I know querying is an exhausting, disheartening process. But when is it time to pull the plug on a specific query and attack it from a new angle? I keep close track of my query numbers, and the current query I'm using I've sent out 25 times. 3 are still pending, one was a full request (but based off what people have said on Query Tracker and the crickets I've heard, I have reason to write this off as a No Response Means No). The rest have all been form rejections or no response. Is it time to revamp the query again? This is the second main iteration of the query I've sent out, and while I feel it's better than the first one, the first one got three requests (which turned into rejections) out of 28, so the first one actually had a better response rate. I realize I may be over analyzing, but I'm hesitating to send out more queries right now because I'm worried that maybe I'm "wasting" an agent who would be a good fit because I'm not sending them a good query.
(And of course there's the part of me that wonders if it's not the query but the opening pages...)
There are obviously way too many variables to know anything for certain, so I guess I'm just looking for some reassurance one way or the other. Thanks.
I'll have a look here shortly when I tackle the 5 query winners from last month!
Thank you everyone for the feedback. I've got my queries up in the critique section, just to be sure, and I'm also taking a hard look at my opening chapter. I know I'm starting in the right chapter, but I might be starting the chapter in the wrong place, if that makes sense. See what comes of all of this.
Purely personal opinion here, but I only send out in the 5-10 range before I am editing or revamping again. I guess I almost always see something i can do better, and if 5-10 don't get me anywhere, then why not see how I can improve on it, even if it's only a few words/lines? Though, honestly, the changes I make are usually big enough to warrant calling it a whole new query.
To be fair, I've had very little success in any way, shape, or form, so don't take my method as the best one!
One other thing you should consider, though, isn't about your query or pages, it's about the timing. You might have a great book / query / sample, but you're just sending it to the wrong agent at the wrong time (and in a way, there's nothing you can do about that). The industry ebbs and flows, and certain topics are hot for a while, then avoided at all costs later on (sparkly vampires anyone?). I'm not saying your offering is at that level, but there might be something about it that doesn't make it a good fit at that time.
These things can happen behind the scenes and you may never know about them, so don't take it too much to heart and just keep chugging along.
Thank you, both. My query revisions all happened back on the old AQ site, so there's nothing here, but I might post both of them just for some fresh eyes in a few days.
@Mica Kole, that's very helpful to hear it's usually the pages. Not that I want it to be the pages, but I've always thought it would be helpful to know whether rejection more often comes from the query or the pages, so I might try to take another gander at those (again). I've heard some people say they want to know why agents pass, but that can be so subjective, so I've just had the wish of knowing pages vs query.
First off: If you are having any requests at all, you are doing well.
Second: If you send me your query, I'll tell you if it's trash. It probably isn't. Post it here and I can let you know my thoughts on that.
Third: Almost always, the pages are the problem. Agents are VERY picky about pages. (Keep in mind that they are not always right.) I would worry more about your pages than your query. If your query is coherent, grammatically correct, and displays a fresh take (even in not the most perfectly-oriented words), then an agent will shrug and read a few lines. If you don't grab them, that's the end.
This process almost always ends in the pages, not the query (from my experience as an intern for a lit agency--which is, in itself, limited). Final note: If you're not working on the next project while you're doing this, you're wasting valuable time.
I'm sorry you're not having much luck with your query, @lnloft. Querying is a tough gig.
So from my experience, I do queries in batches of 10-15. If I get mostly (or all) rejections back, I revamp the query, trying it from a different angle. If I get a request or two, then rejections, I worry my book opening either needs work or it isn't starting in the right place.
One thing that you may be running into is that the query isn't matching the story's opening pages. The agents are expecting one thing from the query, while the pages lead the story in a different direction (perhaps it's too far away from the inciting incident, or the query tells too far into the story). But without seeing the query (I couldn't find it in the query critiques) I can't really say what may be the issue in your specific case.
Perhaps try looking at your first query and see what is stronger about the hook in that one, because as you said, it's had a better success rate, may give you a direction to go in with a new iteration. You can always post the query up on the forum and get the community's input.
This is just my experience, and others may feel differently.