Author: K Allen
Date:   11-06-08 13:36

Hello all! I'm a lurker posting for the first time.

So over the last couple months, I've sent out about 20 queries; maybe 10 of them received rejections. Five still out. Have gotten five requests, but two of those (fulls) have now been rejected. Boo. A week ago, an agent requested a full after reading my partial. Hooray!

As I'm sure you all know, it's rough getting all these mixed reactions, which I know has much to do with the subjective nature of the business.

What would you do in my situation: query more? Or should I just wait for responses on the manuscripts still out? Unfortunately, the two full rejections came with very little helpful info (great setting, didn't fall in love with the voice...blech). Because the YA agent pool is limited, I don't want to expire my options with a book that could be better -- though right now, it's as good as I can make it without any (more) outside help.

What do you think?

Thanks!
--K

Author: Paul Harris
Date:   11-06-08 15:14

If you think that outside help can make it better perhaps you should consider getting that help. After that you should make your query letter as strong as possible and continue to query until you get an agent.

Author: leslee
Date:   11-06-08 15:32

you could always post a small section in the writing craft forum and let us take a crack at it. Don't post more than a page or two.

Author: Trina Allen
Date:   11-06-08 15:45

K,
Paul and Leslee have given you good advice. Like you, I am just starting the agent search for my young adult novel. I have five queries out. So far I've had three rejections. It is easy to get discouraged.

I am going to continue polishing my query and synopsis, and submit to agents, but I'm also starting my next novel. I'm not giving up on the first, but I'm going to move ahead.

Also, I don't know if you have any publishing credits in your genre. I have several adult story publications, but none in the young adult genre of my novel. That's something I want to change. You might also try submitting some stories to children/young adult magazines. I am pursuing that route.

Good luck

Author: Andrew Smith
Date:   11-06-08 17:54

K,

Just my opinion... and ultimately, you'll make your own choice. (I am a published YA author, BTW). You're right that the YA pool of agents may seem limited, but there are plenty out there, too. Have you thought about just putting your manuscript away for a while -- maybe one month, without looking at it, and no cheating. During that month, start something new. Then, come back to your novel and read it again. I'll bet you will find parts that you will want to improve, on your own, no outside help.

At the same time, you'll have started something new, which will give you a more distanced perspective when you look at your other work.

Also, this time of year is probably good to take that month off, considering where agencies and publishing houses are in their cycles.

Anyway, there are probably other authors who will tell you otherwise... and I'm not telling you at all... I'm just offering an idea that may produce something better for you.

AS

Author: Justin Kesselring
Date:   11-07-08 11:06

Hmmm... this intersting. I don't have any advice to offer since I'm so new to this, but I like to read these threads to help me understand how it works. I think making the query letter is difficult. I still haven't perfected mine.

Author: Anthony Ravenscroft
Date:   11-09-08 18:22

Start writing the next book. The process will help save you from pointless obsessive behavior.