What if you have a lot of rejections but didn't use the same query and changed your first pages more than a few times? I'm not near 50 only around 20 so far but I agree with Holly, lol.
I would send a small batch of five, if no reply or a rejection then I would change my query as some would only ask for the query w/out pages so I knew the query had issues or they didn't like my story. Submit revised to knew batch, if same issues I would send the query for eval like critique match or my writing group or betas and get feedback, then change accordingly.
Of course, I already thought of something to add. I'm not your best bet for a poetry manuscript. Also, I know that illustrations won't work well here. Make a note of that on the form if your book is illustrated. You can link me to something if you can't post low res pages.
Hi Kate! I hope you're still doing the Fifty Queries club because I decided that after 125 rejections over 2 years, I was ready to hear your feedback (runs and hides). I'll probably got the self-pub route at this point, but I may do a few more queries to make a nice round 150 ;)
I’m at 180 queries using QueryTracker.com. Have had a few requests including a couple of majors. The stumbling block I’m sure is my word count. Ready for it? 176k.Yikes! To try and mitigate that ugly number, I have a top notch formal writing education and have been primarily a short story writer - which requires an economy of language, so… None of my beta readers, which include well-published authors and professional readers, have suggested I cut anything. I made sure to give them plenty of room to suggest cuts. It’s an epic literary adventure that crosses a number of genres. What can I say?
Maybe it’s the query?
Anyway, I’m open to wise suggestions and have submitted to you Kate, although I initially called you Karen in my upload. Yeesh!
So, the question is, what or who determines if *my* book is “too long” for *this particular book* ?
And of course, there have been many exceptions over the years for books - even for debut authors - that have gone far over the traditional or specified word count for the genre.
I hope I don’t sound argumentative because I’m not trying to be, but it’s a real dilemma I’m facing here and I don’t know what to do.
Do I cut what others say is great prose and narrative simply for the sake of shortening it for publishers (ironically, sound advice if I want the book to get published)? This amounts to about 1/2 of the entire book. And I have 2 more books in the series to write - possibly longer than the first. 😱
Self-publish? (ugh)
Or just keep querying? Maybe rewrite the query to hide the landline of the word count?
As I mentioned, I’ve had really great beta readers - even a successful female historical fiction writer who gave it a goodreads 5 star review - who have unanimously been just fine with the length. And I’ve pointedly asked them.
Hmmm. Again, thanks for your input and advising service here!
Who decides? The market. With a dash of the cost of paper and shipping. I know that sounds crass and it's not the whole story, but this is one of the ways "too long" is defined. If your book is so long that the publisher will need to raise the unit price higher to absorb the costs of paper (which are soaring right now) then the market has to be willing to pay that higher price. How will they know they are willing to pay that higher price if you are an unknown entity? Also all your great prose and narrative do not have to go into THIS book. It being good is not enough of a reason to keep it in there if it does not suit THIS story or overall detracts from your chances of reaching your readership. Editing doesn't just take out the "bad" stuff. It does what the overall book needs. You can publish a long book. But it's just that much harder.
I want to participate in Fifty Queries Club with a submission, but not through Google documents. Do you offer an alternative? Thank you, Toni Dianne Holm
I've talked with one (well-respected, seasoned) agent who concedes that in today's rapidly changing publishing industry, it is nearly impossible for an unknown author to get agent representation for a debut novel. Particularly if the book isn't an easy-read commercial genre that might ensure broad readership. What are your thoughts on that?
I'd say I've been hearing that same thing for the last 15 years and yet debuts keep getting published! :) Hard books are sometimes hard to publish--that's just the truth. That doesn't mean "easy" books are the only thing that has a chance. If there are readers who like your kind of book-"hard" or "easy"--then you have a chance.
Thank you for doing this, Kate. I recently heard an author say that you should give up querying after a dozen rejections. I've only begun querying so I'm not near a dozen, but his comment knocked the wind out of me. What if I send my manuscript to the wrong agent? Suddenly, it's all over! Anyway, the way you've set up The Fifty Queries Club is very author-supportive. Thank you.
Suddenly, a reason to acquire more rejections! Thank you Kate!
What if you have a lot of rejections but didn't use the same query and changed your first pages more than a few times? I'm not near 50 only around 20 so far but I agree with Holly, lol.
Pick the one you like the best! Please don't submit more than one.
I would send a small batch of five, if no reply or a rejection then I would change my query as some would only ask for the query w/out pages so I knew the query had issues or they didn't like my story. Submit revised to knew batch, if same issues I would send the query for eval like critique match or my writing group or betas and get feedback, then change accordingly.
