How long should I wait to contact the agent
to be sure they’ve received my query letter?
How about forever?
Email query letters usually receive a response within a few weeks, or less, or never. Some agents send back either a "sure, send me your manuscript" or use a generic and polite email rejection, “Thanks but not quite right for our list”--something to that effect. Others do not respond at all, ever.
You'll hear back for a snail mail query, sent with an SASE, within six weeks to three months, or longer, or never. If the agent is interested in your manuscript, they'll call or send an email. Otherwise, they'll send the "Thanks, but no thanks" form rejection letter.
Pestering the agent about reading your query or your submitted material results in their applying bug spray (i.e., tossing your query) to eliminate you, the pest, from their life.
If you’re antsy, do something else instead of stalking the mailperson. Take up kayaking, go to the gym, plant trees, paint the bathroom, or . . . begin a new writing project.
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