What's New?

▼

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Wednesday Writers Weigh In: Questioning Querying

Back in December I wrote the post, You Gotta Know When To Hold 'Em, regarding why I was not going to send any queries to the publishing world during the week between Christmas and New Years. If you didn't read it...it is worth checking it out.

Which brings me to this past week.  I have had a few conversations with writer friends regarding this issue: Knowing when its best to send a query.

Ever hear of "Decision Fatigue"?  Wikipedia defines "Decision Fatigue" as

In decision making and psychology, decision fatigue refers to the deteriorating quality of decisions made by an individual, after a long session of decision making.  It is now understood as one of the causes of irrational trade-offs in decision making.  For instance, judges in court have been shown to make poorer decisions later in the day.  Decision fatigue may also lead to consumers making poor choices with their purchases.There is a paradox in that "people who lack choices seem to want them and often will fight for them"; yet at the same time, "people find that making many choices can be [psychologically] aversive."

As if us writers did not have enough to think about, it is worth giving thought to when your manuscript hits an agent or editor's desk.  Of course we cannot be in complete control over this.  But giving thought to the time of day and day of the week that you query could be beneficial.

Querying over the weekend or early Monday might not be the best, due to the mail piling up over the weekend.  However, querying at the very end of the week when editors and agents are tired/overwhelmed from the week might not be in your benefit either.

Also consider...
  1. NOT querying during holidays/long weekends.  Most people return to work after such days to be faced with an overflowing inbox.  This almost guarantees your manuscript will be buried.
  2. what is going on in the publishing world.  Querying during busy times such as the annual ALA conference when most editors and agents are "away from their desks" is not advised.
  3. If you can, keeping a tab on the individual you are querying.  Don't query them the week they are getting married or on vacation, etc.
Just be saavy and mindful.  Remember, you want to be "seen".  Do whatever homework you need to to make sure you are.

Now its time to Weigh In!  What time of day and day of the week to you think its best to query?
at

14 comments:

  1. UnknownFebruary 8, 2012 at 9:16 AM

    Thanks Marcie for the advice. This actually never crossed my mind. Now, I'll be more aware of when I query.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marcie ColleenFebruary 8, 2012 at 9:34 AM

      You are very welcome. :) And thanks for becoming a Follower.

      Delete
  2. Kirsten LarsonFebruary 8, 2012 at 9:23 AM

    You raise some interesting points, Marcie. I actually wondered if it was better to query early in the year, when a publishing house has its entire annual budget ahead of them versus the end of the year when they might have less money available for new acquisitions. I know it works that way in the grant-writing world and wondered if the same held true here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marcie ColleenFebruary 8, 2012 at 9:35 AM

      Another good point, Kirsten. Definitely something to keep in mind. Its not "science" but it might help.

      Delete
  3. Jarm Del BoccioFebruary 8, 2012 at 9:39 AM

    Thanks, Marcie...these were all good points. Some of them never occurred to me until today!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Beth StilbornFebruary 8, 2012 at 2:38 PM

    Very good points, Marcie. With your thoughts in mind, it might be good to go to an agent's website and see if there is mention of what conferences they attend, and be sure not to query during or right after one of those conferences, as they're likely to be swamped after people hear them in person.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Tara LazarFebruary 8, 2012 at 2:41 PM

    I think it is almost impossible to determine when an editor or agent's desk WON'T be swamped. It's just the nature of the business. I think reading periods are a smart use of an agent's time for that reason. I think querying just to have something "out there" isn't a great strategy. Query when you're good and ready. Any time your manuscript is polished and ready is a fine time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marcie ColleenFebruary 8, 2012 at 5:54 PM

      Of course it is IMPOSSIBLE to determine, but these are just suggestions. Any little bit of info that could help you not get buried, right? And I totally agree with you! NEVER query just to query.

      Delete
  6. Brenda HarrisFebruary 8, 2012 at 5:32 PM

    Query before SuperBowl Sunday and not for a few days after. Don't you think? Everyone is hopeful and pumped up before. Afterward, everyone is drained from partying. And how about those who cheered for the losing team? They'll be grumpy. - i could be wrong; I'm not a football fan, but it just make sense.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marcie ColleenFebruary 8, 2012 at 5:55 PM

      LOL! You might be on to something, Brenda. Of course, seeing as the Giants won, perhaps querying those editors/agents in NYC now would catch them in a great mood! LOL!

      Delete
  7. Susanna Leonard HillFebruary 8, 2012 at 8:41 PM

    You make some excellent points, Marcie. I hadn't really thought about time of the week, although I had thought of avoiding long weekends/vacations and busy times in the publishing world ilk ALA. I guess Tuesday morning might be good - hopefully the weekend backlog is settled and no one's too tired yet :) A lot of publishing houses seem to have their acquisition meetings Tuesday afternoons, so I don't know if that makes Wednesday better or worse....

    ReplyDelete
  8. HannahFebruary 8, 2012 at 9:39 PM

    Good points. Also if you are entering a writing contest, don't enter on the last day. You'll get piled in with the rest of the procrastinators and those who woke up that morning and decided to enter.

    ReplyDelete