Response Times
I wanted to talk a little about response times because I know it can feel torturous waiting for an agent to respond to your submission.
I do have the best of intentions when it comes to my submission pile – but I’m also only human and sometimes it’s not possible to keep up with the sheer number of submissions that come in.
I try to get back to everyone within 8 weeks but sometimes it’s tricky (I’m currently in a position where I’ve called in so many fulls that it wouldn’t be fair to call in more because it’ll be so long before I can respond…but I’m not ready to say no either). If you haven’t heard anything by then, please do feel free to give me a polite nudge via email. Also make sure you keep all the agents you’ve submitted to updated if you get interest and withdraw your submission if you sign elsewhere.
Even when I call in a full submission there can be many reasons why it might take me a long time to get to this (general workload, delivery of client manuscripts, the fact that most of my reading time is evening & weekends, a sense that I like it but need to work out what my vision for it is, personal issues etc) and very rarely is this simply because I’m going to pass after all – if I’ve made that decision I will let you know. I will never resent you checking in though!
I have offered representation very quickly, and I’ve offered representation months after the initial submission – there is no right way.
No news really is no news. Try not to drive yourself to distraction wondering what it means. The best thing you can do (both now, and this will be good practice for when your book is on submission to publishers) is start working on something else – having a new focus will be great, and you’ll be that much closer to a second finished manuscript.