[Discussion] White Flag Time - some stats on when it doesn't happen

Hi all –

This is probably more an exercise for myself than anything else, but I hope someone out there finds it helpful. I find that we greedily consume the posts about statistics when it comes to success, so I’m going to share my statistics of being not so successful.

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Background:

I wrote a standalone, contemporary romance novel that was between 85k-90k words. I won’t go into super specifics, but my storytelling format was slightly more unique (although nothing revolutionary) so I knew going into querying that it would be the hill I’d have to climb.

I started querying around September 2020. I elected to send my very last round of queries in March of 2021. There are some outstanding ones that I could hypothetically get a response to (whether good or bad), while I also have one full out that I hope to get a response to (whether good or bad).

But, at this point in time, I am officially calling it and throwing in the towel. This has been a mentally and emotionally stressful period in my life that trying to find an agent only intensified. I feel it’s best for me to recognize when I’ve reached the end of the road and to put my energy into something else, which, at this point in time, is beginning revisions on my second manuscript, so I can start querying that in a few months’ time.

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Well, here are some fun stats for everyone!

Total Queries Sent: ~113 (I say approximately as there a few instances of querying an agent twice because they changed agencies, etc.)

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Now, here are my responses (or lack thereof) broken down –

Rejections: 50

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Partial Requests (not necessarily chronological):

PR1: 10 pages and a synopsis. Rejection in ~1 month. No feedback.

PR2: 100 pages. Rejection in ~2 weeks. No feedback, but at least a tiny, personalized compliment.

PR3: 50 pages. Rejection in ~2 months. No feedback.

PR4: First chapter. Rejection in ~1 week. No feedback.

PR5: 100 pages. Rejection in ~1 week. No feedback.

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Full Requests (not necessarily chronological):

FR1: Almost eight months since request. After two gentle nudges, I’m pretty certain this is a ghosting.

FR2: Rejection in ~3.5 months. No feedback.

FR3: Rejection in ~1 month. No feedback.

FR4: Outstanding.

FR5: R&R in 2 days. After revision, rejection in ~2 weeks. No feedback.

FR6: Almost 6 months since request. After two gentle nudges, I’m pretty certain this is a ghosting.

FR7: Agent parted with agency on bad terms, so this opportunity did as well.

FR8: Rejection in ~3 weeks. No feedback.

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Outstanding queries: 16

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Query No Responses: 32

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After nearly eight months of unsuccessful querying, here are five takeaways I can offer:

1. Don’t expect any feedback. I know that seems like common sense, but when I went into this, every request was exciting because I assumed there were two outcomes: best case, an offer, worst case, helpful feedback. Well, that’s not the case. Not at ALL. I don’t expect feedback from a query rejection, but when an agent reads at least part of my story, I’d hope for SOMETHING. So, as I focus on my next manuscript, the best advice I can offer is that requests are exciting, but don’t assume a rejection will give you anything useful.

2. Make sure you’re writing. The common advice is to finish your next manuscript while you query and it’s ABSOLUTELY true. If I didn't have another book that I was excited about ready to go, I would be a lot more disappointed in this outcome. I’m upset, sure, but I’m excited about trying again. So, make sure you’re working on your next project!

3. Sometimes (okay, most of the time) this process makes NO sense. Look at my partial numbers! My very first partial was for TEN pages. You believe that? I’d estimate that 75% of QUERIES request ten pages! What a silly, unnecessary step. Oh, and don’t forget when your manuscript perfectly aligns with an agent’s MSWL and you get that exciting “sorry, but this isn’t right for me at this time” response to your query.

4. It’s okay to be jealous, but don’t let it consume you. It’s hard not to be jealous during this period. It got so bad for me that for a while, I couldn’t read. I overly critiqued every book in my genre, wondering what made them special enough to get published and not me. It isn’t healthy for you or for anyone. You have every right to be upset and jealous, but it can’t control you.

5. Know what you’re getting yourself into. Querying is time consuming and that doesn’t even include the arduous task of WRITING a book before even beginning. There’s research and planning involved before you ever send out your first email. Of course, there are many online resources and programs that can alleviate some of the stress, but it’s still a part-time job in and of itself. So, if you want to try your hand at finding agent, know what’s involved before you jump headfirst.

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Well, I’ll stop my babbling now. Like I said, this was more an exercise on closure for me as I am ready to focus on my next manuscript and what’s involved to make that THE book. I hope my shortcomings don’t freak anyone else out—we’re all different—but hopefully, my experience can offer some insight!