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| Image by Marsmett Tallahassee via Flickr |
Since I began querying agents, I have experienced three separate occurrences where the agent (or their assistant) has overlooked my material. In all three of those occurrences, I had followed up and asked for a status – and so glad I did! Following up can be the difference between getting noticed or being forgotten. You might like to think that your query or manuscript stands out so much that the agent couldn’t possibly forget it exists. You might also believe that agents are so organized that they would never misplace your material. You might even think that reading your material is high up on the agent’s to-do list. If you believe any or all of these things, then I’m afraid you’re living in a fantasy world. My material has been forgotten, lost, and low on the priority list, so I’m speaking from experience.
Now that you know the facts, how can you prevent these things from happening? You can’t – sorry, but there just isn’t a prevention method that I would recommend as effective. Spritzing your letter with perfume, using colorful paper, or writing your email subject line in bold uppercase letters or an irrelevant, catchy phrase will likely attract the wrong kind of attention. Don’t worry though, this doesn’t mean there isn’t any hope, and that you’re expected to just wait endless amounts of time wondering why you never received a reply. After a reasonable amount of time, you can follow up with the agent and ensure your material is getting the attention it deserves.
If you’ve sent a query letter or proposal, most agents specify in their submission guidelines how long you can expect to receive a reply. Unfortunately, I have noticed that nearly 50% of them don't reply unless they're interested. In this case, I would not recommend following up. The reason they don’t reply is probably because they don’t have the time or man-power to do so – just accept that they aren't interested. On the other hand, if the agent does do replies, and you have not received one in the amount of time they stated, send a follow-up. Do this by either forwarding the original email you sent, or copying and pasting the original in the body of the email after your follow-up message.
If you’ve sent a partial or full manuscript, the agent may or may not specify an expected time of reply. If they do, then you know when you should send a follow-up. If they don’t, I would recommend giving the agent 2 to 4 months before you send one – no less than 2, and no more than 4. Remember, reading an entire manuscript is much more time-consuming than reading a query letter. Keep your replies short, courteous, and to-the-point. Don’t bombard them with a bunch of questions. Simply remind them when you sent the material and ask them if it is still under review. Remember to include the original email for their reference.
Has your material ever been overlooked by an agent? Has a follow-up ever made a positive difference for you?
