Query Rejected in 48 Hours. What’s the Deal?

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Welcome to another #AskMeAnything session! In this series, I'm responding to your questions about the publishing industry and how to write a better book. Leave me any additional questions in the comments and I will add them to my list for future videos!
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MORE BOOK EDITOR Q&As:
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TODAY'S #ASKMEANYTHING :
00:35 - Do agencies use AI or scanning tools to review their queries and reject them within days?
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ABOUT ME:
My name is Alyssa Matesic, and I’m a professional book editor with nearly a decade of book publishing and editorial experience. Throughout my career, I’ve held editorial roles across both sides of the publishing industry: Big Five publishing houses and literary agencies. The goal of this channel is to help writers throughout the book writing journey-whether you're working on your manuscript or you're looking for publishing advice.
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18 июн 2024

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Комментарии : 56

@kevins7030 Месяц назад

My record for a definitive no is 187 days. I'd have been much happier to get it in two.

@CaseFace981 26 дней назад

I just got one after 130+ days and I agree, I’d much rather get it over quickly than wonder the status of my query for months on end.

@annworthington7253 Месяц назад

I have received rejections after 2 days and after nearly 200 days. I prefer the quicker turnaround because I can move on with my life 😊

@anthonymizzi9359 Месяц назад

Hi Alyssa -- Great insight as always. Yes, 48 hours is a quick turn around for a rejection but in my experience I've had two that were much quicker. In January of 2022 I had a query rejected in seven (yes, 7) hours and in July that same year a different agent at a different agency rejected the same work being queeried in only 22 minutes! Talk about a fast turnaround! I didn't like that my query was rejected so quickly, but I didn't think either agent was was just rejecting my query out of hand simply to clear their queue. Sometimes, it's just as you said -- the query reaches the agent at just the right moment they're looking for the genre I'm submitting. Still, the 22-minute one did sting a little.

@jasonsumma1530 Месяц назад

First of all, I'm still in the process of writing my very first query letter. At the same time, this sounds like doing job applications with a resume and a cover letter. Some of the rejections are standard form and of course, the interest is at least a first interview. Some companies don't respond to job applicants or I've had some who took 2-3 months to respond depending on the job.

@AlyssaMatesic Месяц назад

This is a great comparison!

@willthethrill9238 Месяц назад

Hey just want to say I've been listening to you for about a year while I write my first story. Videos have been helpful and motivating. A few pages from a completed first draft now. Not sure if I'll query or anything. This was a situation of "can I even complete this thing?". Anyway, thanks!

@jasonsumma1530 Месяц назад

Writing is an artwork. Any artwork is never 100% complete. There will always be room for improvement. The "I am done" time is when you don't think you can improve it anymore on your own or even with an editor. I suspect there will always be parts in the story where you wonder if you changed this scene or that scene how it would change the overall story. Sometimes the best you can do is walk away from the story and say it is finished.

@AlyssaMatesic Месяц назад

Congratulations on completing your first draft - that's a huge accomplishment! 🎉 I'm so glad to hear my videos have helped along the way. Thank you for commenting!

@user-dk3qr9gt8t Месяц назад

@@AlyssaMatesic I got my book published. It was a book I wrote while I was drunk a few months ago

@MattVentures Месяц назад

Thanks so much for your insight! It's much better knowing it could've just not been a good fit rather than a cold, data/keywords scan right in the beginning of the querying journey. Much appreciated!

@cladesm Месяц назад

I specifically pick agents when querying that respond quickly as part of my query batches. I don't mind the rejection and their responses let me know I did it correctly.

@AlyssaMatesic Месяц назад

This is such a clever strategy - thanks for sharing!

@rumrunner8019 Месяц назад

I have a question that I don't think has been asked yet: I submitted a short story to an anthology submission. It was accepted and I got a boring, four sentence form letter along with a contract to sign and send back. I had a second sale, that actually paid me, and still, I got a letter that started off with "dear author" and a bland "we accept." Note. What the heck? I know about form rejection, but form *acceptance* ? Is that a thing? You would think an editor could maybe spend all of four minutes saying what they liked about it, considering it is one of only a few stories they accepted.

