So, I sent off query letters to a few literary agencies last week. I got the first response last night. The agent actually took the time to write me a hand written response.
He sent me back my own query and at the top scribbled,
“Not for me---Thanks anyway”
Sheesh, I prefer the cold impersonal form letters! I hope the next one’s a little nicer.
JOHN!
Posted by lehollis (Member # 2883) on :
Honestly, I don't think it is so bad. The agent took the time to write a personal note, and that note didn't include any problems or faults in the work. I'm no expert, but I *think* that kind of says the idea is good, but just not what the agent wants to represent right now.
To me, that is better than if the agent had written back with a handwritten "weak plot" or "bland" or "no character."
Posted by RMatthewWare (Member # 4831) on :
Yeah, I got a few of those "personal" letters. To me, its not personal when they scribble a note on top of your query letter. That's just them saving on the paper it takes to print a rejection letter. They don't even have to worry about getting your name right doing that. Just scribble a "not for us, thanks" on top of your own letter, stuff it in the envelope, and you're good.
But in the end, a rejection is a rejection. At least they weren't rude about it.
Posted by JOHN (Member # 1343) on :
That's a good way to look at it I suppose. At first it came across a little terse and cold. Thanks, guys.
JOHN!
Posted by RMatthewWare (Member # 4831) on :
There's a good article on The Rejector's website: http://rejecter.blogspot.com/ about rejection letters and the rejection process. You'll have to scroll down to the heading: "Inside the Partials Process".
Posted by JeanneT (Member # 5709) on :
The WORST rejection I ever got included the word "cliched plot." I was not a happy girl. I'll take "not for me" any day of the week. lol
Posted by Rommel Fenrir Wolf II (Member # 4199) on :
i gave up trying to get accepted long ago so now i just do it myself. cheep computer paper and a fast printer and a poor mans coppy right. GOD do i love the USPS.
Rommel Fenrir Wolf II
Posted by Rommel Fenrir Wolf II (Member # 4199) on :
i gave up trying to get accepted long ago so now i just do it myself. cheep computer paper and a fast printer and a poor mans coppy right. GOD do i love the USPS.
Rommel Fenrir Wolf II
Posted by Robert Nowall (Member # 2764) on :
Once in awhile I get that...in this day and age, the computer-generated form letter seems to be more popular, though. Plug in name-of-writer, name-of-story, brief-comment-if-any..."Thank you, Robert, for letting us see [blank], but it just didn't work for us, [signed]..."
I did a little better in my heyday, when I was more prolific than I am now. Once, a rejection from Asimov's took up both sides of the postcard...