What's Wrong With This Picture?
You know, last night I worked from 10:30 pm until, oh, about 1 am on answering queries. Here's what I found in my inbox as a reply to one of my "passes" on a project:
Well, good, what a relief not have to give away fifteen percent on a couple of books that'll sell themselves anyway, in the right venue.
No further comment except to say this--haven't we had a long discussion on this blog about how an agent may reject a writer the first time only to offer representation the second? If that's the case, wouldn't you say that the above reply wouldn't be the wisest course of action? :)
Deidre
Well, good, what a relief not have to give away fifteen percent on a couple of books that'll sell themselves anyway, in the right venue.
No further comment except to say this--haven't we had a long discussion on this blog about how an agent may reject a writer the first time only to offer representation the second? If that's the case, wouldn't you say that the above reply wouldn't be the wisest course of action? :)
Deidre
posted by Deidre Knight at 9:21 PM
16 Comments:
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Somebody actually said THAT???
*Snort* How fortunate that you didn't offer to represent a person with so little sense of professionalism, huh?
Honestly. Some people have absolutely no clue.
The thing that would surprise you is not that agents receive replies like this one, but just how often it happens. :) D
Oh. My. God.
Not only is that incredibly rude, but the writing community seems so small . . . I can't imagine.
And that happens often?!
Deidre: As a reformed bridge burner (ah, the passions of youth) I can only hope the writer of that email will come to her senses and realize her poor choice. I do think the illusion of distance that comes from communicating via email causes thoughtless behavior. I'll just throw in that my experience with The Knight Agency has been completely positive. You courteously asked me to resend the query that got lost in cyberspace, asked for my 3 chapters and sent me along to Nelpele, who has also been great. Anyway, I'm sorry to hear you have to deal with this kind of thing all the time. Here's a cyber-hug.
You're all so wonderful! Honestly, I thought that sharing it might be an interesting jumping off point for conversation here. I think it points out an interesting phenomenon and that is the perception that agents are somehow the enemy and that they relish rejecting authors. The fact is we are eager (obsessively so) to find new talent. That's how we make our living and how we make a name in this business--by discovering wonderful new authors. I never forget what one of my earliest editor mentors (and yes, I not only had agent mentors, but editor mentors as well) told me, advice that has stayed with me my entire agenting career. She said: it only takes one book. One fanastic bestseller and you've made your entire career. Or even one really strong book and you've made your career. It only takes one book.
Sounds like a new blog posting in the making doesn't it?
At any rate, the agent's quest is very much at odds with the viewpoint that we are out to massacre the confidence of authors, that we're killers of innovation, or whatever it is that The Angry Rejected often seem to think.
So, there you have it. My thoughts for today. Off to bed...
d
To be honest, I can admit to a teeny twinge of sympathy for the Bridge Burner. It's terribly frustrating when you send a manuscript you love out into the world, only to get thousands of rejections saying, "I just don't feel quite enthusiastic enough about this project..." Of course this is something an author has to learn to deal with, but it IS hard.
That person made the unfortunate mistake of putting their thoughts into an email and clicking the send button. Sure, you might feel that way but for crying out loud, don't put it into print!
Although, it does make for interesting reading. ;o)
Well I started to reply to this, but then it ended up about 6 paragraphs long *g*
Maybe I'll just blog about it instead.
My only comment here....OMY
;)
I have to share my experience with The Knight Agency after reading this and the comments :)
Five years ago, after spending about two (of the three) years writing my first novel, I wrote my very first query letter--and sent it to The Knight Agency. I had been told, and told, and told again that I would receive a gazillion rejections before I had any 'takers.' I was prepared for the rejection. But instead, I got a lovely letter requesting a partial.
When that happened, when I returned to the writing course I had used to craft the query, and shared the awesome news, I was so STOKED!! To me, this was a perfect example of the universe saying, "You Were Meant to be an AUTHOR!"
Unfortunately, I was better at writing query letters than novels at that time and the end result was a 'pass'--and a good pass too because that manuscript is still unpublishable.
But I wanted to share my experience as a sort of 'opposite' to that letter, because--well, it made me remember fondly my very first rejection! LOL! At the time, I thought "One down, a gazillion to go--I'm on my way!!" *GRIN*
Warmly,
Jenny:)
I'm with Kristen. The problem is pressing SEND. My initial response to any pass is always along the lines of "Hmph. Boy, will *you* be sorry!" followed by half an hour to several years (at last count) worth of soul searching to lead to "Yeah, that's fair." But you never SEND your snark. Save it for the manuscript, where it will do some good.
This is one of those emails you write, take a deep breath, and DELETE. It's funny to me too, since I can vouch that the form rejection I received from you a couple of years ago it not only polite, but also arrived within two weeks. I can't tell you how many query black holes my stuff has fallen into. Sure, all rejection is disappointing, but at least you have closure and can move on.
One question - and call me sexist - but was this person a man or a woman. Somehow it really strikes me as a guy thing to do. In any case, it's someone who hasn't been at this for very long. He/she's going to have to learn a little impulse control!
Wow. Talk about burning bridges!
You know what I find the most difficult though? Not so much the rejection, which can be difficult (for me the rejection of a query is far less painful than the rejection of a partial, which is less painful than the rejection of a full) is the reaction of friends and family.
They can never understand why the book isn't published lickity split. They figure that if you write a book all you have to do is send it off to a publisher and it sells. The unsaid feeling, which you can read in their eyes, that 'boy, your book must suck if it *still* hasn't sold' is hard to take.
Not everyone gives me that feeling. Of course some are very supportive. It's just the ones who don't have a clue. They just don't understand.
Good grief. I can't believe anyone would actually send that!
Okay ;-) I can. But it never ceases to amaze me. Of course rejection is a disappointment, but that's the conversation you have with your friends, not with agents and editors.
I know where you're coming from, too, Trace! Every time I get a rejection my mother (who is generally wise and wonderful and very supportive) takes it as a personal affront. When she asks, "But why?" I say, "Because I'm not good enough yet."
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