When does silence mean "No"...?

I've certainly had requests for material 3 months after the query was sent

I write 'em off after 3 months.

Although I got a rejection on a query after 6.

Three months is a fair assumption that it's a no.

However, I once did get a response asking for a partial after 7 months. I never heard another word after sending the partial. The agency in question blogs regularly and is quite proud of themselves. (Not the lovely Kirsten Nelson.)

I also got a request for a partial after 6 months, along with, believe it or not, an apology for the delay. I had signed with another agent by then, though.

Barbarique said:

And at that point, is it considered permissible to send an (improved) inquiry letter to a different agent within the same agency?

Thank you!

Click to expand...

As a courtesy, you may want to note in the new query that you already queried so-and-so, and never received a reply.

I agree that about three months works. Sometimes you can find out how backlogged an agent is via a blog or Web site, so I recommend digging first before assuming they haven't read it yet.

Im sorry but I have to say when my wife goe's silent.... it means No..