Interesting Pattern Emerging in Queries...

tlbodine

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Interesting Pattern Emerging in Queries...

« on: May 31, 2012, 03:16:02 PM »

Pausing to assess where I stand with ye olde querying process. I've sent 25 queries and received 13 rejections, no requests, and the others are still pending. Some might be no-replies, I need to go back through the website and check their usual response times.

Needless to say, I'm feeling a little uneasy about my lack of responses. Most of you have seen my query thanks to The Writer's Voice. I don't know if my query still isn't working, or if the genre is just such a hard sell -- adult portal fantasy. Ouch.

Anyway, while I was reviewing my stats, this seemed interesting to me:

Of the 25 agents so far, 10 have been men.
Only one man has rejected my query.
9 of my outstanding 12 queries are sitting in the office of men.

I have no idea if that's a fluke or not. But I do wonder if the book may not appeal more to male readers. It has a male protagonist and very little romance.

Very curious. Maybe I'll make a point of querying more guys to see what happens....


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LateToTheParty

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Re: Interesting Pattern Emerging in Queries...

« Reply #1 on: May 31, 2012, 03:30:44 PM »

Would be VERY interested in reading your conclusions on this. One of the agents I plan to ~~pester~~ pitch to considers himself a "guy's book" guy. I got three fulls from the five guys I quiried and one pseudo offer of representation. Meanwhile I've been shot down more than the Imperial TIE fighter Corps by the ladies. Yeesh, it's like a flashback to my dating years.


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edelweiss

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Re: Interesting Pattern Emerging in Queries...

« Reply #2 on: May 31, 2012, 06:21:29 PM »

I have had 2-3 times the expected response (based on the proportion of agents who are male) from male agents. The most positive responses I've gotten have both been from men. ("I'm going to kick myself for not taking this" and "You'll have no trouble getting an agent." Don't you love that? What a laugh!)

My protag is a guy and the first 50 pages take place mostly during fighting in WWII. If only there were more male agents!


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Falen

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Re: Interesting Pattern Emerging in Queries...

« Reply #3 on: June 01, 2012, 07:20:13 AM »

ooh interesting. It makes me want to check my stats for my last MS. Though i already know i queried way more women than men.

BUT! I do know the nicest rejection i ever got was from a man


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Midwest

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Re: Interesting Pattern Emerging in Queries...

« Reply #4 on: June 01, 2012, 12:36:59 PM »

Hmmm, one of my MCs is a guy, but I've queried very few men. Maybe I need to rethink my ToBeQueried list ...


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