Hang in there Alythia! I know both you and I had that "I've run out of road" feeling right before we got our agents. Hopefully it doesn't get to that with subs, but it's definitely a good reminder that anything can happen at any moment.
My agent sent me a status update yesterday, so though it's not very exciting, I'll post it:
-Accepted and reviewing: 11
-Reviewing following R&R: 1
-Passed: 9
I know every agent operates a little differently but here are some nuggets worth passing along:
-Though he pings editors every month or so, he usually finds that they don't reveal "It's gone to a second read" or "It's being discussed in acquisitions." However, if the editor doesn't reject it within the first 2-3 weeks, that usually means that they're getting some form of second opinion.
-Reading queues are long but it IS their job to get through them, so a few months is reasonable for that first read. What happens after that, though, could require multiple people reading and providing input, which is where things bog down. The bigger the press (Big 5), the more layers to work through.
-That could also mean that an editor has read it and is in prep mode: letting it sit before a final re-read while also getting other readers to provide opinions that will help the editor prepare for the acquisitions meeting.
-He finds that most editors reply eventually, even if it's a looooooooong way out. It shouldn't be considered CNR for just 3-6 months of waiting.
FWIW I asked it we were at a stage where we should consider small-small presses or epresses yet. He said not yet, we've just scraped the surface of the more reputable small presses and are still waiting to hear back from major houses.
Those nuggets helped me feel a little better, particularly after my weekend BBQ interrogations (see my other thread
). And as usual, the best thing to do is Keep Writing.
