16 It’s Time to Consult the Querying Cosmos!

Many of us will find more time to devote to writing with summer on the way.  A while back, I read bits and pieces of advice that suggested summer months were also a good time to query. I decided to revisit this idea and do a little investigating. When I searched online using the phrase, “Best time of year to submit query,” the word astrology came up in one of the search results. Who knew I should be looking to the heavens and consulting cosmic forces to decide on when to submit my manuscript?

In all seriousness, there were some useful tidbits of information I stumbled upon that may benefit the masses:

• Agent Lisa Grubka encouraged writers to consider that summer is still relatively slower than the rest of the year, though it is not as slow as it may once have been in the publishing world.
• Nathan Bransford offered some insight about avoiding holidays for querying.
• Various writers and agents suggest not querying immediately after attending a conference. Agents and editors receive a flurry of queries following such an event.
• Query Tracker can help you monitor the progress an agent or editor is making in response to queries.
• A company or individual's blog or website will usually have the most up-to-date information. Check there for alerts about query status, out of the office trips, and reorganizations within an agency or publishing house.

Timing is important, but with an obvious gap between when you send a query and when it is actually read, there's no certain way to hit it right. On second thought, maybe I ought to consult my horoscope after all!

What have you heard on this topic? Do you think there’s truth to any of these tips?

Happy Querying!
Marissa