Nathan Bransford - The Forums

Hey Nessa, This means that the agency you queried likes to receive the first ten pages with the query up front - you'll find that sort of think on the Agency website under "Submission Guidelines" or on the agent's Publishers Marketplace page. Always make sure to double-check before sending...

QueryTracker is fabulous for keeping track of your queries and reading up on agents and their response times/request rates. I wouldn't leave home without it. :D

All right, I was reluctant to share my stats since y'all are doing so much better than I am, but looks like some of you that are just starting out need a little perspective! Queries sent: 51 Still waiting on: 14 Rejections (or no-responses): 32 Personalized: 1 (said the premise and atmosphere were g...

I envy you, Blanche! I got an R&R on a query+sample pages that turned into a partial request when I edited the first chapter, but other than that, I haven't gotten much agent feedback. The one manuscript rejection I've gotten was from an agent who didn't have a specific reason to turn me down, a...

When I got my first full request, I was a wreck until I got my response - I was checking my e-mail and staring at my phone constantly until I got the dreaded rejection. The query rejections that followed were some of the hardest, too. I've definitely been where you are. Some days I let myself get a ...

I always address the e-mail to both of them, since they'll both be reading it.

As for who to send it to, any time I've been in this situation I sent it to the agent, and that seemed to work out fine.

Hi Nathan! I've had a partial request out for two weeks now. I recently received an e-mail from another agent, and while she really liked the premise, she wanted me to make some additions to the first chapter before she requested any more. I thought she had a point, so I made those additions. And no...

Man, I wish I had that problem! Congrats!

It was sweet of you to be so understanding about it... though I think my heart stopped when I noticed my mistake. I know you're a guy, I swear!

Three words for you: "Dear Ms. Bransford."

Poor Nathan was the first male agent I queried, and my template already had a female agent's name typed in, and... well, it's safe to say that I've never been so embarrassed.

On a different track, what about thanking an agent for feedback on a partial/full? It seems like it'd be different because the agent took the time out of their day to comment specifically on the work, but does it irk some of them?

Those are some fantastic stats, congratulations!

As for when to send it, I would say as soon as you can? Within the week would probably be good.

Ah, I worded that badly, Kaye - he didn't mean the ending specifically, he meant "in the end" as in overall. It sounded like he truly did enjoy the story, which is incredibly flattering, but that extra something that would make it a go wasn't there for him. By all accounts he's great at gi...

You all are so sweet, thank you so much! No need to beat him up, gonzo2802 - as far as first rejections go, I think mine was pretty fantastic. Mostly what's getting me down is that he was my dream agent before , but after reading all the kind things he wrote, I understood just how amazing he'd be to...

And here it is... the rejection from the Big Time agent. He called my writing "natural, atmospheric, and evocative," and called me "very talented" twice, but in the end, it didn't come together for him. He invited me to send future work. This is my first manuscript rejection, so ...