Perfectly fine way to do it!
Thanks for doing this! If nothing else, it will motivate me to keep sending out queries. I do love external goals. (Currently at thirty-seven!)
Same -- currently at 24
Great idea, this will be so helpful. Really looking forward to this!
Of course, I already thought of something to add. I'm not your best bet for a poetry manuscript. Also, I know that illustrations won't work well here. Make a note of that on the form if your book is illustrated. You can link me to something if you can't post low res pages.
Hi Kate! I hope you're still doing the Fifty Queries club because I decided that after 125 rejections over 2 years, I was ready to hear your feedback (runs and hides). I'll probably got the self-pub route at this point, but I may do a few more queries to make a nice round 150 ;)
Unfortunately not! We had a good run with it but I just couldn't keep up.
This is amazing.
Just hit 51! Sending my query now~~~thanks for doing this!
I’m at 180 queries using QueryTracker.com. Have had a few requests including a couple of majors. The stumbling block I’m sure is my word count. Ready for it? 176k.Yikes! To try and mitigate that ugly number, I have a top notch formal writing education and have been primarily a short story writer - which requires an economy of language, so… None of my beta readers, which include well-published authors and professional readers, have suggested I cut anything. I made sure to give them plenty of room to suggest cuts. It’s an epic literary adventure that crosses a number of genres. What can I say?
Maybe it’s the query?
Anyway, I’m open to wise suggestions and have submitted to you Kate, although I initially called you Karen in my upload. Yeesh!
I mean, it could be the query. But 176k is long!!!! You can be the best writer in the world and a book can still be too long *for that book.*
Thanks!
So, the question is, what or who determines if *my* book is “too long” for *this particular book* ?
And of course, there have been many exceptions over the years for books - even for debut authors - that have gone far over the traditional or specified word count for the genre.
I hope I don’t sound argumentative because I’m not trying to be, but it’s a real dilemma I’m facing here and I don’t know what to do.
Do I cut what others say is great prose and narrative simply for the sake of shortening it for publishers (ironically, sound advice if I want the book to get published)? This amounts to about 1/2 of the entire book. And I have 2 more books in the series to write - possibly longer than the first. 😱
Self-publish? (ugh)
Or just keep querying? Maybe rewrite the query to hide the landline of the word count?
As I mentioned, I’ve had really great beta readers - even a successful female historical fiction writer who gave it a goodreads 5 star review - who have unanimously been just fine with the length. And I’ve pointedly asked them.
Hmmm. Again, thanks for your input and advising service here!
Daniel
Who decides? The market. With a dash of the cost of paper and shipping. I know that sounds crass and it's not the whole story, but this is one of the ways "too long" is defined. If your book is so long that the publisher will need to raise the unit price higher to absorb the costs of paper (which are soaring right now) then the market has to be willing to pay that higher price. How will they know they are willing to pay that higher price if you are an unknown entity? Also all your great prose and narrative do not have to go into THIS book. It being good is not enough of a reason to keep it in there if it does not suit THIS story or overall detracts from your chances of reaching your readership. Editing doesn't just take out the "bad" stuff. It does what the overall book needs. You can publish a long book. But it's just that much harder.
I’ve revised my query letter so many times I’ve lost count, so I sent just the most recent version. Ditto the first five pages.
I want to participate in Fifty Queries Club with a submission, but not through Google documents. Do you offer an alternative? Thank you, Toni Dianne Holm
email me at katemckean@substack.com and we can discuss
Thanks a lot very helpful and interesting content…it’s article very nice… thanks you
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I've talked with one (well-respected, seasoned) agent who concedes that in today's rapidly changing publishing industry, it is nearly impossible for an unknown author to get agent representation for a debut novel. Particularly if the book isn't an easy-read commercial genre that might ensure broad readership. What are your thoughts on that?
I'd say I've been hearing that same thing for the last 15 years and yet debuts keep getting published! :) Hard books are sometimes hard to publish--that's just the truth. That doesn't mean "easy" books are the only thing that has a chance. If there are readers who like your kind of book-"hard" or "easy"--then you have a chance.
Thank you for doing this, Kate. I recently heard an author say that you should give up querying after a dozen rejections. I've only begun querying so I'm not near a dozen, but his comment knocked the wind out of me. What if I send my manuscript to the wrong agent? Suddenly, it's all over! Anyway, the way you've set up The Fifty Queries Club is very author-supportive. Thank you.
12 queries is nothing!!!!!!