I've sent out 50 queries and gotten 2 requests for partials, and one for full. The full has already rejected me (Boo!), and I'm still waiting on the partials. I feel kind of dejected...how many other people are having the same problem???
If I'm doing my math right, that means you've got a six percent request rate -- that's pretty low. You should definitely consider getting some feedback and rewriting your query letter.
Someone I respect had suggested to me that I remove ONE word from my query before I sent it out which I did. Here are my results.
Since December I've sent out 18 queries and ended up with:
3 requests for fulls
4 requests for partials (two of which became req. for fulls)
10 rejections
1 no reply
Which gives me something like a 38% request rate.
If I'm doing my math right, that means you've got a six percent request rate -- that's pretty low. You should definitely consider getting some feedback and rewriting your query letter.
Man I stopped counting after 50. And I never kept track of partials and fulls. Is that called living in the moment or just plain stupid? I'd sulk, throw the manuscript in the bottom drawer of the filing cabinet, calm down and start all over again. It took a couple of years but my novel was picked up in 2005 and is still selling well. I know rejection sucks. Hang in there. We're all rooting for ya!I've sent out 50 queries and gotten 2 requests for partials, and one for full. The full has already rejected me (Boo!), and I'm still waiting on the partials. I feel kind of dejected...how many other people are having the same problem???
Let me see...
10 queries
1 full request (now a rejection )
2 non-response
8 rejections
I have, since beginning my own personal query hell trek exactly one year ago today, rewritten my query letter 7 times, and my synopsis 5 times. The next query goes out in March.
Man I stopped counting after 50. And I never kept track of partials and fulls. Is that called living in the moment or just plain stupid? I'd sulk, throw the manuscript in the bottom drawer of the filing cabinet, calm down and start all over again. It took a couple of years but my novel was picked up in 2005 and is still selling well. I know rejection sucks. Hang in there. We're all rooting for ya!
Linnea
I'm at 100% rejection level. Which is great. Now I know I all those agents I won't have to deal with. Every rejection gets me closer to acceptance.
red, this is for the same novel?
if so, i'd go INSANE!
i am only getting a 25% request rate
and that's dropping, but i requested everyone
in one fell swoop. i just couldn't wait.
forget it.
Redzilla- ouch. You might want to think about dividing your novel into two parts? I read somewhere that agents will try to make an anthology of anything over 110k.
Every rejection gets me closer to acceptance.
It's been suggested by a lot of people, but tellingly, never by anyone who's read it. It doesn't work as two books.