When and how to follow-up with an agent
Following up on a query or manuscript request (with sample emails!)
The waiting game
If you’re a writer traveling the road to publication, it’s easy to turn into an email-checking lunatic. Because what if this time — the fiftieth time you’ve checked your email today — there’s good news waiting in your inbox?
For most writers, being in the query trenches is an excruciating waiting game that can last years. So let’s discuss, shall we?
If you’re still trying to finish your novel, I’ve got a 2-part workshop for you. If you’re wondering how to research agents to find the right one for you, I made a video about that. And if you’re trying to write a stand-out query, I have a post about that.
But maybe this is you: You’ve sent out batches of query letters to agents and/or indie publishers. Maybe you’ve even received a manuscript request. And now you wait. How long do you wait? When and how do you check in? (Or do you not for fear of annoying the people who hold your publishing dreams in the palms of their hands?)
Read on to find out! (And thank you to my dear friend and querying-writer John Martin for the idea for this post.)
Keep track of everything!
Before we discuss when/how/if to follow-up on a query or manuscript request, I want to make sure you’re keeping track of the queries you send. You have a spreadsheet, right? Or at least a table you slapped together in Microsoft Word? Something like this:
This is imperative. You must keep track of who you’ve queried and when (and make sure you’re not querying two agents at the same agency at the same time). You must keep track of whether you received a rejection (and what type!) or a request, or if you’re still waiting for a response.
If this is overwhelming, check out the website QueryTracker , which will keep track of all this for you, plus it contains helpful info like average response times for different agents. It costs money to join, but it could be well worth it to have QueryTracker keep you organized.
If you’re keeping track of your queries, you’ll know when it’s been one month, six weeks, three months, etc. since you sent that query or manuscript. When and how should you check in with the agent?
First of all, don’t call. And definitely don’t go to their office. If you’re going to follow-up, email is the only acceptable way.
And I have answers for you on all the various scenarios below.
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