Hello again,

Well it's been twelve weeks since I submitted the full manuscript to an agent but I've still had no reply. Am I justified in sending a brief e-mail query to check that she definitely has received it? If so, can anyone give me any ideas as to how to phrase the query e-mail? I don't want her to think I'm pressuring her for a decision, I just want to check that she has got it.

Any input gratefully received,

Kind regards
Sara

Of course you can, but be prepared for a no. I'm in a similar situation re a full MS submitted in late Jan - always feel it's going to be no, when they've taken so long. I hate the waiting - it really drives me mad.

I'd just put something like:

Dear [name of agent]
I apologise for troubling you, but just wanted to enquire whether you have yet had a chance to read [title of book], sent to you on [date]. I should like to submit to other agents.
Many thanks for your time
Kind regards
Sara

I don't think that any agent could feel annoyed or harassed by that!

Good luck, anyway!

Thank you both for your responses.

I'm expecting a no, but the anticipation is killing me. I just want to put myself out of my misery and at least know that she's received it.

I shall e-mail her later today. Fingers crossed it's not a flat rejection.

Thanks again and good luck with your own writing ventures,

Sara

Well I've just sent the e-mail and got an 'out of office auto-response' stating that she's currently at the Bologna book fair. Does this mean that she will still receive the e-mail or will I need to resend it?

Regards,

Sara

She'll still receive it. She's just set up her email account to send an automated reply to anyone who emails her while she's away. Your email will still be there, waiting for her to read it, when she gets back.

Thank you very much. Didn't want to send another one just in case she did receive the first, thought she'd probably be able to smell the air of desperation!

Regards,

Sara

I sent a similar kind of apologising email for chasing - but the agent responded by saying 'it's fine to check in - I'll get to it as soon as I can'. They will have received it. Know exactly how you feel re the anticipation - it's so awful isn't it? Who knows, maybe they're seriously considering representing you. During these long silences, so many thoughts go through one's mind - often, it's probably the case that they've sent it to others for a second opinion - I'm sure that's where the real delay lies.

This is so infuriating. Okay, I sent the follow-up email two weeks ago and I've still not had a response. I appreciate she's busy, that I'm very low down on her list of things to do etc., but all I want to do is check she received it. What do I do now?

Any input gratefully received,
Sara

I think you can assume that she has received it. To be honest I would assume she's not interested and submit elsewhere.


You could send a final quick email saying that's what you're doing which might jolt her into action if she is interested.

I agree, I don't see why you shouldn't tell her you're moving on. Though Bologna is swiftly followed by London B F, so she may still be swamped.

Emma

Thank you both for your responses. I think you're right. I'm just going to presume that it's a rejection in the waiting and renew my efforts in submitting to other agents.

The thing which has thrown me is she was so quick to respond last time so I'd expected the same this time, even if it was just to say that she wasn't interested.

Anyhow, thanks again,

Sara