B*tchslap rejection

Shady Lane · Oct 22, 2007

Um if you're feeling bad about yourself, check this out...don't think anyone's ever hated my stuff more.

I had to prod this agent after she'd had my full for 3 months:

Shady Lane:

I'm sorry about the delay in getting back to you. Now that have had a chance to take a look at your book, I am going to have to pass. The voice and the plot are not strong enough to grab and hold the reader's attention. I kept thinking, "so where are we going with this?" and that's not good. You have to add some element to the plot that make it more compelling. And at least one character has to be truly sympathetic, and I did not find that to be the case with any of them.

I guess the book is just not for me. Maybe another agent will feel differently.

Not to be a snark, but there are quite a few grammar issues in this letter.

I'm not upset about it. I just laughed, mumbled, "oh shit!" and let it go.

MacAllister · Oct 22, 2007

Shady -- I know this might not be what you want to hear, but as someone who writes rejections regularly, there's a wealth of stuff to look at and think about in that letter, grammar issues or not...and NO ONE writes a personal rejection without actually meaning to be helpful.

Or we can just have a martini and you can send it to the next one.

scarletpeaches · Oct 22, 2007

MacAllister deserves to be banned for giving a minor alcohol.

scarletpeaches · Oct 22, 2007

Oh, and forgetting I was in the ban-pit for a tad longer than I asked. :rant:

Monkey · Oct 22, 2007

I've heard of much worse rejections. This agent requested a full, and the complaints are fixable.

I think you're on to something.

ETA: I just got a partial rejection where the agent gave no feedback and misspelled the title of my book. So there.

clara bow · Oct 22, 2007

yikes. thanks for sharing--that is very brave. sometimes other agents do see prose differently, though.

WendyNYC · Oct 22, 2007

Monkey said:
I've heard of much worse rejections. This agent requested a full, and the complaints are fixable.

I think you're on to something.

Exactly. I'm sure it stings, but it sounds like your novel is thisclose.

Mystic Blossom · Oct 22, 2007

That's a very personal rejection. He could have just said, "Thanks but not thanks" and sent you on your merry way. Feedback like that is pretty rare. In any case, good luck on your next submission!

MacAllister · Oct 22, 2007

Ursula K. LeGuin's rejection letter for Left Hand of Darkness

(Which won both a Hugo and a Nebula, when it was eventually published.)

Shady Lane · Oct 22, 2007

Haha, no worries, guys. I just posted it for your entertainment. I'm not upset/angry about it.

I know the ms in question needs work...but it's one I'm currently despising and not in the mood to work on AT ALL.

So I know I'm definitely to blame, and I did send a very nice email back thanking her for her time and comments. So no worries there.

sunna · Oct 22, 2007

MacAllister said:
Ursula K. LeGuin's rejection letter for Left Hand of Darkness

(Which won both a Hugo and a Nebula, when it was eventually published.)

Well, that sure makes me feel better. "Dry and airless"....wow. Just...wow.

Shady: :Hug2:

She cared enough to give you good feedback: it must be worth the time she took to read it and comment!

Shady Lane · Oct 22, 2007

MacAllister said:
Ursula K. LeGuin's rejection letter for Left Hand of Darkness

(Which won both a Hugo and a Nebula, when it was eventually published.)

Ho man.

Mystic Blossom · Oct 22, 2007

MacAllister said:
Ursula K. LeGuin's rejection letter for Left Hand of Darkness

(Which won both a Hugo and a Nebula, when it was eventually published.)

Ouchibaba.

MacAllister · Oct 22, 2007

And if you guys haven't read Slushkiller yet (from a then-acquiring editor at Tor) -- Get thee hence and read!

Pike · Oct 22, 2007

Wow. There was some ugly stuff in there but that's what we throw ourselves into. I've got to say that you're taking this with more maturity then I would, and I'm 39! Outside of the martini offer (I'll gladly drink that for you), you've got a slough of folks here that can turn you onto any fixes, or tell you that the agent was whacked! Keep hammering out the stuff; you're libel to be a solid, published author decades before me and many others.

Pike

Shady Lane · Oct 22, 2007

Haha, thanks, darlin. I hate feeling like a crybaby

It's no big deal. Just leaves me free for DREAM AGENT *angelic sparkly chorus*

Ziljon · Oct 22, 2007

I'm so confused, Shady. I thought you got a glowing review from an agent and were about to sign with her. Isn't that the "Chrsitmastime" revision request in your sig?

Shady Lane · Oct 22, 2007

Ziljon said:
I'm so confused, Shady. I thought you got a glowing review from an agent

Yep

Ziljon said:
and were about to sign with her.

Only if she likes my revision! It's sort of an egg/basket sort of thing.

Isn't that the "Chrsitmastime" revision request in your sig?

Yep. This is for another ms.

JoNightshade · Oct 22, 2007

Interesting - I just linked my husband to that rejection of the Left Hand of Darkness, and he said he completely agrees with the points it made. I wouldn't go that far, but Left Hand is not exactly my cup of tea.

So it really depends on where you're coming from and what you like, I guess.

vfury · Oct 22, 2007

Eek, that is a... strong reaction (which is possibly good? hmmm?), but it's only one person's reaction, so. *shrugs* Think about the advice, then see if it can be applied. (And I am still keeping my fingers crossed for Dream Agent!

)

...the rejection for Left Hand of Darkness makes me cringe. D:

Cranky · Oct 22, 2007

MacAllister said:
And if you guys haven't read Slushkiller yet (from a then-acquiring editor at Tor) -- Get thee hence and read!

Oh my God! That made me laugh so hard I coughed. (Still getting over bronchitis)

Empirical storm troopers? Reeking havoc? LOL

I'm changing my avatar to read "Smelly chaos" I swear...

Sorry about the rejection, Shady. :Hug2:

Voyager · Oct 22, 2007

Shady Lane · Oct 22, 2007

Thanks for the hugs, guys.

still crossin my fingers for dream agent.

CaroGirl · Oct 22, 2007

Rejections suck no matter what words they use. No means no, but maybe you can get something out of the agent's comments if you do decide to revise the ms in the future.

Best of luck!!

Azure Skye · Oct 22, 2007

MacAllister said:
Ursula K. LeGuin's rejection letter for Left Hand of Darkness

(Which won both a Hugo and a Nebula, when it was eventually published.)

Holy cow! That was a great book too. Reading this gives me hope.

It should give everyone hope. Hang in there, Shady.

B*tchslap rejection

my name is hannah

Tired and worried.

Is me.

Li'l Rug Bug

fiddle-dee-dee

My heart's a battleground

Tired and worried.

my name is hannah

my name is hannah

My heart's a battleground

Tired and worried.

Chivalry ain't dead

my name is hannah

Tortilla di Patate

my name is hannah

has finally arrived

Hearts the furrily challenged.

Ribbed for your pleasure.

my name is hannah

Living the dream

Huh?