Is time of the essence with a partial request?

Monkey · Jun 20, 2007

I'm on vacation right now, and so I don't have regular access to a computer. I finally got a chance to check my E-mail, and found a partial request. YAY! Problem now is that I don't have access to my writing. I feel so stupid. I usually E-mail my writing to myself so that I have a copy that I can access from anywhere, but for some reason, I neglected this particular novel.

So my question is, how important is it that I respond to a partial request immediately? Should I beg one of my friends to break into my house, get the manuscript, and E-mail a copy to me so that I can send it to the agent ASAP, or is it OK to let the agent wait 3-4 days? If I wait, should I E-mail the agent to explain the delay, or will this seem unprofessional? I have never let a publisher or collaborator wait more than 24 hours before getting a response, so waiting is kind of a foreign concept to me...

I need help, and quick!

Thanks, everyone. I am so glad that I have all of you to turn to when stuff like this comes up. Where else could I go for this kind of advice? Yay, AW!

Will Lavender · Jun 20, 2007

Hmmm. Tough one.

If it were me? I'd have a friend break into the house.

But I DOUBT any agent that you'd want to work with would mind a, "So excited to hear from you...my family's on vacation now...couldn't bring the computer...will get the partial to you as soon as I return home, which will be on the morning of June ______."

Will Lavender · Jun 20, 2007

Oh, and congrats.

Don Allen · Jun 20, 2007

Write and let them know it's coming and get it out as fast as humanly possible when you get home..

Monkey · Jun 20, 2007

Thanks so much!

I will call a few friends tomorrow...if breaking into my house won't be a major inconvenience for them, I'll get them to do it. Otherwise, I'll send a message like you described. The message came today (I got lucky, there), so responding in the morning should be fine.

I'm very excited!

RLB · Jun 20, 2007

If it helps, the first time I got a partial request, I mailed it a week later. I'd like to say I had a good excuse, but basically I obsessed over a chapter for days and rewrote. I like to think the small delay didn't have anything to do with the (friendly and personalized) rejection.

From what I've read, agents are busy people. I don't think they're are sitting on their hands every day that goes by wondering "Where is that genius-sounding novel I requested 116.5 hours ago?"

You can send a note along with the partial explaining the delay if you're worried about it.

I don't think a matter of a few days hurts. Of course, you want them to remember requesting it, so don't wait weeks on end.

ORION · Jun 20, 2007

waylander · Jun 21, 2007

Wait the 3-4 days.
I'm in the UK and have had a number of partial requests from US agents. The post can take anything up to 10 days to get there. So even if I catch the post on the day the partial is requested the agent has at least a week to wait.

ink wench · Jun 21, 2007

Glad someone else asked this! I'd say you're fine. I got a partial request Monday. It will go in the mail Saturday. That's 5 days. Working 8-5 means no trips to the post office during the week. Although I'm excited my first query netted a partial, I'm sure the agent isn't holding her breath.

ORION · Jun 21, 2007

Better to take the time to make sure your submission is ready to send and make any last minute printouts or corrections then to be too hasty in sending off.
JMHO

clara bow · Jun 21, 2007

Waiting 3-4 days is perfectly fine, as others have said. If you waited longer than 2-3 weeks, an agent *might* go "hmmm..." but I highly doubt it. I've waited up to a week and a half to send a full. For all the agent knows, you had an emergency, or you were on a job related business trip, or...on vacation. Don't sweat it. Good luck!

ink wench · Jun 21, 2007

ORION said:
Better to take the time to make sure your submission is ready to send and make any last minute printouts or corrections then to be too hasty in sending off.
JMHO

Oh my goodness, yes! I can't believe how many typos I found when I gave my stuff a last read-through. How did I (and my readers) miss them?

Monkey · Jun 21, 2007

Thanks again. I'm planning on heading home a bit early...homesick kids...and so I'll be there on Saturday. I'll probably give everything one last run-through and send it out on Monday. From what you have said, I'm supposing this should be fine. Still feels odd to me to wait, though. I am fanatic about deadlines - even when I've set them myself

Jamesaritchie · Jun 21, 2007

Time

Not only is waiting fine, you should take a few days just to double and triple check that the submission is in perfect shape.

And no matter when you send it, odds are the agent won't even read it for a month. There are probably ahead of you, and no really good agent has the time to read partials more than one or two days per week.

Is time of the essence with a partial request?

Monkey

Is me.

Will Lavender

Everything is what it seems.

Will Lavender

Everything is what it seems.

Don Allen

Seeking a Sanctuary of Intelligence

Monkey

Is me.

RLB

bundled

ORION

Sailed away years ago

waylander

Who's going for a beer?

ink wench

ray of motherf#%&ing sunshine

ORION

Sailed away years ago

clara bow

Li'l Rug Bug

ink wench

ray of motherf#%&ing sunshine

Monkey

Is me.

Jamesaritchie