#query update

[literallycait]

Query Update

You may have noticed I didn’t post much here in 2018. That’s because 2018 was insanely, incredibly busy. 2018 was a year of many personal and professional milestones for me--I feel grateful and lucky, but I also worked hard for a long time to see these moments finally become reality. I’m very excited by what I achieved in 2018 and what is still coming in 2019. 

It also meant that I fell behind on queries, and now that crazy 2018 is over, I’m determined to correct this. 

So, starting on Feb 1st, I will be closing to new queries while I clean up my inbox. I will not reopen until I have responded to all queries AND requested fulls--so if you’re waiting for a response, you will be hearing from me! Thank you, everyone, for your patience, and here’s to making things happen in 2019!

[literallycait]

Query Queue Complete!

I have now completely cleared out my query queue! If you have not heard back from me, one of three things happened: 

Your query never reached me.

My response ended up in your spam folder.

You didn’t follow my guidelines.

Check and fix issues 2 & 3 and then feel free to resubmit to me when I reopen in November. Any queries sent before November 1st (unless requested) will be deleted. 

If you’re waiting on a full, please be patient a bit longer! I am working on completing fulls as fast as I can over the next few months.

[literallycait]

Submission Schedule Update

Hi all,

I know you’ve been waiting patiently for me to reopen submissions, but I’m going to push it back one more month in order to catch up on the fulls I’m still swimming in. Therefore, I will reopen to queries on November 1st. I will respond to all queries currently still in my inbox by October 1st, and will then move on to getting through as many fulls as I can during October. Thanks for understanding!

Also, I have recently added an FAQ page to my sidebar. Please read this page before asking a question. I will no longer be answering asks that are already covered in this FAQ.

[catherinebakewell]

Update 7/4

Hello and Happy Fourth!

The brief hiatus on this blog was due to me being in Spain for school/recreation/research purposes. I absolutely loved it there, and also did my best not to query TOO much while I was there, so I could sit back and enjoy my time there.

I would like to mention, though, that while I was abroad, I got three rejections of my manuscript in one week. Kind of a harsh blow, and it kind of made me question if this is what I should be doing with myself. But the way I responded, the best form of self-care for me right then was to write. And to send more queries!

So here are my current stats: 

Queries in the void: 14 (do as I say, not as I do--the internet tells me to only have 10 queries in the void at one time. I’ll explain why in another post.)

No responses (hard to quantify, but...): 12

Rejections (Manuscript or otherwise): 30

People with parts or all of my manuscript: 2

I’ll keep moving forward! I anticipate hearing back from agents later this month and early next month. 

As a final note, I entered #70pit16, a contest where you submit the 70th page of your manuscript to be judged. Will follow up on that at least by 7/7!

Un abrazo,

Cat

[literallycait]

Do you respond to every query?

Yes, I respond to every query! With a few exceptions: 

If I can see that you simply CC’d me on a mass email to multiple agents, your email will be deleted without response. 

If you did not send me any materials at all and just emailed to ask if I would read your hypothetical, not-yet-completed manuscript when it is done, your email will be deleted without response.

I am still catching up on queries so if you have not yet heard back, please be patient and keep an eye on my Twitter/Tumblr! I periodically post updates about how far along I am, so you can see whether I’ve reached your query yet. Please note I sometimes receive “undeliverable” notifications when I reply to queries, so if you think you should have heard back from me, please check your mailbox fullness and spam filter.

[literallycait]

Hi Cailtin! Big fan of your blog! :) I've been reading through for awhile now and I was just wondering where you were at with your backlog? I remember your last update being 9/27, so just checking in!

Thank you! I’m up to October 4th, with a few exceptions. But queries are on hold this week while I finish up some other projects.