Author Topic: At what point do you... (Read 763 times)

KatieC · « **on:** August 22, 2012, 04:12 PM »

...give up on subbing to agents and go directly to editors? I've been querying agents for three months now and have a pile of rejections. They're not all forms; some are very detailed and personal, in a good way. Still, no confetti.

I'm getting weary of the search, but I really want a career and feel an agent is the best advocate for that path. Still, at what point do you say enough is enough? Or decide that maybe your book isn't really agent material?

Raynbow Gignilliat · « **Reply #1 on:** August 22, 2012, 04:21 PM »

Only you can know how long to go on. I've read advice that says don't give up querying agents until you've queried 100. But what do your critique partners think of this manuscript? Is it the first manuscript you've written? If so, maybe it's time to shelve this one for awhile and start on the next.

KatieC · « **Reply #2 on:** August 22, 2012, 04:28 PM »

Thanks raynbow

It's definitely not my first, and my readers have all given me the green light.

100? I think I just melted into a puddle of icky goo...

KatieC · « **Reply #3 on:** August 22, 2012, 04:31 PM »

Stephanie, I feel the same way, I think. If 50 or 60 didn't want it, what makes me think anyone else will (editors included)?

olmue · « **Reply #4 on:** August 22, 2012, 04:41 PM »

Some agents take at least three months to reply--it seems too early to give up yet! If you've got a new project to work on, it can help take your mind off the wait. If you've got some personal replies, it can be a good idea to pause the querying, revise according to whichever feedback feels right to you, and then go out again with queries to new agents.

As to when to quit in general (or at least put that one aside), once you've queried all the agents you think might be a good match. Or when you realize you've written a book in a genre that has gotten impossibly overstocked for the moment. Or when you've written an amazing new book that leaves the old one in the dust. The thing is, editors usually take a LOT longer than three months to respond, especially if you are unagented. (I have some mss I sent out pre-agent that took up to a YEAR to hear back on. And some I just never got a reply on.) So...just based on the time you say you've been querying and nothing else, I wouldn't throw the towel in just yet. But I'd also be working on my next book!

ETA: Stephanie, I agree with you. I think the 100 queries thing must be advice originally intended for the adult market, because I have never found 100 agents who I felt would be a good match for me (by "good match," I mean legitimate, good agents who have experience and interest in my genre, who are open to submissions, who represent the age levels of children's books I write, etc.) You want to research widely, but you also want to target well.

TracyH · « **Reply #5 on:** August 22, 2012, 04:45 PM »

I agree with Raynbow. Only you can really answer that question. Sometimes taking a break gives you the distance you need to make a decision.

And Stephanie - I wrote the same query letter for everyone, but tailored the first paragraph to each agent. I would recommend batches of 5, no more than 10, so you can alter if needed after you hear back. And it took me about an hour as well to research and craft, so that doesn't sound far off.

As far as the 100 agents thing goes - I'm not sure about that. I suppose that is also a personal decision. I don't know that I'd want to put myself through that many rejections. Of course, there is always the off chance you might find someone in that 100. But it's an off chance, not a likely one. So I think it's a matter of balance for your sanity. But again, only you can make this call.

KatieC · « **Reply #6 on:** August 22, 2012, 04:54 PM »

Okay, I just went back to my original files and see I've been querying for almost 4 months. I've heard back from every agent (or had the no response in X amount of time means no) except for three agents so far.

However, and this is a big one, I've queried every agent who I think fits my book. It's a YA Christian speculative fiction, and not many agents want to take on Christian books, let alone Christian YA (which isn't the hugest of markets), let alone a Christian YA spec. fic. Any and all that I've found who might be interested have found their way onto my list, and I'm always on the look out for more.

I have gotten some great feedback from agents, and have definitely incorporated it.

Sigh. I know you all are right--only I can decide when the right time is, and it's probably not time yet. I am just so terribly impatient! LOL

Raynbow Gignilliat · « **Reply #7 on:** August 22, 2012, 04:55 PM »

I can't remember where I read about querying 100 agents, but I think you're right. I think it was someone writing for the adult market. Katie, if you're getting requests, it's not time to give up. That yes could be the next person you query.

Artemesia · « **Reply #8 on:** August 22, 2012, 05:01 PM »

Stephanie, when I was querying, I used the same basic pitch, but otherwise wrote each query individually for each agent, so yes, each one was time consuming. Some wanted information included that others didn't, some were very specific on how they like a query to be formatted, and a whole bunch of other preferences specific to each agent. I think it's worth it to take the time to do this. And I believe in sending in batches of 15-20, because if you don't get an offer from the first 20, any useful feedback could be used to make the query/ms stronger for the second round. That might not work for everyone, just how I approached it.

Katie, if you're not getting all forms, I think it might be too early to give up. Are there any comments the personalized ones have in common? Any useful feedback that could make your ms stronger? I think if you believe in your project, and your CPs believe in your project, you just haven't found the right match yet. I'd keep querying, and also keep writing!

KatieC · « **Reply #9 on:** August 22, 2012, 05:06 PM »

Thanks Artemesia (and everyone!)!