@Infochique Месяц назад

Good video, Alyssa. Thanks much 😊

@LindaMargoles Месяц назад

Dependent on author resume, connections, network. The slush pile is unknowns outsiders. Rarely rarely does a manuscript get taken on the merit of it

@InvestigatingDavidCrowley Месяц назад

Again, another very helpful video. Thank you. I do have another question: Regarding independent publishing, it is being said not to use AP style Times New Roman for a book font. Is this true? Has the AP style changed? If so, what is the best font type to use when formatting a book on an indie platform?

@jimgilbert9984 Месяц назад

I've mentioned this in the Comments Section in another of your posts, Alyssa, but it bears repeating here because the first question is on topic for this. I sent a query to an agent through her Query Manager page. Considering the details of her rejection email, received the next day, I'm somewhat glad that she rejected me. Her rejection told me that she didn't bother to read her own QM form properly. She somehow thought that my comp was the novel I had submitted, even though the title of my novel was near the top of the form and my comp was at the bottom. If she can't even read her own QM form properly, then how would she be able to represent my book properly?

@PetProjects2011 Месяц назад

I'm now curious who that agent is so I can avoid them.

@jimgilbert9984 Месяц назад

@@PetProjects2011 Alyssa didn't reveal the names of those kind of agents in her video, so I don't feel comfortable doing so, either. Maybe she just had a bad day (possible, but I don't think so since it was a huge mistake), or maybe you'll have better luck with her than I did.

@MycoolzBadSelf Месяц назад

I apologize if you’ve answered this before. But what if it’s the opposite problem and several agents are interested? What’s the best way to sort through that?

@taraforbes-ob2jm 28 дней назад

Hello, Alyssa. Thank you for the efforts at de-mystifying the book world. My question: if an agent requests a full manuscript, can I expect a response of some kind? What is a reasonable amount of time to give an agent to review the manuscript?

@DavesDime Месяц назад

Hey Alyssa, thanks so much for all your videos! I had some questions regarding social media. I'm getting ready to start writing my first novel, and I'd like to try to build an audience on social media while I do. Do you have tips for creating reading and writing related content to potentially build up interest in your book? Also, how big does your social media presence have to be to make it worthwhile to mention in query letters? Thanks!

@O_M554 Месяц назад

Hi Alyssa. Upon signing a book contract, what can we expect to find outlined in the contract? Do you know the specifics of what a book deal is/what the publisher explicitly requires from the author (other than the manuscript)?

@saleenaali1660 Месяц назад

Hi Alyssa, I wanted to know how common is it for a book to die on submission? Can you please give examples of books that were queried that didn’t die on submission

@elizabethstump4077 9 дней назад

If when researching literary agents to send query letters to, if they have on their MSWL a list of items from recent and past posts that they are looking for XYZ and ABC, should you include at the end of your query letter that you saw they are looking for XYZ and ABC and that your story includes those tropes or scenarios? Sort of a "Hey, you mentioned you are looking for this and my story includes these items you're looking for"? As a reminder? And if so, how would one word it in a query letter?

@user-fu3mf7ko3p Месяц назад

Thank you. Great insight. On a different topic, could you discuss selecting comps - do TV's series, films, non-fiction, short stories, etc. qualify as comps and how many should be included. Appreciate all your vids.

@AlyssaMatesic Месяц назад

Hi there - I do think it is fair game to use a TV show, movie, etc. as a comp title, but I recommend trying to include at least one novel as a comp as well. I touch on this a bit more in another video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-9FLuGtASF1A.htmlsi=SfKiYUYyJrajbSYj I hope that's helpful!

