We’ve been doing a lot of queries here (hope Query Wednesdays have been helpful), so let’s be optimistic. Once you’ve polished your manuscript and perfected your query, you’re bound to get a request, right? We’ve discussed this briefly before, but people always have questions about this. So let’s get a little more specific, shall we? Here’s a step by step on what to do when you get a request.

1. Do a happy dance. Yeah, you’re allowed to celebrate. (Drinking, crying and screaming might work too.)
2. Take a couple days to take a last look on your manuscript. I know you’ve revised (if you haven’t, you shouldn’t even have queried). But you want to make sure it’s perfect. An agent won’t die to wait a few days. If you queried before time (bad, bad writer) and still need a bit of work, you can even take a few weeks. But make sure you don’t lose momentum. The agent probably got excited when she read your query. If you take too long, she might forget what she liked so much in the first place. Or worse: if it’s an agency that uses interns, if you wait until a new semester, you’ll probably have a new intern read your manuscript. One who didn’t request it and might not be that excited about your story to begin with. You don’t want that. So be timely.
3. Once your manuscript is polished, format it properly. Make sure you add a cover page with your name, your contact info, your title and your word count. If you want, you can add your genre in there too. And have your manuscript on a normal font, formatted in a simple way that won’t get messed up depending on the device the agent uses to read it.
4. Double check what the agent asked for. If she asked for a partial, send a partial, not a full. If she asked for a full and synopsis, make sure you add that synopsis. If she asked for a word document, send a word document (nothing pisses me off more than a pdf). If she asked for each sentence in a different color on a bright pink background, do that. And, please, don’t send an email asking “I know you asked for a .doc, but can I send a pdf instead?” Send what was asked of you. You don’t want to piss agents off.
5. Send your document as a reply to the original email thread, but change the subject from “query” to “requested material” (or whatever the agent asks for). That’ll make it easier for the agent to find your email quickly, and it won’t get filtered wrongly into a query folder.
6. Cross your fingers, pray, drink. Whatever works for you.
7. Do not ask about your submission before the time specified on the agent’s email, unless you get an offer of representation. To relieve your anxiety, go back to step 6. Or, better yet, start writing your next manuscript.
8. If the time specified on the email expires and you still haven’t heard back, wait another couple weeks. Yeah, I know the email said she’d get back to you in six weeks. But that’s a form request, and it’s a ballpark. It could take less. It could take more. If it takes more, it means the agent is extremely busy. Pressuring her won’t help. It might get you a quicker rejection.
9. If you get a form rejection, don’t reply to it. There’s no need to be mad. People who sent requested materials still get form rejections sometimes. Move on. Spend your time on more productive things, like polishing your manuscript yet again.
10. If you get a personalized rejection, use it to your advantage! In this case, it’s okay to thank the agent and even try to ask questions, even though they’ll sometimes go unanswered. (I know, it sucks, and they’re sorry.) But, still, a personalized rejection is a golden opportunity. Make the best of it to really improve your manuscript.
11. If you get an offer of representation, notify the other agents who have your material. You don’t need to notify every agent you queried (although, if your dream agent hasn’t replied, it’s okay to notify her if you really want to, even though it’s a long shot). But you must notify anyone who has a full or a partial. And give them some time to catch up. Like a week. Oh, and also, go back to step 1.
12. Make sure you pick your agent wisely. Ask questions if you have them (but don’t overwhelm them). Revision notes they sent you, their blogs and even the way they sound on the phone might also influence your decision. Choose with care. And then, celebrate! (Yeap, back to step 1.)

That’s it! Easy, right? Or do you have any questions on this? Ask away!