How Long is Too Long?
Tuesday, September 15, 2009 (TWSS! - Sorry, I couldn't resist.)
Question of the day: I recently wrote a novel and started querying agents in early August. Two of the three I queried requested the manuscript right away, which is great ... except they're taking their sweet time to read it. Any thoughts on how long I should wait before moving on? I don't want to break some agent protocol that I don't know about ... but I'm also excited about this (maybe naively so :) and want to find someone sooner than later. I also want an agent who's super enthusiastic about the book, and taking a month to read it doesn't scream excited to me. But again, maybe I'm being naive.
Ah, the great agent waiting game. Been there, done that. It sucks.
But, a month isn’t unusual, unfortunately. It’s actually pretty standard, even though, yeah, it seems like if they want it, they should want it NOW. But I do think the standard window is between four to six weeks, at least that's what agents will tell you. That said, sure, there are plenty who read faster and there are plenty who don't. I'm not sure it's really an indicator of enthusiasm because if they requested a ms from you AND a few dozen other people, they're interested in them all, and they all take time to read.
But – what I’d say, just to keep your nerves calm AND your chances higher – is to keep pitching even while they’re reading. You should probably pitch about ten at a time (even agents tell you this), so you always have a lot of irons in the fire and aren’t banking on anyone in particular. I used to send out a new query as soon as I got any sort of rejection, so the wheel was always turning. Having just three queries out is putting too few eggs in too few baskets. Some writers will literally query hundreds of agents, and again, the good news is that multiple queries is both expected and encouraged.
Also, I do think that after a month or so, you're well-within your rights to follow up with an agent when they've requested materials. I wouldn't follow up if you don't get a reply to your query - I think that's answer enough (though some might disagree, and that's fine too - think it's a personal decision), but since you've already gotten their attention, sure, you can send a polite, quick email to hopefully get an ETA.
Good luck! Anyone else want to chime in here on time frames?
Reader Comments (10)
You can peruse the archives of all the agent blogs and see how many of them are way behind schedule - and how sometimes it takes months to give writers a yes or a no. It's frustrating but true.
If patience paid, all writers would be rich!
:) Good luck to your reader!!!
I agree here - I think, with a requested manuscript, it's perfectly acceptable to "nudge" the agent after 4 to 6 weeks. A gentle, "Just wondering if you've had a chance to read my requested manuscript," something like that, will do the trick.
I like this. It sounds so practical. I am reminded of William Zinsser who wrote that when he got a rejection, he sent another letter out immediately to someone else. He didn't think twice about it or worry over the rejections. He did this for two years, before he had success.
I am also reminded of another author who wrote that when she was mailing out queries and proposals for her first book, she started the second one immediately. She completed the second book during all the months of this correspondence. The fact that she had two books made her more interesting, and she was able to obtain an agent. The second book is the one being published now.
I am new to publishing, so it would never have occurred to me to query more than three agents at the time.
I agree. Every time I receive a pass (much more palatable than "rejection"!!) I send out another query. I think it's important to query widely, after much research into preferences and submission requirements. As far as follow-up time, I try to always ask about turnaround time when I get either a partial or full request. I make a note of it on my agent spread sheet, and follow up when appropriate.
4 to 6 weeks, as someone mentioned above, is not unreasonable -- and after that it's not unreasonable for you to send a gentle, "Hey, have you had a chance to read it?" reminder. Some people are afraid to ask for a status, fearing it will cause a rejection. Asking for status never causes a rejection. (Unless you say something like, "If you do not respond to this message within 24 hours I will be forced to take my genius elsewhere!!!>!>") But it might shake an existing one loose... they may have already read it and decided it's not for them. Or they might not have gotten to it. Or they might not have received it for some reason, in which case they'll be psyched that you reminded them.
I've had agents hold onto a MS for six months -- and I've had them offer representation within 48 hours. You really never know. Query more, take notes, and good luck!
One more thing -- I hear a lot of writers say that if an agent makes them wait too long during the query process, they don't think that agent will be a good one after they're signed. But an agent's priority always has to be current clients. If they hold onto your MS for three months before they get a chance to read it, but then fall in love with it... they're still in love with it, and you should talk to them to figure out if they're a good fit.
(All these "they"s are killing me, as a grammar/usage nerd, but I hate having to write "he/she" over again even more.)
In my experience (and from all the agent blogs I've read and other writers I've spoken with), four to six weeks is standard on a partial. The average read time on a full is more like three months. Unless the agent says she'll get back to you in a month or two, I wouldn't send a nudge email until the three-month mark. And as Jael pointed out, the agent's first priority is to her clients. The agent probably also has a couple of full manuscripts to read before yours. As my former agent used to tell me: "There are no emergencies in publishing."
I have the same question, but I'm thinking of editors. My boyfriend's agented manuscript has been out on submission to editors for four or five months and he hasn't heard anything yet. No sale. No rejections. Is this slow or just about right for the market right now? Could it be that this signals a lack of enthusiasm for his manuscript or a lack of clout on his agent's part? I wanted to be positive, but wasn't sure how to spin it for him. Didn't want to be overly negative or blow smoke up his butt. Should he nudge the agent so the agent can nudge the editors? Should he just sit tight? I've heard that sometimes editors will sit on a manuscript and not read it until they are informed that another editor has made an offer. Only then will they hop to read. If this is true it kind of sounds like the girl or guy who doesn't want to date you until someone else wants to date you.
I routinely have books sit at agencies for over a year, and have gone as long as, what is it, five years now? This with inquiries and acknowledgments , too. Same thing happens to me with publishers. They ask to see a book, then it sits for months. I ask about it. They say, "Yes, yes, next week for SURE," and another half year or more goes by, nada.
Needless to say, they always rave about my work when finally they do get around to rejecting it. LOL
Useless. I've wasted years of my life on these losers.
ed hardy,
cheap ed hardy,
ed hardy clothing,
ed hardy outlet,
ed hardy jeans,
ed hardy bags,
ed hardy swimwear,
ed hardy shirts,
ed hardy tee,
ed hardy caps,
ed hardy purse,
ed hardy board shorts,
ed hardy shoes,
ed hardy for men,
ed hardy for women,
ed hardy jeans for women.