@Alex-ue2hv Месяц назад

I am looking to start publishing articles and stories that I have written. Some are tied to my book, a memoir, which might develop interest in it but I'm not sure if I should attempt publishing now or wait until I have found an agent. In general, I need some writing career guidance but I'm having trouble finding anyone. Most writing coaches specifically offer different types of editing services. Reedsy has book coaches but those are for people who have not started a book. Do you have any recommendations on how to find someone who could help?

@Gamble661 Месяц назад

When I buy a novel I don't read the first page then decide if it's a book I want to read....I understand agents are busy, get a lot of queries, etc. But one page in no way will give an accurate indication of how good a manuscript is. I always wonder how many really good writers out there never get published because the system is so illogical.

@ghostchick5275 Месяц назад

Hi, Alyssa! You say that the goal is to pick comp titles that have released in the last 5 years or so. What about series that have been going on forever? If you are writing a book that is (hopefully) part of a series, do you simply refer to the most recent installment in comp series or do you go back to the beginning? Would such a book/series count as a comp within 5 years? Thanks!

@MoniqueNelson Месяц назад

Hi Alyssa, I love what you're offering authors, thank you for all you do! Question - I've seen quite a few sample pitch letters that say something along the lines of "Standalone novel with series potential." What if the book is very definitely Book 1 in a series? What is the best approach in those circumstances?

@AlyssaMatesic Месяц назад

Hi there - I typically recommend using that language when querying, even if you fully intend on the book being the first in a series. I talk a bit about why in this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-mb8QmBLc75Q.html

@MoniqueNelson Месяц назад

@@AlyssaMatesic thank you!

@WarthogDemon 16 дней назад

In my latest attempt, I've had THREE agents reject me within 24 hours within a two day period.

@ndsuusa9787 12 дней назад

Is it good or bad idea to buy an ISBN number to the book before getting an agent? Is it possible to assign another number for the same book if needed? Many thanks

@aaronhunyady Месяц назад

I don't think AI is going to help the agent-reason being that the agent really wants to see something new and interesting, and current AI is abysmal at judging how subjectively "good" we humans will rate something if it hasn't seen it before.

@Infochique Месяц назад

I agree with you. Over hype with AI in every aspect of our lives😢

@videotube77 Месяц назад

If you get an offer of representation, the wisest thing you could do is let other agents know about it, right? My questions are: 1. Does asking for three weeks or two and a half weeks rather than two weeks sound excessive? 2. Do I inform only the agents that have my partial and/or full manuscript, or also the agents that I queried regardless of if they have even replied to my query? 3. When I inform all the other agents, what do I put on the email headline? Something like "attention- offer of representation"? 4. On the body of the email, I just need to write something simple and short like, "Hello. I just wanted to inform you that I received an offer of representation for my manuscript ____________. Please get back to me within two weeks. Thank you ". Is that fine?

@rowan7929 Месяц назад

Fasted rejection was after 3 hours. Wasn't happy at that time as it did feel like it wasn't even read.

@AA-gl9lq Месяц назад

we are fishing for an agent :D by throwing a large net into the water :)

@Blackfoxparadox 23 дня назад

Im writing a trilogy that may turn into four books. What is the best word count to submit for a first book? I've heard 80k words and Im at 100k at the mo. Genre is apocalypse/ new world scenario

@AlyssaMatesic 22 дня назад

Hi there - I have another about determining the ideal length for your novel: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-nacJDqogoNM.html I hope that's helpful!

@momo_genX Месяц назад

I had a lead editor of a firm (boutique one) personally reject me by pointing out a mispelled word in the sample. At least he read the sample and he did this all within the span of three hours. Bizarre. I will respectfully query him again with the next project.

