Query Chum

Posted by on December 26, 2012 in Personal | 3 comments

Deciding a publishing path can be difficult. There are pros and cons to any route. Well, except maybe Publish America. Not sure there’s any positive points with them…

Anyway, when I first looked at publishing, I undoubtedly wanted to go the traditional path. It was a personal goal, not a prejudice. Obviously. But the more time I spent with the indie community, the more I appreciated the camaraderie, control, and general efficiency.

I’ve made it my goal to decide on a path in 2013. I won’t say I plan to make a final one, because things change—especially in the publishing industry. But I want to have chosen a path to start by fall.

This means, I need to start querying in the next couple of months. I’d like to see what the general feedback is, then weigh choices again. I have put some out there, and it’s all received positive responses, but not the definite kind.

So. Throughout the last year or so, I’ve written (and rewritten…and rewritten…) the query and one page synopsis. I hired an editor, and we’re about to put the finishing touches on them. I’m pleased.

But it’s a tough industry. My manuscripts don’t have any of the popular elements (no major love triangles or swoon worthy boys, for starters). With that in mind, as well as knowing the current state of publishing, I’m not holding my breath.

I still want to try though. Just to see.

You’d think I’d be set to go then, right?

Nope.

Now the question is, for how long and how many? Querying can take years. I’ve already put over ten into it, so another year or two isn’t going to kill me. Also, querying is slightly faster these days because a lot of agents are using email.

I think my answer will become clearer when I receive solid feedback, and will fall somewhere between a time frame and a number of queries. But I’m not sure.

On a similar note, I submitted my query to Query Shark. Yep. I offered myself up for chum. Nothing as of yet, but it can take a while. If ever.

I’m sure if it does, I’ll have long forgotten about it and it’ll come as a surprise on Google Reader some morning. Be prepared for that Tweet ;)

If you’re an author, did you query and for how long? What path did you wind up with and why? If you’re planning to publish, do you intend to query? Have you set any limits on how many agents or for how long before you go another route?

  • David Palmer

    I’ve been gradually querying for over a year now on my first novel. So far I’ve done about 20, with maybe 8 or 10 replies, all in the negative thus far. I’m still hoping to go with a traditional publisher, but I’m open to self-publishing, and at some point I want to just move on and work on the next project. After my next round, I think I’m done with worrying about queries for the first novel. It’s definitely special to me, but I think there’s a lot to be said for pushing forward.

  • Unimpressed

    I had one agent out of dozens of queries ask for the manuscript. That was back in early September. Haven’t heard from her since. Frankly, I’m so unimpressed with the entire process that self publishing is becoming increasingly attractive.

  • http://www.theworld4realz.com/ Andi-Roo

    As a writer still very much in the early stages (still working to complete my first novel, much less all that querying stuff!), I am watching you with extremely keen interest. I will be extremely excited for you, whichever route you take! :)