How long before you consider queries rejected?

I'm assuming by "positive responses" you mean requests for partials/fulls. If you got a few requests out of 10, statistically you're doing well, and you can assume for now your query is doing its job.

It does occasionally happen that a request for material will come after 4, 6, or 8 weeks, so I wouldn't say it never happens, but it is less common. Much depends on each individual agent, how many queries they receive, how backed up they are, if an intern reads first, etc.

I used to chase after twelve weeks (if the agent didn't state a non-response equalled no) and then close after four more weeks if no response.

Most of my requests were in the 4-8 week range. At least one was 4 months out. And one (from the agent I signed with) came within four minutes.

I was working on the general assumption that after 3 months, a query was likely dead. (Which is how I tracked when to query another agent at a particular agency if I hadn't gotten a response.) It doesn't mean you might not still get requests after that period, but it's a reasonable amount of time to wait (especially if you are querying more than one agent in sequence at an agency that allows that).

I wrote off queries as a 'no' after three or four months. I've had one response after six months, after the book was already contracted directly to a publisher.

I also assume closed/no reply after 3 months unless otherwise specified by the agent's web page. Querytracker has a great data tracker that you can look at which will give you a good sense of how long a specific agent usually takes.

I went with three months as well. One thing you'll find is, as time goes on, you'll get better about 'fire and forget', i.e., not obsessing over outstanding queries. Send it, and move on to the next one.

Sage said:

I keep track of my queries, partials, fulls, R&Rs, and rejections in a spreadsheet, but after that initial "is my query any good?" period, I pretty much send out the queries and let them go until I get a response.

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This is where I am right now. I know my query works, so it's just a matter of waiting, sending out some more, waiting, etc.

For my own sanity, however, I've been writing them off after just 2 weeks for "no response means no" agencies--unless something on the agent's blog or twitter or something indicates that it truly will take longer than that. If I assume it's a no after 2 weeks I can just move on and not think about it.

I know 2 weeks is probably way too soon to write them off, but the thing is, I've gotten 8 requests so far, and all but one have come within a few days. That said, I'm only 3.5 weeks into querying, so who knows what will happen with others still sitting out there.

Sat Nam! (literally "Truth Name"--a Sikh greeting)

If you've received no positive responses, I'd rework the query.

I once closed a no-show at 4 months and sent to someone else at that agency. Then got a form rejection from the first agent 6 weeks later.

Blessings,

Siri Kirpal

Seconding QueryTracker's data mine. I believe you have to register (and pay) to get access to it, but it shows the submission/response times for everyone using QT for a specific agent as well as what the genre is. Granted, this is only from responses people have entered themselves, but it's a pretty decent pool of info to draw semi-conclusions from.

If an agent/agency gives a date, then I went by that. If not, I looked at where they were in their queue re: QT. Outside of that, I'd echo the two to three month norm.

I got a full request once after seven months. But yeah, for sanity purposes don't hold your breath for those.

jeffo20 said:

I went with three months as well. One thing you'll find is, as time goes on, you'll get better about 'fire and forget', i.e., not obsessing over outstanding queries. Send it, and move on to the next one.

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This is really helpful as I've been agonizing over responses and spending WAY too much time checking email. Thanks!

I'm similar to Aus10Phile. When I was querying last year, I would write off a query as a no after 3 weeks. If I get a response after that then great, but I'm not holding my breath.