And how to stay determined while you do!
These numbers will tell you why you should make a pact with yourself to query at least 100 agents:
Stats from my Agent Search
I queried 83 agents in an eight-month period.
35 agents did not respond. Ever.
32 agents rejected my query without further ado.
11 agents requested more material and then rejected it.
5 agents were reading it when I received two offers of representation.
The query process for my literary novel In the Context of Love in 2010 was a long eight months of highs and lows and more lows. Giving up was not an option. I was committed to querying 100 agents.
Rejections were plentiful
During that time, I received many discouraging and impersonal rejections, such as “Thanks for your submission, but we receive many more than we can possibly sell, and have to be very selective. I hope yours receives a better reception elsewhere,” and “We read your query and have come to the conclusion that it is not something we wish to pursue at this time. Best of luck with your writing career,” and this stunner, “This is an automatic response message to your query. If you do not hear further from us within 2 weeks then your project is not one that we are seeking to represent at this time.” One agent wrote that number of queries they receive has grown by 100% each year for the past three years.
Determination counts
Just the same, I was undaunted. I sent queries out in batches, starting with a list of 30, and kept researching, adding to my list, and honing my pitch as weeks, and then months, went by. I logged all my queries and the agents’ comments, always looking for ways to improve the manuscript and the query.
After seven months, just one agent was reading the mss. Still determined, I sent out six more queries. The timing was right: Five agents asked for more material. Then, a month later, I got a phone message from Chelsea Gilmore of Maria Carvainis Agency, Inc.
I was delighted when Chelsea offered representation, but I told her, in all fairness, I needed to contact the other agents who were reading the ms. Later that same day, she and Maria asked for a conference call in which they told me so many wonderful things about my manuscript that I had to write them down, afraid that I’d get off the phone and doubt all the praise I’d heard.
One of the other agents also wanted to represent me, so I took a few days to think it over. I emailed authors represented by both agents to ask about their experiences. Both had good references. It was difficult to chose, but I decided to go with Chelsea. It felt right – that’s about all I can say.
After all the angst, rejections, and rewrites, it was incredibly rewarding.
So, if you’re querying agents, and feeling discouraged, please don’t quit too soon. Keep at it. In this business, one-hundred queries is not too many.
Also Read:
Your Query: Plot or Character Driven
Sales Pitch: Query Letter
Find an Agent Without Losing Your Mind
Linda K. Sienkiewicz is a writer, poet, and artist.
Learn more about her award winning novel, In the Context of Love.
Learn more about her picture book, Gordy and the Ghost Crab.
Learn more about her poetry chapbook, Security
Linda, thank you so much for… well, for several things. Thank you first of all for being you: an awesome person, and a great writer. Thank you for your devotion to slogging through this long process so that your devoted fans can cheer you on (and buy your book someday soon!). And… thank you so much for taking the time to share it with us. You’re going to be my own private kick-in-the-pants that if something hasn’t been rejected 100 times it’s time to keep trying. I am so proud to know you and so, so excited to read your book.
Congratulations!!!
Gosh… you’re welcome, Sarah! And thank you for taking the time to read this and write such wonderful things. My hope is for this to be encouraging, and I’m so glad it is for you!
I’m looking for an agent too. Thanks for sharing your story. I was poking around and enjoyed your story, Phone Sex. How funny. You crack me up.
Good luck with the new agent.
Best wishes for success to you as well! I’m so glad you enjoyed phone sex.
Er… the story, that is.
Congratulations on finding representation. Your story gives us all hope, as I bet every writer has had a dream of the scenario that has become your reality. Best wishes for you and your book.
Thanks for the good wishes, Susan! Even though I have an agent, I feel there’s a long way to go yet.
I just read this post and was so impressed! Congratulations. I admire your tenacity and since I’m in the middle of this process myself, it helps to read success stories.
Chelsea Gilmore just requested a full copy of my manuscript this morning and I’m still so excited I can hardly sit still. I know it’s going to be a long haul still and far, far, far from a sure thing, but it’s very encouraging.
Congrats again and thank you for sharing your story.
Elena, how exciting! Good luck! Let me know how things work out.
Congrats! Great informative blog, I was searching Chelsea Gilmore in particular and came across it. It has filled me with hope, only my book isn’t probably going to be a great fit for her. She’s one of the agents available for pitching at a writer’s conference I’m headed too. Unfortunately most of the agents there are not going to be a fit either, but I should learn a ton. I think I’ll pitch her anyway, if nothing else I don’t think she’ll scare the bejesus out of me. hahaha
You have the right attitude, Lea. Pitch and learn! Whether the agents are a good fit or not, they can surely give you some pointers. I’m glad my blog gave you some inspiration and hope.
As of this date, agents giving no response whatsoever total 49.
Linda, I’m anxious to hear how you are progressing. I just had a request from Chelsea today to look at my first three chapters. I haven’t dealt with an agent before, but Chelsea was with Avalon when I wrote my first novel for them. She was the first editor I had and I really enjoyed working with her. Keep us up to date on your book!
Congrats on your request! Chelsea is an amazing editor as well as agent!
Chelsea is amazing. Unfortunately, she declined to represent me on this project. I do have the full manuscript under consideration with another agent right now, though. So, fingers crossed!
Shellie, Just keep sending it out with the confidence that someone is going to LOVE it. It’s a great sign that you’re getting requests. My fingers and toes are crossed for you.