Blogger: Wendy Lawton
Ever since I became an agent, I’ve been trying to figure out the rhythm of this industry. Every industry has “seasons” and because we agents are always trying to second-guess things, we are ever vigilant in gathering observations.
One of the first things I noticed was that editors seem to have two New Year’s days—the first day back to work after the New Year and the first day back to work after Labor Day. Both of these days seem to be filled with hope and promise. If I’m shopping a project, my perfect time to have it land on an editor’s desk is one of those two times.
We used to say the month of December was dead and we avoided sending new projects, fearing they’d be lost in the jumble of parties and family responsibilities. (Especially since we know that most editors read proposals and manuscripts in the off-time, not in their office time.) Recently we’ve been surprised at how much last minute buying goes on. How many requests we get for projects. In the last couple of years, December has been vigorous. Who knew?
Mid-July through August is dead. Too many in publishing plan their vacations for after BEA or ICRS. Very few publishers are even able to gather the team together to hold regular pub committee meetings (where book decisions are made).
We’ve also found a drop-off in June, around graduations and the beginning of kids’ school vacations.
Fall is a vigorous time even though many editors travel to conferences.
But as with any observations, we are ever learning. The good thing is that the editors with whom we work are always attentive to our submissions even if we hit them at a tough time. We eventually get a response. It’s just that we are always trying to get to the yes. We are always trying to figure out the best moment—the happiest time— to have a project land on their desk.
It’s an inexact science at best. 🙂
So what have you observed about the rhythm of this industry? Have you noticed a time when emails and Facebook posts slow down? When it takes longer than ever to hear back? Do you try to psych us out when you send queries? I’d love to collect your observations.
This closely resembles a “family” schedule! It has all the ebb and flow of the school year. Without the fear of getting stuffed n a locker by the mean kids on the football team. Then again…
Wendy, I was actually quite curious about this, as each industry or profession has its own rhythm.
Psych you out when I send a query? I couldn’t possibly psych you out. Unlesss it’s Christmas Eve and you are a 5 year old with behaviour issues.
Isn’t it funny how those “family” rhythms affect our whole life?
I’ve found trying to figure out industry timing is like trying to diagnose myself on WebMD. I narrow the choices down to “inoperable tumor” or “pimple,” then spend way too much time vacillating between hope and despair.
Another reason to get an agent–so YOU can try and figure it out for me!
Hah! What a fantastic analogy, Sarah.
Oh Sarah, I laughed SO hard at this!! What a great analogy!
Ah, Sarah, you made me giggle, too. Great analogy! And I love your conclusion. Of course, securing an agent is far easier said than done.
Write on!
Because of Christ,
Sharon
, Janet and I are traveling together (at airport right now). I read your comment out loud and we laughed together. Too true.
Wendy,
You and Janet will be in my prayers for a safe trip.
Sarah, that made me laugh out loud! So true…
In the homeschool community (online), communication and blogging seems to slow down a bit, though not stop entirely. As you mentioned, it’s when many take vacation or just focus on family time more.
Wendy, since you describe July and August as very slow, do you consider that a good time to query agents? Or no since agents try to take vacations as well?
Thanks for these observations!
I would say no. We are working like crazy to get ready for trade shows plus traveling plus vacations plus . . .
YMMV
I have been noticing that there don’t seem to be as many authors posting on their blogs and Twitter. It’s probably because a lot of their kids are off for summer break, so things slow down. I hadn’t thought about it extending to editors, but that makes complete sense. What about agents? Is summer a bad time to submit queries? Or do you like to take some of the “dead” time to acquire new talent before the rush of the fall?
My kids are off. I might just ditch them ALL and find someone in, hmmmmm, where could I go?? Taps chin…somewhere so warm my freckles melt!
Good question, Lindsay, is “dead” time a good time to find those new *it* writers?
Colorado is that warm right now. Of course, you must be willing to deal with smoke too…..forest fires and all.
I didn’t think about that either, Lindsay. 🙂
I don’t know that it’s a dead time but I’m in my office less in the summer than any other time. I wish I could tell you I’m out having fun but we do the bulk of our business travel now.
In fact, right now I’m sitting at O’Hare while they try to find a new airplane to replace our broken one. We’re likely to miss the next connection. Anyone at O’Hare. Two agents twiddling. Perfect time to pitch. 🙂
This made me laugh! I can see a stream of authors magically appearing before you two. But, of course, they’ll wait until you’re in the bathroom …
Can you post you entire travel schedule? Down to when you eat breakfast, lunch and dinner? Some of us bake. Cinnamon buns, cream cheese icing, a nice hot beverage from the local Starbucks to wash it all down? MMMMM.
🙂
My husband dealt with that issue last week, Wendy. So sorry you’ve had unexpected delays.
I haven’t noticed a huge slow down on the blogs I read. I confess, I’m still figuring out the industry side of things, so knowing “good” times and “dead” times to submit work is helpful. 🙂
Of course, the truth is, as soon as we figure it out, it changes.
Always! 🙂
I’ve always thought around the holidays is a bad time to send, and I try to stop before Thanksgiving until at least mid-January. I want
to slow down as we near June, with vacations
coming up, but it’s hard not to send when I have something on my mind.
This is very interesting. Do you prefer to receive queries on New Years and the day after Labor Day?
I have always wondered this. Thanks for this post!
I hate to say it Sarah but what you have is a pimple. But don’t worry, it’s a very pretty pimple.
This was another helpful post that I hadn’t considered before now. Do you think editors are less likely to sign new book contracts right before a big conference, like ACFW, since they know they’ll be hearing pitches and possibly acquiring new authors? What about after a conference? Is this true for agents, as well?
I have wondered about that, too, Gabrielle.
The conferences must create mini-seasons of their own. I’ve also wondered how the glut of requested manuscripts (post-conference) affects an editor’s work load. Do they have some kind of triage system when it comes to sorting all the manuscripts? Read the most intriguing first? Or read them chronologically as they arrive?
The rhythm I’ve found is this: editors are always busy! I’ve never heard of an editor, or agent for that matter, declaring the third week of October or the last day of February in a leap year a good time to send in manuscripts, that they’re all caught up on their current workload, … seems it is a job that never really has a downtime. Like parenting, where you keep thinking you’ll get more time at the next stage: when you don’t need to feed the baby and changed diapers, or run them to preschool and pick them up almost as soon as you’ve gotten home, or sit at after school sports, or … We make time for what we need to do. My goal is to make such an impression on the editor no matter what time of year that he or she will HAVE to buy my book. 🙂 Lofty goal, no?
Here in New Zealand our holidays fall over summer which is over the Christmas period. Everything here stops, even some bills!