Raynbow Gignilliat · « **Reply #10 on:** August 22, 2012, 05:06 PM »

Also, have you queried agents that rep Christian, but not necessarily YA? My previous agent was only listed under science fiction/fantasy, but she had clients who wrote MG/YA. Just a thought.

Edited to add: Or have you thought about sending it to agents who rep speculative fiction, but not Christian? My previous agent actually subbed my manuscript to a Christian publisher because it had some religious elements. I guess it would depend on how much religion/Christianity is in your manuscript.

KatieC · « **Reply #11 on:** August 22, 2012, 05:09 PM »

Raynbow, that's a good point. I know there have been a few that I've queried who haven't listed Christian or inspirational books in their interests, but I found Christian books on their lists. Maybe it's time to dig a little deeper and find others in this same boat. Thanks for the suggestion

Stephanie J. Blake · « **Reply #12 on:** August 22, 2012, 05:11 PM »

Who says you can't send it to three editors who do Christian YA? I would. You never know.

KatieC · « **Reply #13 on:** August 22, 2012, 05:37 PM »

So here's another question. If you do sub to editors, and then you find an agent who is seriously interested, how would you bring up that you've subbed to a few select editors?

TracyH · « **Reply #14 on:** August 22, 2012, 06:30 PM »

Stephanie - Querytracker is the best for finding agents. There's a button you can select that says something like, "if X liked it, here's a list of others who will like it, too." When I listed my top agent choices and hit that button, it gave me something like 89 more names. But you have to buy an annual subscription. Totally worth it at $25. Once you have names, you can research, but I didn't find anyone really wanting anything different than your basic query letter. There were a couple who had online form preferences, but you would still just paste in your query letter. I found the research fun. I read all the interviews I could find as well as some of the titles they represented so that helped me craft the personalized part.

Katie - I think once the agent shows interest, you can mention it. But, personally, I would keep it to less than three editors if you truly want an agent.

Stephanie J. Blake · « **Reply #15 on:** August 23, 2012, 12:25 PM »

Katie,
If I were you, I would select two amazing, perfect for the story editors and sub to them directly. If an editor shows interest, or OMG can you imagine actually offers, all the better bait to catch an agent--if you still want one. Now, I'm not saying send it to every single editor in the NYC zip code, but it won't hurt to go to editors if YOU REALLY TRULY BELIEVE THAT YOUR MANUSCRIPT IS THE SHIZNIT and is not getting a chance!

I did this and I sold my book on my own.

KatieC · « **Reply #16 on:** August 23, 2012, 03:22 PM »

Thanks Stephanie!

jodyjl · « **Reply #17 on:** August 23, 2012, 06:42 PM »

Katie, I have to agree with Stephanie on this. I think you should send to a few publishers who are either Christian-exclusive or who accept Christian YA. I know very little about this market, but my gut tells me that many Christian publishers may not require agent-only submissions.

I think you might have success setting the agents aside for a few months and researching publishers/editors.

Really....you've got nothing to lose.

KatieC · « **Reply #18 on:** August 23, 2012, 07:49 PM »

Thanks Jody. Actually, MOST Christian publishers require agents for submission. Only the very small, independant publishers don't (and when I say small, I do mean small). I have found 5 who don't require agents and who interest me.

The larger Christian publishers who sell their books in stores all require agents.

jodyjl · « **Reply #19 on:** August 24, 2012, 10:47 AM »

Okay, that's good to know, Katie. So my next question would be, can you still send a query to those larger Christian Publishers?

KatieC · « **Reply #20 on:** August 24, 2012, 02:10 PM »

Quote from: jodyjl on August 24, 2012, 10:47 AM

Okay, that's good to know, Katie. So my next question would be, can you still send a query to those larger Christian Publishers?

Hmm, good question! Another thing for me to research

Kris K · « **Reply #21 on:** August 25, 2012, 12:15 PM »

Three months may seem like a lifetime when you're getting rejections, but in the grand scheme it's not long at all. I see nothing wrong with targeting editors, but I wouldn't give up on the agent search. Nor would I set an arbitrary number. Identify the agents who seem a good fit and keep at it. After all, it only takes one who loves your work!

KatieC · « **Reply #22 on:** August 25, 2012, 07:34 PM »

Thanks Kris!

ohmylorelei · « **Reply #23 on:** August 26, 2012, 01:11 AM »

I did exactly this-- sent my book to agents, and then to editors. I didn't know anything at all when I began, so I didn't know that when I'd sent the book around, that would affect how agents treated it.

Thank goodness! Because I did find a home for the book, and then a wonderful agent who was happy to work with me, and the editor I'd subbed to. (though I'll mention that another agent was unwilling to do so, and said they'd only consider repping me if I withdrew the book from the editor who wanted it).

It sounds to me like you're working within a niche market, and that you know your niche. So, as others are saying, I think that sending to a few select editors is okay. Though you'll need to be absolutely upfront with any agents you query, who might show interest.

It's so confusing! On the one hand, you begin to question yourself after awhile. On the other hand, you hear these stories about Steinbeck getting rejected fifty times or whatever...

I think the main thing is to work on the next book, so that you're ready to query agents with something new, regardless!

KatieC · « **Reply #24 on:** August 26, 2012, 03:29 PM »

That's very encouraging to hear! Thanks for sharing

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Author Topic: At what point do you... (Read 763 times)