Nathan Bransford - The Forums

So rather than make a new thread every time something happens, I thought it'd be cleaner to just keep track of everything here.

As for my book...

(updated as of may 8th)
Total queries sent to date: 10
Queries still awaiting a response: 3
Query rejections: 3
Requests for pages: 2
Requests for manuscript: 2

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.

Congrats! Those are some pretty good stats for so early in the game.

I think "reply promptly" is pretty much code for "don't take so long to get back to me that I forgot why I requested this material in the first place".

I can't imagine if you need a week in order to get it together and send it off that this would be a problem for the agent. Otherwise, if they wanted it "same day" then the agent should have expressly said so.

gonzo2802 wrote:Congrats! Those are some pretty good stats for so early in the game.

I think "reply promptly" is pretty much code for "don't take so long to get back to me that I forgot why I requested this material in the first place".

I can't imagine if you need a week in order to get it together and send it off that this would be a problem for the agent. Otherwise, if they wanted it "same day" then the agent should have expressly said so.

Congrats! And, what she said above ;-)

~JD

thank you =) now i just need to polish my draft

BlancheKing wrote:thank you =) now i just need to polish my draft

Uh oh. If your draft is not polished 100% you probably should not have been querying. Don't worry though, other have made this mistake (like me). If you already got a request no big deal the agent will either love it so much they offer to rep it anyway, or (more likely) they'll ask you to revise, or reject.

I would love to trade blogs and follow. I''ll stop by yours now.

thanks =) My manuscript is completely edited, but I always like to triple check for stray spaces, dashes, and extra "that"s before I send it off.

BlancheKing wrote:thanks =) My manuscript is completely edited, but I always like to triple check for stray spaces, dashes, and extra "that"s before I send it off.

Gotcha, you'll probably be fine then, best of luck!

Not sure how to feel today. Got another partial request, but my full came back rejected.

Currently
Total queries sent to date: 8
Queries still awaiting a response: 3
Rejections to date: 4 (a partial, 2 queries, the full)
Form rejections: 4 (^ all those)
Personalized rejections: 0
Requests for pages: 2
Requests for manuscript: 1

I'm starting to think the query's doing its job, but the manuscript isn't... any advice?

Sounds like your story's got some interest, but the writing isn't strong enough. If that's the case, don't abandon it. Instead, take it through another draft or two. Maybe get some professional editorial feedback, if you have the bucks. Ha. Who does.

BlancheKing wrote:Not sure how to feel today. Got another partial request, but my full came back rejected.

Currently
Total queries sent to date: 8
Queries still awaiting a response: 3
Rejections to date: 4 (a partial, 2 queries, the full)
Form rejections: 4 (^ all those)
Personalized rejections: 0
Requests for pages: 2
Requests for manuscript: 1

I'm starting to think the query's doing its job, but the manuscript isn't... any advice?

Sounds like you've got a great premise, and probably a strong query.

Ever thought of submitting the first five pages to these forums for critique?