I Got a Bite!

by limebirdkate

A quick update to my Querying Literary Agents post…I received a request for a full!

So, here is an example of what a request looks like:

Thank you for your interest in our company. Happily, your query piqued our interest; and if you are at this time unrepresented, we would love the opportunity to give your manuscript a read. Because of the considerable time and energy we invest in reviewing full manuscripts, we request a six- to eight-week reading exclusive. If possible, of course, we will respond sooner.

When forwarding, please include your original query at the beginning of your manuscript and attach via email in a PDF or Word document.

Looking forward to the read!

So, exclusive read means if another agent should be interested I cannot let them read my ms until this agency has made a decision. I was already aware of this policy as it is standard.

There are no guarantees, and I am probably more prepared for a “sorry, this project isn’t for us” as opposed to a “we want to represent you and your novel”. I’m simply thrilled that I got a bite at all. No matter the outcome, knowing that I interested someone helps shape my journey in the weeks ahead.

I’ll keep you posted…!

71 Responses to “I Got a Bite!”

  1. Congratulations Kate! What a great step in the right direction. HUZZAH! I’m sure they’ll love it. Thanks for keeping us updated. Must be the Limebird luck! 😉

  2. Congrat! Positive thoughts heading your way!

  3. That is fantastic, congratulations! So excited for you.

  4. How would they know if you let someone else read it? In any case congratulations! 🙂

    • Hiya Pete,

      Very good question. I guess it’s kinda like an honor thing? I trust that they’ll read my entire ms with full, serious attention and they trust I won’t let any other agents read it in the meantime. That’s my guess anyway.

  5. I know this isn’t at all about me, but this post made my day. It’s proof that it can be done.

    THANK YOU for sharing! I needed that boost (oh yeah, and congratulations too!) 😉

    • Hi Shannon,

      Haha. No worries. This is one of the reasons I posted about this QL journey, because if my experience can help someone else in some small way, then to me, that’s the same as paying it forward.

      Enjoy your day!

  6. Excellent! May the Literary Force Be WIth You!

  7. Very awesome! 🙂 *happy dance, happy dance*

  8. Great news!!! Let us know how it goes.

  9. Excellent news. My fingers are crossed for you, Kate!

  10. Congratulations, that’s a huge hrurdle to get over.

    • Hi Alex,

      It is a huge hurdle, and one that feels good no matter what happens. I am doing my best to concentrate on the fact that an agent is interested. Just that alone is a big step in the right direction!

      Thanks for commenting.

  11. Wishing you luck with this, Kate! And fantastic that you actually have a finished manuscript! I’m working on my own and hope to get it finished in the next few months. Congratulations and good luck!

    • Hello there!

      Phew, don’t I know it. I am very happy that I am at this stage, but at the same time it has taken a lot out of me.

      Good luck with finishing your ms–let us know when you write the last word!

  12. Congratulations! I wish you the best with the agent!

  13. Great news! I agree with your sentiment that it feels good to have succeeded this far — enjoy that and allow it to fuel your energy the next months!

    • Hello, Charlotte,

      I think that’s how we can get through anything, when we focus on what we have accomplished rather than what we have yet to accomplish. I learned this philosophy only recently, but it works well for me.

      Thanks for your comment!

  14. Congratulations! I’m so happy for you, and I’ll be sending positive vibes your way!

  15. Kate, that is such wonderful and exciting news! And such a treat for you to share it so the rest of us can get an insight into the ‘game’! Fingers crossed! Paul

    • Hey there, Paul!

      Thank you. Yes, as I mentioned before I wanted to post this stretch of my journey to share a bit about what it is like–which by no means it is like this for all writers. But, it is an example.

      Thanks for chiming in!

  16. Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh! Congratulations! How awesome, and let’s be clear, YOUR WRITING was SO good that it made these people want to see MORE! Fantastic 🙂
    (Now can we see a copy of the query letter?)

    • Hey Neeks,

      Yes, I suppose my writing might have had a little something to do with it 😉

      Oh, the big Q.L.! haha. yes, I can share that, but I will have to do some tweaking only because it is out there in the hands of agents and I don’t want to be pushing buttons, know what I mean?

      Thanks for your kind words!

  17. Woot Woot and a grand Huzzah!!!

  18. Congrats! 🙂

  19. Yay!!! 🙂 Congrats!!! *Doing the happy dance for you :D*

  20. Wahooooooooooo! How exciting! I’m wishing for a positive outcome for you 😀

  21. Congrats! This is a wonderful victory, whether or not they decide to represent you. Well done! I look forward to hearing positive news! 🙂

  22. That’s great. I’m really happy for you! Good luck!

  23. Wa-Hoooo!!! Now someone else sees your talent, besides all of us followers.

  24. Congratulations, that is awesome!

  25. That is awesome news, Kate. Congratulations!

  26. Congrats! That is such exciting news. I hope it all works out, and will keep my fingers crossed for you!

  27. Add one more voice to the congratulations! Sending good thoughts your way!

  28. I wish I could ‘like’ this about 100 times. 🙂 I’m so happy for you!

  29. You have so many congrats, but another won’t hurt:

    CONGRATULATIONS!

  30. CONGRATULATIONS! THAT’S AWESOME NEWS!!!

  31. Nice one matey! Hope they know what’s right for them and publish it 😀

    LimebirdCat x

  32. Fantastic news and best wishes to you!

  33. Good job, Kate! How exciting! The wait is the hardest part…

    • Hi Amymarie,

      Thank you so much. Ahh yes, the wait. Well, luckily I have many things to keep me distracted. But you’re right, I’ll be checking my inbox feverishly for a few weeks. 🙂

  34. First of all CONGRATULATIONS! Holding thumbs (as they say here in South Africa).

    As for “I guess it’s kinda like an honor thing?” I attended an online writer’s workshop run by StarShipSofa and one of the speakers was Sheila Williams (editor of Asimov’s). She told a story about how she was talking to a colleague about a great short story and he said that they were already considering it for THEIR magazine. It didn’t go down very well at all with Sheila! The advice is definitely don’t submit simultaneously if asked not to (why wind up the person that you want on your side?).

    • Hey DML,

      Oh gosh, that would be so awkward. Do you know whatever happened with the short story? I could totally see neither party accepting it on principle. It is a very small world, and agents/editors talk constantly. I don’t want to be pushing the wrong buttons when it is sooo difficult to even find the right ones to push!

      So, no, I will abide by the rules and wait to hear back from this agency before I let anyone else read it.

      Thanks for commenting!

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