What is a good amount of time to wait between contacting writers? Or how much time has to pass without a response for you to to decide to move on to the next one?
Setting a 'time limit' like this helps makes sure you don't end up on the reporter's mental backburner indefinitely. Of course, if the reporter is super swamped this may lead them to simply pass on the story. But usually if it's good, they'll try to find another writer who can take it.
Had emailed you yesterday, no luck. Sent a gentle reminder to you again a couple of hours back. Still no reply, but keeping my fingers crossed :)
PS: seriously, though, sometimes I wonder whether journalists get my emails or it simply ends up getting into the spam box. Sadly, there is no way to know for sure.
Why can't journalists simply say no for a story? I understand they are flooded with emails, but a one word no would suffice.