Hi all, another question, does anybody know how long it takes for agents to submit to publishers? My agent at Annette Green signed me up last spring and waited for me to finish the MS, then approved the finished novel (after some revisions) and now says it's ready to submit to publishers. He's beginning to canvas and pitch at the moment, but I have no idea how long this sort of thing takes. Anyone have any ideas or past experience of this?

Lisa, I was asked this by WWmail, so I hope the member I wrote this to won't mind if I copy a slightly edited version in here, for what it's worth:

I think it varies hugely how long it takes. First of all, I'm afraid, with the standing of the agent with editors. A really hot-shot agent saying 'you'll love this' to an editor who's loved everything that agent's sent before gets read quicker than an agent with less clout, or simply a shorter track record: they might take a week or three to get round to that, and then there are the internal decision-making processes of the publisher. Then perhaps it varies with whether the book fits into an obvious category, or has a more unusual appeal that will mean editors and acquisition meetings will have to think harder about how they'll market it and so on. You'll just have to ask what your agent's experience usually is, and if the nature of your particular book might make a difference. That of course assumes that one of the first set of submissions hits home. Sometimes it doesn't and the agent sets off on the next round, and the next, and the next. With an unusual book, I know of agents who will send it out to two or three good editor friends, and look at the feedback very carefully, to work out how best to pitch it more widely. There's no harm in asking your agent what they're planning - they work for you, and it's fine to want to know what will be happening to your book.

Hope that helps a bit. It's a very exciting time, so good luck with it - just don't expect to have any fingernails left by the time you hear!

Emma

Thanks so much Emma, it's great to talk to people who have experienced this type of thing; all I'm getting from my friends and family is 'are we there yet?' My fingernails are fairly well-chewed already but I fear there are more gnawing attacks on the way. There are so many mighty hoops to jump through for a new writer, but I suppose each one brings us a little closer to the goal of publication.

Oh, I know. I came to the conclusion that you have to think of a number of weeks that seem likely, double it, turn it into months, then tell you family that number of years and beg them not to ask till it's elapsed.

Emma