DO YOU QUERY/SUBMIT DURING THE HOLIDAYS?
Or do you tie your hands so you can't??
I've found myself in the clutches of this question numerous times. Numerous. It would seem that I normally get things done and ready to query right around Turkey day. Just my luck.
So what do you do? Do you query agents? Do you submit to publishing houses that actually accept unagented submissions? Or do you hold off until the after the first of the new year?
First things first.
MAKE SURE YOUR BOOK IS READY TO QUERY. No jumping the gun here, peeps. I can't stress that enough.
Then, do that following:
1. Don't submit to publishing houses. They will be dealing with hella-crazy deadlines and won't have to time to mess with your slush. Sorry, but true.
2. Don't submit to agent who closes for submissions around the holidays. Your query will be deleted faster than you can blink.
3. Do submit to agents who allow queries over the holidays.
*double-take*
*blinks*
Yeah, I said it. DO submit to agents who allow queries over the holidays. Do you think I've lost my mind? Well, that remains to be seen.
I was a hard-core do-not-submit-to-agents-over-the-holidays believer. Until last week. What changed my mind? A blog post from an editor him/herself. You can read it here. Makes sense now, right? Now, I'm sure there are agents out there would rather not have a slew of queries over the holidays. Some of them don't mind. And some of them like them and say, "I'll take 'em, but it will take longer to answer."
Just make sure whoever you are submitting to over the holidays accepts submissions/queries over the holidays. And make sure you aren't waisting their time by not being TOTALLY read to submit. I mean it. ;-)
~JD
8 comments:
Excellent checklist! And hey, if no one is submitting, maybe that is the best time.
Whatever you do with your submissions and to whomever you submit - it's always best to do your research first into their policies! Yay!! Great advice JD! Take care
x
I don't even blog during the holidays. Well, Thanksgiving yes, but after the 15th, I'll be off until the new year.
As for submitting, I say if the work is ready to go, why not!
I don't submit...I take a breath and plan for my next push. Clears my brain for all I need to think and do for the holidays.
Sound logic! Full-speed ahead!! :)
Who would have known?
I was thinking I'll send out a few to the ones who are accepting. They probably have so many they won't get to mine until January. Plus I'll be so busy with other stuff, I might even forget to check my email 5,000 times per day. ;)
I'm querying during the holidays. Agents will get around to it sooner or later. Maybe later, but they will. So I say query away and good luck to you!
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