Expertise Please...Re: Status Queries

Status
Not open for further replies.

Shady Lane

my name is hannah
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Mar 5, 2007
Messages
44,931
Reaction score
9,546
Location
Heretogether
Hey.

So anyone who's heard me talk Dream Agent knows that my favorrrrite agent asked me to revise my ms about a month and a half ago. A month ago, I sent her my revised ms. I'm really happy with how it turned out, and completely anxious (obviously) to find out what she thinks.

I got a quick note the day after I sent it letting her know she recieved it, but since then, nothing. This Friday, it's been a month.

Is it time to email her and ask if she's gotten to look at it? If not, how long do I have to wait? Does the 3 month rule still apply when it's a revision she requested?

Since I've spoken with her, I've started and completed the first draft (and almost the second draft) of a new ms. Should I mention this to her in the email? She already knows about my other mss, and has always been interested to know what other projects I have and what I'm working on.

So.

What do I do?
 

ORION

Sailed away years ago
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 25, 2006
Messages
1,996
Reaction score
348
Location
Hawaii
Website
patriciawoodauthor.com
NOTHING!!!! She told you she got it. That was really nice of her. DO NOT EMAIL OR CALL - YOU WILL BE THOUGHT OF AS PESTERING. Miss Snark wrote about this very thing in her archives.
Forget about it and keep working on your next project. A month is nothing in this business.
Only contact her if you have an offer from another agent.
 

kristie911

Happy to be here
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 17, 2005
Messages
4,449
Reaction score
2,461
Location
my own little world
Take a deep breath, eat some chocolate and quit staring at the calender.

Keep working on your new manuscript so when she calls and says she loves the one she has, you have something else wonderful to show her. :)
 

Shady Lane

my name is hannah
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Mar 5, 2007
Messages
44,931
Reaction score
9,546
Location
Heretogether
Gahhhhh.

Okay.

:)

ETA: Does someone have a link to the Miss Snark?
 

Shady Lane

my name is hannah
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Mar 5, 2007
Messages
44,931
Reaction score
9,546
Location
Heretogether
haha, I know how to find Miss Snark. I was wondering about the specific post.
 

Ziljon

Tortilla di Patate
Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 19, 2007
Messages
1,316
Reaction score
417
Location
In the midst of 1000 Oaks
Website
www.daviddepalo.com
Hey Shady, think how I feel; I've got wait for her to get back to you, sign you, sell the book, for the book to be processed and printed and distributed, all before I can read it!

Argh!
 

Spiny Norman

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Mar 19, 2007
Messages
687
Reaction score
88
Location
Austin, Texas
Website
shufflingandmuttering.blogspot.com
Yeah, I would back off and take up yoga or skiing to get your mind off of things. I have no idea what most agents' daily lives are like (I assume there's a lot of diabolical laughter and a big red button that reads CRUSH DREAMS, naturally) but it's probably ridiculously busy with enough correspondence as it is. Anything that stands out in their minds is either going to be a divine sale or a curse - and the curse category has much more lax rules about entry.

A month has gone by since two agents requested my fulls, one on exclusive til... Today. I realize it's a flake in a snowstorm. But we've all been in the snowstorm for a while now, and it's cold as hell out here...
 

lkp

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 3, 2007
Messages
1,263
Reaction score
256
Shady,
I feel your pain --- I was in a very similar situation. I sent a requested revised manuscript at the end of April. Mid-May I got a nice e-mail --- she was half way through, enjoying it a lot, would be in touch soon, and was anyone else looking at it. And then nothing. I status query e-mailed late June, she answered quickly, gave me an excellent reason why it was taking her a long time, told me she hoped to be in touch soon. And then nothing. I e-mailed again in mid-September and yay, hooray, she is now my agent, fireworks exploded, the sun came out, etc. etc.

Look, once you are at the stage where she is suggesting revisions for you to do, she has invested time and energy into you, and you do have the beginnings of a relationship (sorry to make this sound so much like dating, but alas, it is a bit like dating). Don't be shy about sending a very friendly non-demanding, low stress e-mail checking in. I agree with the rest that a month is too soon. But, pace Miss Snark, I think it would be fine to status query after some more time has past. It didn't bug my agent --- in fact she quite unnecessarily kept thanking me for how patient I was being.
Good luck!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.