@andre-hugopretorius9815 Месяц назад

Hello Alyssa, I am currently working on a novel that has reached over 400 pages. Upon reaching this point, I realized that the story requires more development and story to achieve the final climax. As a result, I decided to start a new book, which will serve as a prequel to the original, which should enable me to remove some chapters in the book which I left...for now. In my new project, set 20 years prior to the original story, I have two main characters: the protagonist and another significant character named Howie. My challenge lies in effectively portraying both characters' backgrounds to provide a comprehensive understanding of their motivations and actions in the subsequent book. I have written several chapters detailing the lives of both characters. However, I am now considering condensing Howie’s past into a single, substantial chapter. My concern is finding the right balance between providing sufficient detail and avoiding a narrative that feels overly lengthy or monotonous. Could you offer any advice on how to approach this? I aim to maintain the depth of Howie’s backstory without overwhelming the reader with excessive detail. Thank you for your time and assistance. Best regards, HUGO

@AlyssaMatesic Месяц назад

Hi Hugo - it's difficult to say without reading the manuscript itself, but I do have another video about writing compelling backstory, if you haven't seen it already: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-mtN2Vysve3M.html It includes some tips for determining what details to include and strategically revealing them throughout the narrative. I hope that helps!

@andre-hugopretorius9815 Месяц назад

@@AlyssaMatesic Thank you so much. I will be moving to that video right now. Have a good one 🙂

@spookybooscarystorytime Месяц назад

I looked up an agent who is in my genre and could possibly be a fit for the future. She stated that she preferred snail mail inquiries and submissions. Is this still common, or have most moved to email? Thanks!

@AlyssaMatesic Месяц назад

Most have definitely moved to digital submissions (email or an online form like QueryTracker). But, of course, I always recommend checking each agent's submission guidelines and following their preferred process!

@spookybooscarystorytime Месяц назад

@@AlyssaMatesic thank you!

@Heothbremel Месяц назад

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

@shinaxia7474 26 дней назад

From my side actually a comment, not a question, but maybe this is good material for a video. I'm not American and I don't live in the States. I was a self-publisher for a while, then I signed some contracts for online platforms, now I'm going into self-publishing again and will try to publish in my non-English-speaking country with a professional publishing house. My comment is that I hate it when someone addresses me with disdain as an indie author, because I don't publish in any of the big five US publishing houses. States are not the whole world. There are other countries, other languages and other publishing customs, so looking down on someone because they are not part of the American system is despicable. I just wanted to point out to you, and I mean all Americans, that the world of publishing doesn't end with your country, and plenty of great books are published outside your five-publishing house system, what you disdainfully call indie. And one more comment. To be on the bestseller list of the NYT and the like, you have to be on the lists of several online "publishers" like Amazon, etc. When I checked, it was five such places for self-publishers. It just so happens that in two of them you can't publish if you're not a US citizen. I understand that the States protect their authors from an influx of people from abroad, but ordinary citizens don't know about such restrictions, about the fact that writers from other countries simply can't meet these conditions. That's why I encounter a lot of unfavorable comments not so much against me, but simply saying that authors from abroad are weak because they are never on the said bestseller lists. Someone might think that in the age of universal access to the Internet Americans would stop discriminating against people on the basis of their nationality, but this is not the case. You will always find some way to feel superior to others. And this is just sad.

@Jonathan-eb5zi Месяц назад

I've submitted a query before at 10:00 PM, and received a rejection at 7:00 AM sharp the next morning. There's no way the materials were reviewed.

@anthonymizzi9359 Месяц назад

Hate to break it to you, but was most likely a matter of "right place, right time." I had two very quick query rejections -- one was seven hours, the other was only 22 minutes!

@VictorDivine-gd2sm 29 дней назад

I sent my query letter and sample pages, but within 2 minutes I got an auto response that the agent will be traveling and would be slow to email. He referred me to a junior agent in the agency. I don't know how to go about it. If I query the agent, should I include the referral by her colleague? And would that increase my chance of getting request? Thank you as I await your timely response.

@tomgrant3893 Месяц назад

I've asked questions important to me, and got ignored, I see a lot of cherry picking. I'll look around for other advise. I guess I'll have to learn on my own.