · Mar 6, 2007

I don't have one of those fancy-dan agents. My first (real) published novel, was basically accepted over the phone (I was friends with a small publisher who loved my other work) instantaneously.

The book I'm currently anguishing over: I got a referral to submit to TOR. After 3 months the editor tried to call me and didn't get me, I'm still waiting for a call back, another 3 months later. As people keep telling me...patience is the name of the game. Go work on other things and forget about your submissions.

stormie · Mar 6, 2007

I can understand the obsessing. It's very real. But I can't post a vote because: When my agent first signed me on, I heard from three publishers within two weeks, two others within three months. (He only sent to five.) They were rejections. From their comments, and my agent's advice, I revised the ms. He sent it out well over a month ago to five more publishers. No answers yet.

Meanwhile, I'm finishing up a second MG novel, and also writing essays and short stories and sending those out. It's the only way for me to stop obsessing! Besides, it really helps when I get an acceptance on one of those.

David McAfee · Apr 11, 2007

My agent submitted my work to an editor at Del Rey on a Monday, and by Thursday she had rejected it. 3 days. Can anyone top that?

Out of curiosity...why did you list Orlando Bloom as an option? No explanation, just "Orlando Bloom."

Got Bloom on the Brain?

Kristin Landon · Apr 11, 2007

I had a publisher reject one of my books by return mail. That was unagented.

I had an agent, for a different book, who took about a year to gather eight rejections. (A perfectly good agent, but not the one I have now.)

At the other end of the spectrum, ten months for a solicited but unagented submission—but that was a sale.

That book was finished, but they also bought a sequel in the same deal, based on a proposal they asked me to write. This is apparently not unusual, at least at that publisher.

Kasey Mackenzie · Apr 11, 2007

David McAfee said:
Out of curiosity...why did you list Orlando Bloom as an option? No explanation, just "Orlando Bloom." Got Bloom on the Brain?

Obviously you don't hang out much in Office Party or Take it Outside. Heh!

And Maprilynne, I'm glad you offered Orlando Bloom as an option. How else could we unagented/unpubs feel like we were participating? *grin* And GOOD LUCK girl!

Horizon_eyes · Apr 11, 2007

I haven't yet submitted a manuscript as I'm still working on my first novel. However, I can relate as I've submitted work in other venues, such as to music publishers. For me, even rejection letters were better than the waiting for the ones that sent nothing back, or those that took forever. Waiting is one of the hardest things, because of all the excitement that builds during that time. Especially when so much work and creativity went into the writing.

In a way it's almost like fishing. One can sit on a boat for hours and never get a bite. Getting a hook caught on some seaweed throws a little excitement in, to break the monotony of waiting, creating an artificial feeling that maybe something bit. But that first fish, even if it's a small one, can really make it worth the wait.

Here's to your imminent success. Hope it's a big fish!

David McAfee · Apr 11, 2007

Kasey Mackenzie said:
Obviously you don't hang out much in Office Party or Take it Outside. Heh!

True enough. Not my kinda place (TIO).

Maprilynne · Apr 11, 2007

Horizon_eyes said:
In a way it's almost like fishing. One can sit on a boat for hours and never get a bite. Getting a hook caught on some seaweed throws a little excitement in, to break the monotony of waiting, creating an artificial feeling that maybe something bit.

Okay, that is the most apt description of the submissions process EVER!! I laughed really hard.

FWIW I am about to start week five and still not responses at all. Which means no rejections which I am really really trying to be happy about.

And David, you are SO out of the loop for not understanding the Orlando Bloom option. So out of the loop.

Maprilynne

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