You've read the submission guidelines. You've followed them and checked your material five times. Your finger trembles as it hovers over the "Send" button.
You did it! You actually queried an agent! And then, miracle of all miracles, the agent requested material from you!!
Ten weeks later...
You check your e-mail once in the morning, once in the afternoon, and eighty-five times in between. Your forehead breaks out in a sheen of sweat.
Did the agent even get the material? Has she read it? Why haven't I heard anything? Oh, no, it must be really bad. She's so embarrassed for me, she's trying to figure out how to break the bad news. No, she's laughing at it right this minute. That's ridiculous. Agents don't have time to laugh at my measly book. She probably hasn't gotten to it yet.
Then...
Should I follow up?
Agent sites are usually great about spelling out how and what to submit. They're generally clear on what kind of response to expect for queries. However, not much information is available about what happens after you've submitted material. Some agents get back to you within a day, others won't get back to you for months. How is a writer to know the correct process for following up?
Literary agent, Scott Eagan of Greyhaus Literary Agency tackled this subject in January. His post, "The Protocol for Following Up" is useful for any writer unsure of how to inquire about their submission. If you are still not certain after reading his post, I'd recommend waiting at least eight weeks before following up on requested material. Keep your e-mail polite and to the point, and don't forget to include all of your contact information. You still might have a long wait, but you'll feel better knowing you've made the effort.
Do you find waiting for a response excruciating?
Have a terrific Wednesday!
It is hard but I try my hardest to not think about it. The first couple weeks I don't try to get any serious writing done b/c I'm too distracted - that helps a lot. I work on my blog, on developing new ideas and try to limit how often I refresh.
ReplyDeleteVery timely post, Jill. I think you read my mind. :) The wait is a near death experience!
ReplyDeleteYes! The only thing worse than waiting for a response is waiting for mammogram results.
ReplyDeleteExcruciating is a wonderful word for it.
ReplyDeleteGood issue to address and have info on. The waiting can be hard in every area of life, this included. :O)
ReplyDeleteEighty-five is accurate, yes.
ReplyDeleteGoing to click to Scott's post.
~ Wendy
I'm there with you! Except it's only been two weeks since a few agents have my full. It still could be months before I know!! Waiting is hard. I'm just trying to be productive with my new ms in the meantime!
ReplyDeleteWhen I hit send, my brain couldn't focus on anything else. My response time is NOT the norm. I received an offer of representation a week after I submitted my manuscript. Of course, that wait is NOTHING like waiting to hear back from a publishing house. Oh my. I drove myself...and maybe my sweet agent nuts with my waiting. Kind of like a kid "are we there yet?"
ReplyDeleteWaiting stinks, but it's such a necessary part of the process. And everyone waits--not just writers.
The wait is tough, but I always have some other writing project to get into to distract that wait. It helps.
ReplyDeleteThis is great. I wasn't nervous when I queried my agent but I was in a PANIC after she requested a proposal. And I had no idea how/when to follow up. She eventually contacted me so I didn't have to worry about it but it was SO nervewracking!
ReplyDeleteIn the sales process I tell my clients to expect their goods a week or so beyond our normal delivery time. When I send out stories, I try this method too, setting my mind that I won't hear back at least a month beyond their posted response time. It kind of helps!!
ReplyDeleteGood morning!
ReplyDeleteLaura: Distraction is my motto. I keep busy so I don't have to think about it!
Jessica P: It is, isn't it! Ha!
Em: That's funny! Waiting for mammogram results...
Jessica N: It's the only word for it!
Diane: You're right. Waiting is never fun.
Wendy: Sometimes 86. :)
Kelly: Congrats!! I hope you hear good news soon!!
Lisa: I hear you! There will always be some sort of waiting--it's not as bad when there's good news at the end, right? :)
Joanne: Me too. Keeping busy is the only way!
Erin: Yes--overwhelming. It's so exciting and scary!
Lynn: Great advice! Love it!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
I haven't plunged these waters, but when I do I expect the wait to filled with waves of emotion.
ReplyDeleteI'm clicking over to the link, thanks Jill.
So practical and helpful! Funny, I would have never thought of this for a blog post. How savvy and insightful.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info and links. I agree, this is a tough, gray area. And I do have trouble waiting to hear from editors and such.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Karen
So, Jill, does this mean you've sent and now you're waiting? If so, I wish you great success!! Thanks for the insight on here and the link, both really helpful! I've only sent straight to publishing houses (and then you know you may not hear back for 6 months so you can kind of forget about it) but I can see that finding an agent is really important. It will be good to know how to handle that when it happens.
ReplyDeleteI'm not good at waiting for things in general. I was lousy waiting for my children to arrive, waiting to graduate from college, (not in that order ;) Waiting for agents felt like slow painful labor that was dragged out for years. I think a follow up is not bad idea IF the policy states you should get a response or an office kick back email that they received the query. If it's a partial or full I'd wait three months and then for sure I'd send an email. I did in fact do that. =)
ReplyDeleteI love love love the description of your website: exiting safe, chasing fabulous! I so feel that way! thank you for the uplift & good luck w your query:)
ReplyDeleteI love love love the description of your website: exiting safe, chasing fabulous! I so feel that way! thank you for the uplift & good luck w your query:)
ReplyDeleteI am the most patient person when it comes to querying and requests…I think that huge box of chocolate I just devoured helped immensely!
