When To Follow Up On A Full MS Request

by Julie Shackman
16th May 2013

Dear Writers,

I have had my full ms with a literary agent since 11 March but have not yet had a reply.

I submitted my query on 9 March (her submission requirements are the first ten pages and synopsis) and she replied on the 11th, asking to read the whole novel.

I checked the agency website for response times but there is no indication at all. What is the general feeling about when (or if!) I should politely follow up my submission? The last thing I want to do is annoy her, but it has been almost 2 1/2 months now...

Any advice or thoughts would be much appreciated.

Thank you.

Replies

Thanks Simon - much appreciated. Will wait another two weeks and then briefly and politely follow up with an e-mail.

Your recent blog was great - very helpful and informative.

I will put up a post when I hear - good news or bad!

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Julie
Shackman
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Julie Shackman
17/05/2013

Thank you Simon. I will definitely leave it another couple of weeks and then briefly and politely follow up with an email. I'll put up a post either way when I hear back - good news or bad!

And thank you for the recent blog you did - it was very useful.

Profile picture for user julie.sh_22933
Julie
Shackman
270 points
Practical publishing
Audiobooks
Author websites
Competitions, opportunities and groups
Contemporary
Creating characters
Creative Writing and Publishing
Dedicated Genre Advice
Literary agents
Promotional materials
Romance
Setting
Synopsis
The writing process
Women's
Julie Shackman
17/05/2013

Congrats on the full request, for one thing. Agents very, very rarely forget to reply to a full, so you will eventually hear back. Three months is the usual MINIMUM amount of time. My suggestion would be to wait a couple more weeks and then, if you want to, send a polite and brief 'nudge' e-mail just asking if they know when you might hear back. You could easily wait another month before that, though.

And do let us know how it goes

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Simon P.
Clark
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Simon P. Clark
17/05/2013