Question for those of you that have been published...

I'm still in the agent query stage but one week sounds incredibly short to me. I imagine the frequency of updates you receive on the progress of your manuscript depends on your agent, your relationship with your agent and how much the agent has to report to you.

The best advice I've had to make the waiting go by faster is to work on your next project. Good luck!!!

it can take hours, it can take weeks.

a week is a short time, espeically at this time of the year when alot of people are on holiday etc. so don't sweat it.

keep us updated though, we love hearing how folks are getting on.

My series sold in 6 weeks, and we considered that pretty dang fast by publishing standards. I have friends whose books were on sub for almost two years before they sold.

Keep in mind that right now, editors are going on summer vacations, various conventions, etc. Things are moving fairly slowly and a week is like an eye blink.

I would make a pretty safe assumption that your agent will email you when there's news. However, that's probably something you should address with your agent. Tell them how often you'd like to be updated, if you want to know about the rejections, things like that. Don't be afraid to talk to your agent. I'm 90% certain they don't bite.

My first series sold in about four weeks, and my second (secret) series (after first series editor passed on it as an option book) sold in about two weeks. Both were incredibly fast. The second series sold so quickly, because I was no longer a debut author and the editor who bought it had been interested in the first series so I had an in with her.

A week is nothing. It can take anywhere from a week to several months before an editor gets back to you, depending on their current workload.

And good luck!

Get used to waiting and silence. Some books get bought in days, others in weeks. Sometimes it takes years, and sometimes it never happens. I've been on sub for months, and the editor passes trickle in.

Do talk to your agent about how she plans to update you with news. Some agents will send everything your way; others won't unless you specifically request it. So you need to be clear.

And hang in there. A week is nothing, especially given the time of year.

My first was read, and an offer made, the same day she received it, but only because the editor had a hole to fill, and had to fill it yesterday.

But it can take days, it can take weeks, or it can take months. I know one case where a very large publisher took two years, and this for a book by an already published writer.

I know it's tough, but it's best to bury yourself in your next book, and forget about this one. You can't control what happens with the book in submission. You can control how fast the next book gets written.

Like others have said, you can't tell, and lack of early interest is no indicator of whether or not the book will sell.

Mine had an editor interested after two weeks, but she wanted revisions before she was willing to take it to the acquistions meeting. That process took another two months, then there was a nerve-wracking waiting period for the meeting to actually happen, which took about 3 weeks.

I have a friend who's had a book with an editor for a year or more. They keep getting updates (I think every few months) from the editor that they're still interested, they just haven't gotten to it yet. So yeah, I'd say a week is way too short to start bugging your agent. Give it a month; then I'd think it would be reasonable to send an email and ask for an update on who it's been sent to, if anyone's gotten back to them yet, etc.

I've had rejections within two weeks, and a sale at over a year on sub. It's impossible to pinpoint.

You can always ask your agent these sorts of things too, you know. They don't bite.

Paranormal_Writer said:

Thanks to all who replied. I'll *try* to stop worrying and just concentrate on my second novel

Would love to hear other people's stories though.... thanks.

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Check out the "circle of hell" threads for real-time "on submission" stories. You will find lots of support and advice there.

One major publisher passed after 10 days. The others have had it for about a month.

ink wench said:

Do talk to your agent about how she plans to update you with news. Some agents will send everything your way; others won't unless you specifically request it. So you need to be clear.

And hang in there. A week is nothing, especially given the time of year.

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I'll second Ink's recommendation that you communicate with your agent and agree between you as to when and how he/she will communicate information to you - ie, will your agent email the minute there is any news, email once a day when there is news, only summarize or forward the entire email from the editor on passes, etc.

Then, when you know what to expect, you at least can stop wondering whether you should ask - because you will know when and how you will receive information.

I'm on submission on my first novel now, so I understand the anxiety and waiting, but once you are clear with your agent on communication, it will at least give you clear expectations and reduce the need to ask, because you'll know.

good luck.

~suki