How much, you ask? A lot, is my answer.
For reals, besides checking my GMail a ridiculous amount a day (better yet, I just leave it open since GMail automatically refreshes when you get a new email) QT is my number two place on the interwebs I hang out since I started querying. I muck around there at least 5 times a day, running reports and checking comments on agents I've queried.
Since you all know my love of spreadsheets, one of the best thing QT offers if you're a premium member (and I am) is the Data Launcher.
Let's say you sent a query to an agent and you want to know how quickly they're responding to queries, or if they've responded to queries after yours (so you can decide to close it out if they're a non-responder)
You just launch the Data Explorer and it provides all that info for you!
click on the image to make it larger
In the above example, I sent a query on 6/5, but you can see her response time is anywhere from 3 days to 25 days. Also, because the other queries are rejected and not closed for no response, it looks like she actually responds to all her queries, so for this agent, I'm better off waiting for an email, and I shouldn't worry about it until at least a month has passed.
Since I like to read into everything, the data launcher helps to keep me occupied.
Wednesday, I'm going to talk about another thing I love about QT - the forum.
What about you? Are you a QT member? Have you played around with the reports?
26 comments:
I am a QT member, but haven't played with it too much. I just started making my list of agents. It looks like it is very helpful. I check my email so much now, I can't imagine how much I will be checking it when I query. I did get a gmail account seperate from the regular email to keep things a little more seperated. Lots of organizing to do.
I love the little blurb on querying. So funny.
I say this next in a very loving way -- you are such a geek.
Only you would be excited about spread sheets. Funny, until I talked to my cousin about my computer, I didn't even know I had the program.
I haven't joined QT yet I don't think - but I haven't really been querying yet either. I definitely intend to check it out when I get querying though!
Great info, thanks! I'm in QT but hadn't given it much thought until I read your post. Now, if I could only learn how to do a spread sheet. *sighs* I really admire your organization.
You think too much, woman! LOL.
When I used to query, I'd list'em and forget'em.
Does Query Tracker work for the UK and Ireland too? I've seen it mentioned a few times.
I'm so with you on QT. It's my first call for agent researching :)
I think it's probably good that I have detoured around this query thing. I would totally get sucked into all of that. My single (erm... meaning three rounds, but one work) querying venture I just used a spreadsheet.
Christine - yeah i started off by just making a list, but once i started querying i got more involved
Anne - oh i totally am. I never used to be, but then i had to deal with them for work and it turned out the more i played with them, the more i liked them!
Trisha - it's totally worth it!
Kittie - well, to be fair, if i wasn't organized, i wouldn't get anything done
Maria - oh i think it's clear i think too much
Christine - i know you can search for UK agents, but i don't know how comprehensive it is
Lindsay - it's so awesome
Hart - QT is like an interactive spreadsheet! It's awesome!
I love QT. I'm not good at coming up with spreadsheets on my own, so QT provides a place for me to keep track of everything in one place. Seeing the average response times also keeps me sane.
When I get to that stage, I'll probably use it. I DO like spreadsheets, though probably not as much as you (I don't think its possible to like spreadsheets more than you...).
I love QT. Even if your not in the querying stage it can still be helpful. I know when I start to query I'm going to be on that site all the time!
The QT forum has been the greatest resource for teaching me the etiquette of querying and I found my awesome betas on it too.
I believe premium membership has made all the difference in the number of replies I receive to my queries and has helped keep me patient and sane throughout the long process of querying.
That's cool. No, I've not used the site.
I'm not a premium member but I too adore Query tracker.
i'm on qt, but haven't used it much, since i'm not ready to query. but it was really helpful to explore it, when i was trying to figure out how the querying process works!
I love QT too. And I've been lurking on there but the shy side of me is too afraid to post. I've seen your posts on there though and you're doing awesome. Hope someone offers soon. :)
Yeah, I play around with the reports. Read all the comments. Learn about all the different ways to stalk the agents I like. In fact, I think I like it a little too much. I should be writing right now, not running QT searches!
LG - oh man the response times are a lifesaver!
Teebore - it's true, i do lurve them
Joy - i agree. I started playing with QT months before i started querying
Clutz - do you think the premium membership has just allowed you to target your queries better?
Alex - you can also use it for keeping track of publishers, if you ever decide to switch it up
Nia - well, if you evern change your mind, premium membership is totally worth the $20
aspiring - i can spend hours on there, generating reports and junk
Karen - aww thanks! Though awesome, i suppose, is relative
JEFritz - oh man, i hear that. Many a time i've been on QT instead of working on the new WIP...
I love Query Tracker, too. Even before I started querying, I'd spend time looking through the stats like a nerd. Love that picture, too!
I LOVE that poster. I want one for my wall.
Shelley - yay for stats nerdery!
M.J. - Hah! I made that myself because it's how i feel all the time...
I haven't ventured over to QT yet, but I look forward to the time when I do, since that will mean my novel is finally query-worthy (at least by my standards, not necessarily by the agents').
In the meantime, best of luck with the querying. May you get full requests out the wazoo (as opposed to in the wazoo, which sounds painful).
I'm scared that this will be me to the nth degree when I start querying. I obsess over this kind of stuff already.
And you know we all have our virtual (and maybe even our literal) fingers crossed for full requests and offers of representation for you! :D
I've never used QT, as in Query Tracker.
Now, QT as in Quick Trip, the gas station? All the time. Frequent flyer coffee patron there. Sometimes the fuel for my car, too.
I'll have to look into this! Thanks for the post!
I know this seems out of date since you posted this a couple weeks ago, but I am just finding you now. I heart QT. I am obsessed with QT. I sometimes think I should start my introductions as Hi, I'm Laura Barnes and I'm a QT addict. That's all.
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