Response Time

[lmr1999]

This may have already been addressed in the forums, but I couldn't find it. What's the typical response time on a full? I was lucky enough to meet up with an agent at a conference and she said I should send my full to her and her assistant. It's only been a month since she received and confirmed receipt of the manuscript, so I'm not really expecting anything yet, but I'm curious as to the rule of thumb since this is my first full "request." Thanks!

Laura

[Margo]

I don't think there is such a thing as a typical response time, especially for a partial or a full. There are a couple of sites that keep track of average response times on queries, partials, and fulls for each agent (assuming people have reported info on that agent). Anyone recall which ones?

Personally, I wouldn't expect anything for at least 3 months.

[Down the well]

Two to three months is a typical wait for a full ms. Which is why you don't agree to extended exclusives, and why you do continue to query while you wait to hear back. Best of luck!!

[Krista G.]

One of those sites Margo mentioned is http://www.querytracker.net. Great place to go if you're looking for statistics on agents' response times.

Yeah, response times vary widely by agent, so without knowing the specific agent (and I'm not saying I think you should mention the name here, because I don't), it's tough to say. I calculated a few numbers with the last book I queried - 'cause I'm a nerd like that:) - and found that my median response time on all requested material, partials and fulls, was only 34 days. I heard back from 75% of the agents within 62 days, and the absolute maximum was only four months. So not as bad as you might think. This was for a manuscript I queried during the last half of 2009.

Good luck with your agent hunt, lmr1999!

[Down the well]

I calculated a few numbers with the last book I queried - 'cause I'm a nerd like that:) - and found that my median response time on all requested material, partials and fulls, was only 34 days. I heard back from 75% of the agents within 62 days, and the absolute maximum was only four months. So not as bad as you might think.

Lol, I think we're all nerds like that!

I don't think I kept my stats from the first novel I queried, but I know my results would have been pretty skewed. In one case, I waited fourteen months to hear back on a full. A rejection, of course, but whatever. After that long I didn't really care anymore. :>(

[AMSchilling]

It varies by agency and agent. Some say 2-4 months, others say 2-3 but be patient because it can take longer. I've had one out now for 3.5 months that I'm still waiting on, but their website says 4 months average and sometimes longer for works they're debating, because two people read it. For the one you sent, I'd check the agency website and see if they give a general timeframe. At one month, you're definitely in the window where not hearing back is perfectly normal.

[lmr1999]

Thanks for the answers and well wishes! I love that you calculated response time average, Krista. I'm still kind of new to the query game and very slow (only queried 10 agents in the last six months), but mine have been all over the map so far. Everything from one day to no answer at all. I appreciate the general guidance because on the partials I've had, the agents gave me a general idea and with the agent who currently has the full--her stats aren't very complete on query tracker.

I fully intend to keep myself busy during the wait time. New projects, more queries, short story submissions...so much to do!