When I launched this website/blog, I had just finished writing a book! I started writing (diligently) last January, and had the first draft ready in March. I edited (and edited), had some friends and family read it (shockingly, they thought it was good)… then sat down to write a query letter to send to prospective agents.
This was much more difficult than writing the book itself. I have no previously published ‘anything’… am not an English major, and haven’t won any big awards. So… I put together what I hoped would spark some interest, leaving out personal details (because there weren’t any), then waited…
Most agents have begun accepting queries via email, so the response time can be quick. I’ve had agents answer me as little as 15 minutes after hitting send. Or… it can take much longer… last week I received an answer to a query I sent all the way back in May.
Which leads me to an update…
I haven’t received any offers at this point, but the entire manuscript was just requested in this most recent response. (I sent it off a few days ago… if it took 8 months to hear back from the query… I wonder how long this could take?).
Since April, I’ve sent numerous queries and received what I consider to be a large amount of responses. Many have said… “Thanks, but no thanks…” though I have been asked for the first few chapters, a partial, a proposal, and a few have requested the whole enchilada…
In that first month, I sent out a large amount of letters… then a few weeks later was reading some ‘query tips’ on a blog post, and realized I had made the hugest faux pas EVER!
I used the term Fiction Novel in my letter! This is the equivalent of… I want to eat some food pizza… or… I need to pee tinkle… or… I’m going to the ocean beach.
I said the same thing twice, and felt like a HUGE idiot! How could I not have realized this BEFORE I sent out those letters? I’ve since read tweets from agents saying they ‘have and will’ reject queries based on this mistake alone (um, oops!).
The process can be a long and difficult one… but it’s kind of fun checking your email… and about the time you think you won’t hear back from anyone else… there’s another rejection OR a surprise message requesting your MS!
I’ll keep you all posted if/when I hear more. As many of you know… it can be a VERY long process!
I found the following video and it is absolutely essential that you watch it… it has some extremely important information you won’t want to miss about how this process works, and will probably clear up many questions you’ve always wanted answers to.
Let me know if you find it helpful…
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Loved the clip…good luck with your newest possibility!
Praying you are blessed with opportunities that you’ve never thought possible, Bridget. You deserve it.
That was really interesting to watch…..
…..now excuse me while I blow the four inches of dust off of my childrens’ book draft and start tweaking.
@Joyce~ Thanks for the well wishes.
@Michelle~ You are so sweet… now get busy tweaking!
Interesting video.
I laughed a little at the part about 18 copyeditors. I’ve yet to read a book completely void of grammatical and typographical errors (with the exception of those writers making deliberate wordplays).
The query letter is a lot like a cover letter accompanying a resume for a job interview. Mistakes earn a place in the “circular file”. There are plenty of stories of publishing houses that lost a big one simply because someone got hung up on a “mistake” and didn’t recognize the talent in the submission.
If you can find one, work with a mentor. And have faith and persist. Things come to be when they’re meant to.
Okay, that video is funny because it’s true…
And hang in there, it’s a tough road, but a road worth traveling (or so I hear).
@Maureen~ Thanks for the tips and yes, if/when it is meant to happen… it will.
@katdish~ I thought of you the second I watched that clip. I love the $70-80k a year salary… and the daycare duty!
Awwww, that’s sad and funny.
Hang in there though. We all definitely believe in you!
My daughter is a science editor. Imagine the words she thinks are doozies?! Be blessed Bridget. I’m praying for you.
@Jason~ Ha, yes it is… and thank you!
@Robin~ Wow, I bet she sees some extremely interesting ‘words’… thanks for the prayers!
Wow, I might have cried right about then. Thank you for having the guts to share with us. It’s a mistake I’ll try to avoid thanks to your warning.
-Marshall Jones Jr.
Perseverance is key. I suspect you’ve got plenty and while I’m not a proclaimed prophetess, nor do I read palms, I have a hunch you will succeed in your writing endeavors.
All the best!
I’ll keep praying that an agent picks you up
‘Fiction Novel’ really is a huge boo boo lmao! Eh we all live and learn, I’ve made worse mistakes than that in my writing journey… 
Keep up the good fight
@Marshall~ The crushing feeling I had when I went back and read my letter… and realized it did in fact say… fiction novel… was pretty intense. There is so much to learn and some lessons are harder than others! Hope I helped you avoid a similar situation.
@Dayle~ Thank you for stopping by and for the kind words. I’m certainly not throwing in the towel yet!
@Ronda~ I hope you are still writing. I’ve missed chatting with you. Thanks for laughing ‘with me’… haha. I know this won’t be my biggest or last mistake… unfortunately!
ah, typewriter…i need to get myself one of those. maybe then i’ll stop going blind…
Funny video…in a very strange sort of way.
I believe that God does all things well “in His time.” That doesn’t mean I understand His timing.
I’ve not read your book, obviously, but long for the day I hold a printed copy of it in my hand. Autographed by one who perserved under pressure until the race was done.
That day is coming. In the meantime, keep the faith!