ReplyDeleteGreat information Jill, thanks. I've not had to do this yet, but I'm sure it will be nerveracking!
ReplyDeleteWhen I first sent my full to an agent, it was months before I heard anything. This isn't her usual m.o., but because of a variety of circumstances, it took her a long time to get back to me. I kept busy, rewriting the second book in the series, then plotting the third. I only started to worry when others around me started to worry. My crit partner is the type to query three dozen agents at a time and see what sticks, whereas I'll research like crazy and find one or two that I think would really be into my work. He was going bonkers during the wait time. "When is she going to contact you? Should you query another agent? Maybe it's time..."
ReplyDeleteJust as I was hitting panic level, the agent happened to post a blog on her agency's website about this very thing, saying it was acceptable to follow up if it's been longer than 8 weeks. So I did. It still ended up being quite a while before she was all the way through the manuscript and we could set up a phone meeting, but I'm happy to say that she represents me today. Continuing to work on my series was vital during those months of waiting (as it is now while we wait for responses from publishers). You don't want to let the anxiety kill that creative part of your brain!
Tamika: You'll do great when you decide to query! It is emotional, but worth it!
ReplyDeleteCassandra: Thank you!
Karen L: The first times I submitted, I waited on pins and needles, but now I'm good at waiting. :)
Patti: Hooray for submitting to pubs! Thankfully, a wonderful agent took a chance on me this fall, so my querying to agents days are over!
Tana: I hear you. College took forever. Pregnancies took forever! And now I'm in a business that's taught me patience--finally!
Maren: Welcome! What a nice compliment--good luck to you as you exit safe and chase fantastic!
Loree: Am I sensing a little sarcasm? My chocolate stash is always available!
Kara: You'll be fine! It's all part of the process. :)
Lindsay: Exactly--we just don't know what an agent's schedule looks like. Sometimes the planets align and they're able to read our submission immediately, other times they're swamped and it takes months. Congrats on your success!!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
To quote Inigo and because I'm in a Princess Bride mood this afternoon. "I hate waiting". I've found the best way to combat the worries is to move on - whether it's a totally new project or revision of another work. Somedays I even forget I *am* waiting. For about 10 minutes.
ReplyDeleteI'm in a season of patience right now, but I do wonder if I should be following up sooner than I am.
ReplyDeleteWaiting can be sooo tough. What's helped me is to keep busy working on a new project. A trip to Taco Bell works wonders, too. =)
ReplyDeleteI agree that waiting is killer. My life outside of writing has been so insane lately that it's helped distract me from my submissions. So, I guess insanity keeps me from insanity, if that makes any sense. :)
ReplyDeleteI find the waiting is almost too distracting to write - real life is a relief from the hyper-refresh-tension. :D
ReplyDeleteKristina: I'm the same! And I love The Princess Bride!
ReplyDeleteHeather: When in doubt, pray for guidance. So many things are slow in this business, I wouldn't worry too much about waiting a little longer.
Keli: Same here! I'm always working on a WIP, no matter what. I agree, Taco Bell does work wonders!
Sarah: It makes complete sense. Busy distractions take our mind off one problem, but unfortunately not the other. I'm thinking of you.
Elaine: It's tough, isn't it?? I like how you described real life. So true!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
TEN weeks later...LOL!! Yep, thats about right. Or longer. Rule of thumb, ALWAYS follow up. I know it's hard because you don't want to be a pain - however once I did follow up and discovered that my query had been lost so they asked me to send it again. Didn't result in anything, but you just never know!!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Jill. It's amazing where our minds will take us when we're waiting and wondering...:-)
ReplyDeleteCatherine: Absolutely. Sometimes things do get lost in the mail or cyber-space. We have to follow up!
ReplyDeletePaul: Yeah, my mind goes on quite the adventure!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
I am remiss for not thanking you earlier for being not only a great writer-blogger, but for also being a supreme connector and question answerer!
ReplyDeleteAll joys,
Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island
Sharon, thank you so much for the compliment! Your nature blog is divine. It totally perked up my day!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by!
Such a good post!! It's true. And all agents are different in how they feel about time and follow ups. But waiting is all part of the business - and I mean at ALL stages. So it's best to work on something new while you're waiting to try and take your mind off of it!
ReplyDeleteOh P.S. Jill,
ReplyDeleteI forgot to mention that I did a post last Feb. called "So You Want to be a Writer." It has lots of links for people who need information.
Coincidentally, when my Kiddie Writers met here last week and agent accompanied them and really gave us insights about querying. One thing she made VERY clear was that writers MUST use great care in proofing and using correct grammar. She is apalled by how sloppy and poorly written queries and manuscripts can be. So FIRST and foremost, before writers submit they MUST be critical of what they're writing-even something as simple as a query letter may tilt the scale one way or the other.
Sorry for diving in, but I wanted to share her words.
Best,
Sharon Lovejoy Writes from Sunflower House and a Little Green Island
I totally missed this post! It's such a great topic to touch on. Waiting is hard and so is deciding whether or not to follow up. For me, I always feel like I'm being a nuisance, especially because I know how busy agents can be. But not following up at all isn't usually the best choice. A simple question or reminder is professional enough, especially after two or three months, and sometimes helps get the ball rolling again--or at least makes us feel better ;)
ReplyDelete