Favorite rejection quotes
- Thread starter Greenwolf103
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My latest:
"While this sounds like a strong project, I'm afraid it doesn't strike me as a likely fit with me and my particular editorial contacts. I wish you well in finding the right agent for your work." -great agent
Honest or just being nice? If it were really a strong project, wouldn't any agent want it?
"While this sounds like a strong project, I'm afraid it doesn't strike me as a likely fit with me and my particular editorial contacts. I wish you well in finding the right agent for your work." -great agent
Honest or just being nice? If it were really a strong project, wouldn't any agent want it?
"I have an adverse reaction to happy father and son relationships. Never having had one, I can't effectively promote it." (yep, an actual editor)
That's like saying "because I've never been to the moon, I can't be sure it's not all green cheese up there." Then again, not being an agent, I have no idea what kind of motivation they need to get in the zone and sell. Maybe it's a valid reason.
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My favorite so far:
"This is too depressing for me"
The above sentiment was scrawled in red ink across my original query letter and stuffed back into the SASE.
"This is too depressing for me"
The above sentiment was scrawled in red ink across my original query letter and stuffed back into the SASE.
I just received a rejection for my romantic comedy that went something like this..
"Australians might be funny, but Americans just don't care or want to read about them"
nice.
"Australians might be funny, but Americans just don't care or want to read about them"
nice.
Today I recieved a personally written, non-form letter that stated:
"Although (your work) is a creative read and one we enjoyed, at this time we are unable to offer you an acceptance for it. We wish you well and are certain you will be able to find a home for it"
Dudes. What am I doing wrong? It is creative and enjoyable. But, apparently, that isn't enough.
*sigh*
I'm going to go eat chocolate now.
"Although (your work) is a creative read and one we enjoyed, at this time we are unable to offer you an acceptance for it. We wish you well and are certain you will be able to find a home for it"
Dudes. What am I doing wrong? It is creative and enjoyable. But, apparently, that isn't enough.
*sigh*
I'm going to go eat chocolate now.
I sent a query to an overseas publisher because my story had gone twice their specified word count and was surprised when they requested that I send it. Mistakenly I assumed that since they'd shown an interest in it that the word count must not have been that bigga deal. This was the rejection letter I received yesterday:
Unfortunately we declined your story mainly due to the length and the lack of space we had available. Good luck with your writing and please keep us in mind for future projects.
Really not that bad of one, but why request my story in the first place? It isn't as if they didn't already know that it was too long. That's the whole reason I queried first. And certainly they knew how many people'd already submitted, as well as how much room they'd have for the anthology. So again why ask for it, if you know you can't use it?
The truth is probably they found something they didn't like, but were just sparing my feelings. But man is that ever not helpful. Why can't they ever just offer up one thing? Just the tiniest bit of what's wrong with the sub and why they feel that way.
Unfortunately we declined your story mainly due to the length and the lack of space we had available. Good luck with your writing and please keep us in mind for future projects.
Really not that bad of one, but why request my story in the first place? It isn't as if they didn't already know that it was too long. That's the whole reason I queried first. And certainly they knew how many people'd already submitted, as well as how much room they'd have for the anthology. So again why ask for it, if you know you can't use it?
The truth is probably they found something they didn't like, but were just sparing my feelings. But man is that ever not helpful. Why can't they ever just offer up one thing? Just the tiniest bit of what's wrong with the sub and why they feel that way.
... always get a kick out of the form rejections that don't have anything to do with the actual submission that was sent, e.g. you send a query and the rejection letter says "We'll have to pass on this manuscript ...."
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"This is a bit too arch for me."
I actually took it as a compliment. Yes, my book is "arch," and intentionally so!
I actually took it as a compliment. Yes, my book is "arch," and intentionally so!
Maybe they thought they'd be able to trim it to fit, but once they read it they realized that you are such a well-edited author that they couldn't cut a single brilliant word without destroying the delicate balance of sublime perfection.
NoelleB, I bet I know who that was. I got the same one At least it didn't end with "kthxbye."
I got one that says "I wish it would rain" in the subject line of the email.
Okay, this is not the title of my manuscript; is this not for me? Inside, it said it was too long for the current market--yep, that's me. Grrrr.
At least it didn't end with "kthxbye."I got one that says "I wish it would rain" in the subject line of the email.
Okay, this is not the title of my manuscript; is this not for me? Inside, it said it was too long for the current market--yep, that's me. Grrrr.
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Hey, I actually have something that fits here!
Entire rejection in quotes:
"I don't do historical romances."
Problem is, my book isn't a historical romance and there was nothing in my query to suggest that it is. (Sigh). I love attention to detail.
Entire rejection in quotes:
"I don't do historical romances."
Problem is, my book isn't a historical romance and there was nothing in my query to suggest that it is. (Sigh). I love attention to detail.
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I got my favorite rejection so far today (and the first response of any kind I've had in about a month):
"Alas, this isn't quite right for us. SO sorry."
Oh, well... at least she's SO sorry rather than just so sorry. That's got to count for something...
"Alas, this isn't quite right for us. SO sorry."
Oh, well... at least she's SO sorry rather than just so sorry. That's got to count for something...
My favorite rejection included, "Even though my time is limited, I read all of your manuscript and it wasn't until near the end that I found anything that interested me."
OK. So why did you read all of it?
Maybe I should have proposed something on time management instead?
OK. So why did you read all of it?
Maybe I should have proposed something on time management instead?
I sent a MS to a publisher on 7-1-09 and received a rejection letter on 10-15-09, the longest wait so far. The typed note said: "The writing was not as engaging as I'd hoped."
I got a great reject the other day.
Someone told me this is a form reject, but it was after asking for my ms based on sample chapters.
Either way I like the talented writer bit.
Someone told me this is a form reject, but it was after asking for my ms based on sample chapters.
Either way I like the talented writer bit.
It is sort of nice when they compliment on your writing. Even if they pass on the story, at least they take the time to compliment you. =)
Favorite lines? Oh so many!
" I’m so sincerely sorry for my delay in reply. While this certainly sounds like an engaging and original premise for a YA novel, I’m afraid it’s just not quite the right match for my list." This one made me happy. I thought my idea wasn't original and they said it was. Haha.
"My confusion stems from the fact that the romance genre fits tightly into the adult market (paranormal is a subgenre of the romance genre) and not YA. Because you don't seem to know what you've written, I surely don't." I found out that we were both correct, but hey, why burst their bubble on really trying to put me down...
"Unfortunately, I already have a similar project." Ouch.
Favorite lines? Oh so many!
" I’m so sincerely sorry for my delay in reply. While this certainly sounds like an engaging and original premise for a YA novel, I’m afraid it’s just not quite the right match for my list." This one made me happy. I thought my idea wasn't original and they said it was. Haha.
"My confusion stems from the fact that the romance genre fits tightly into the adult market (paranormal is a subgenre of the romance genre) and not YA. Because you don't seem to know what you've written, I surely don't." I found out that we were both correct, but hey, why burst their bubble on really trying to put me down...
"Unfortunately, I already have a similar project." Ouch.
Hey all, newbie here, and some of those quotes sounds all too familiar!
The other day I got this: "Congratulations on the progress you've made so far. Unfortunately this is not something that we can take on."
"CONGRATULATIONS"?!??! The word "CONGRATULATIONS" in a rejection letter? That can only be the work of the devil....
The other day I got this: "Congratulations on the progress you've made so far. Unfortunately this is not something that we can take on."
"CONGRATULATIONS"?!??! The word "CONGRATULATIONS" in a rejection letter? That can only be the work of the devil....
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