Query/Submission Statement: September 2023

September was another busy month, as I fired off more agent queries for my novel SECOND DAWN. I even, somehow, managed to find time to send a few short story submissions. (I know!). It was a productive month, but not necessarily a fruitful one. That’s just how it goes in the query/submission trenches. Anyway, here’s how I did.

September 2023 Short Story Submissions

• Submissions Sent: 3
• Rejections: 1
• No Response: 0
• Acceptances: 0
• Further Consideration/Shortlist: 0
• Withdrawals: 0

Still not exactly lighting the world on fire with my short story output, but, hey, three subs is three times as many as I sent last month. 🙂 I have actually written a bunch of new stories; I just haven’t done anything with them yet. That’ll change this month. I’d like to send out at least half a dozen subs if possible.

September 2023 Agent Queries

• Queries Sent: 10
• Rejections: 5
• CNR: 1
• Full/Partial Request: 0
• Withdrawn: 1

I only sent ten queries last month because, well, I’m running out of agents to query. There simply aren’t as many agents that rep horror as say sci-fi or mystery/thriller, so I find myself checking QueryTracker’s New & Updated Agent list everyday to see if any potential agents have opened to queries. The five rejections last month were run-of-the-mill form rejections with no feedback, and the withdrawal was just a brain fart on my part. I queried an agent at an agency where I already had a query pending with another agent at that same agency. That’s a no-no, so I withdrew the query with a polite and very apologetic note.

In other query news, I’m still waiting on responses for the three full manuscript requests I received in July and August. I fear at least one of those is going to be a CNR, but that’s just the reality of querying.

Anyway, if you’d like to follow my querying journey and get my thoughts and insights on the process, I’ve been documenting the whole mess on the blog. Links to those posts below:

• Query Quest: A New Rejection Frontier
• Query Quest: Baby’s First Query Rejection
• Query Quest: Agent Query Checklist Part 1
• Query Quest: Rejection #2
• Query Quest: What Are My Chances?
• Query Quest: Full Manuscript Request
• Query Quest: Who Should I Query?
• Query Response Round-Up: Week of 8/18/23
• Query Response Round-Up: Week of 8/25/23
• Query Response Round-Up: Week of 9/15/23
• Query Quest: What Are My Chances Part II

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And that was September. My goals for this month are more agent queries and a lot more short story submissions. I’ve already got a jump on the queries, so it’s time to get busy on the submissions. I’d also LOVE to report another full manuscript request or, dream of dreams, and offer of representation in October. I wouldn’t hold your breath on that last thing, though. 🙂

How was your month of querying/submitting/writing?