I looked at QueryTracker's Success Stories from March 29, 2011 to March 28, 2012. During that one year period, 238 individuals reported an offer of representation. Of those, 54 provided an interview about their process. Out of those, 44 shared how many queries they sent.
Before I share the numbers, please note this is purely non-scientific. QT is a self-reporting site. People may be honest or they may be fudging their numbers (up or down). Some people gave a range (if so, I used an average), some said "More than x" (if so, I just used x). Maybe only those with really good stories shared. So please take this all with a very big grain of salt.
And also, while I'm a bit geeky about numbers and statistics, it doesn't mean I'm very good at them. Terms like "standard deviation" make me break out in hives (studying the stats section for the GRE just about did me in). I'm just giving the numbers and then throwing out the top and bottom two to see what it looks like without the extremes.
So without further ado:
GENRE
|
QUERIES SENT
|
Biography &
Memoirs (NF)
|
20
|
Commercial Fiction (F)
|
349
|
Fantasy (F)
|
12
|
Fantasy (F)
|
39
|
Fantasy (F)
|
50
|
Fantasy (F)
|
54
|
Fantasy (F)
|
250
|
Historical Fiction (F)
|
20
|
Historical Fiction (F)
|
21
|
Middle Grade (F)
|
12
|
Middle Grade (F)
|
30
|
Middle Grade (F)
|
34
|
Middle Grade (F)
|
65
|
Middle Grade (F)
|
77
|
Mystery (F)
|
40
|
Not Specified
|
1
|
Not Specified
|
36
|
Offbeat/Quirky (F)
|
64
|
Picture Books (F)
|
15
|
Picture Books (F)
|
25
|
Romance (F)
|
12
|
Romance (F)
|
13
|
Romance (F)
|
30
|
Romance (F)
|
45
|
Thrillers/Suspense (F)
|
48
|
Women's Fiction (F)
|
16
|
Women's Fiction (F)
|
64
|
Young Adult (F)
|
15
|
Young Adult (F)
|
15
|
Young Adult (F)
|
15
|
Young Adult (F)
|
25
|
Young Adult (F)
|
30
|
Young Adult (F)
|
30
|
Young Adult (F)
|
50
|
Young Adult (F)
|
50
|
Young Adult (F)
|
52
|
Young Adult (F)
|
60
|
Young Adult (F)
|
66
|
Young Adult (F)
|
70
|
Young Adult (F)
|
75
|
Young Adult (F)
|
79
|
Young Adult (F)
|
88
|
Young Adult (F)
|
91
|
Young Adult (F)
|
100
|
Young Adult (F)
|
195
|
Average
|
57
|
Mode (occurs most often)
|
15
|
Median (middle of range)
|
40
|
High
|
349
|
Low
|
1
|
Average w/out 2 large/small
|
47
|
The last time I did this, the average was 68. Are agents offering more quickly these days?
I'll admit it... when I see things like 12 queries sent, it makes me a little frustrated because I'm not one of them. But also, I take hope from the 195.
I try to remember that this is only a small fraction of queriers. I'm sure there are a huge number of writers out there who don't want to share their numbers. In fact, if I'm honest, I don't know if I would share my true numbers once I get past a certain point.
Sometimes I think we feel there is a stigma (an unfair one) if it takes you more than a few dozen queries, like your book isn't quite as good. Which is crazy, because there are about 1500 agents out there. It is like finding true love. Do we judge someone who dates for a few years before finding their partner as less lovable than the person who meets The One in high school?
Thoughts?
These stat charts are so fascinating. I love to analyze everything, too.
ReplyDeleteWhat I wonder with the drop is how many writers stop seeking an agent after, say 35+ rejections and decide to self publish. How much does this growing trend skew the data, so to speak?
"Do we judge someone who dates for a few years before finding their partner as less lovable than the person who meets The One in high school?"
ReplyDeleteThat really is the perfect analogy. Good job.
I love posts like this. I think QT is a distorted view because only a small number of writers report their stats but, like you, I love the 195 type figures.
ReplyDeleteGreat analogy, with finding a partner. I enjoy looking at images on DeviantArt, but there are probably close to 100 images I look at to every one image that really pleases me. Like love, and art, writing is subjective and writers should expect to query hundreds of agents before finding that "true match"
ReplyDeleteThank you. This in encouraging. I'll keep going.
ReplyDelete