The Daily Rejection

SarahP · Nov 13, 2010

Two rejections today, both from agents I had high hopes about, though one of them invited me to submit again if I don't find an agent. Small upside, I guess.

Still have queries and partials floating out there, plus the full with the publisher.

Drachen Jager · Nov 13, 2010

plaidearthworm said:
Sent three queries this week, received the second rejection today. From the agent's assistant. Joy. I think this is why desks have enough room for whiskey bottles in the bottom drawer.

Three queries? Someone check is she even allowed to be in here? Isn't there a minimum rejection requirement?

Kidding, don't hit the whiskey for every two rejections you get in a week, you'll have nothing left after your twentieth rejection that way.

plaidearthworm · Nov 14, 2010

Drachen Jager said:
Three queries? Someone check is she even allowed to be in here? Isn't there a minimum rejection requirement?

Kidding, don't hit the whiskey for every two rejections you get in a week, you'll have nothing left after your twentieth rejection that way.

LOL, just three for this week...I'm closing in on my 20th rejection total as we speak. Almost through my 'A' list, next up my 'B' list, then...I dunno, the 'Hey, you'll do' list?

Sydneyd · Nov 14, 2010

plaidearthworm said:
LOL, just three for this week...I'm closing in on my 20th rejection total as we speak. Almost through my 'A' list, next up my 'B' list, then...I dunno, the 'Hey, you'll do' list?

I believe that is also called the 'closing time at the bar and you're the only other person left' list.

Carleree · Nov 14, 2010

Sydneyd said:
I believe that is also called the 'closing time at the bar and you're the only other person left' list.

SarahP · Nov 14, 2010

Annnd another one.

Ouch.

EagerReader · Nov 15, 2010

Chirp. Chirp.

joeyc · Nov 15, 2010

Crickets for me.

Sydneyd · Nov 15, 2010

I got a late night Sunday rejection, from the assistant of the person I queried. I imagine the conversation between the agent and assistant on Friday went something like this:

Agent: you lazy worker, why did I even hire you? No matter, you need to get up early on Sunday morning so that you can contact that one writer from that query I loved so much.

Assistant: But Sunday is my birthday! And you already said I could have it off! My grandmother is flying in, and I dont know how much longer she has!

Agent: I don't care about your personal problems. Contact that writer so I can make a lot of money!

Monday morning

Agent: did you contact that writer?

Assistant: (with a sly smile) Oh yeah, I contacted her and she said that she wouldn't want you as her agent even if you were the last agent in the world! and I quit!

Scene

And that is why I recieved a rejection on Sunday night from an assistant.

Duchessmary · Nov 15, 2010

I like that!!!

Nothing but cobwebs in my inbox. What is with these *&*$(@(&^&$ any way?!?!?

plaidearthworm · Nov 15, 2010

Awesome! And totally believable.

Sydneyd said:
And that is why I recieved a rejection on Sunday night from an assistant.

Hathor · Nov 15, 2010

The secrets, my dears, is apparently to send a huge pile of queries. I received four form rejections today.

I don't know that this is any better than being ignored :Shrug:

Actually, the worst thing is not the rejection or the waiting. I understand the business and how things work. It is telling people I know and their not understanding. I find myself telling folks, "No really, most people get lots of rejections and it takes months and months to get answers sometimes." I think they think I am delusional. So I get sent articles about the glories of self-publishing ... :rant:

Nova Odyssey · Nov 15, 2010

Hathor said:
Actually, the worst thing is not the rejection or the waiting. I understand the business and how things work. It is telling people I know and their not understanding. I find myself telling folks, "No really, most people get lots of rejections and it takes months and months to get answers sometimes." I think they think I am delusional. So I get sent articles about the glories of self-publishing ...

I relate to that, Hathor. Having conversations with people not in the know of how the game (sometimes) works is hard for those very reasons. Poor delusional you. Have you considered self-publishing?

They mean well...

Erin · Nov 15, 2010

Hey, guys. I've been super busy, doing everything but writing, it seems (I did get in a little editing time today). I got one query R on Saturday. But today, I received a request for a partial after agent read the first 10 pages attached to my query. First request in 2 months. My downward spiral has stumbled!

Sydneyd · Nov 15, 2010

Erin said:
Hey, guys. I've been super busy, doing everything but writing, it seems (I did get in a little editing time today). I got one query R on Saturday. But today, I received a request for a partial after agent read the first 10 pages attached to my query. First request in 2 months. My downward spiral has stumbled!

Take THAT downward spiral!!!!!! Congrats!

Drachen Jager · Nov 15, 2010

Erin said:
Hey, guys. I've been super busy, doing everything but writing, it seems (I did get in a little editing time today). I got one query R on Saturday. But today, I received a request for a partial after agent read the first 10 pages attached to my query. First request in 2 months. My downward spiral has stumbled!

Don't you hate it when you've got a good rhythm going and some agent's got to poke a stick in your spokes?

CobraMisfit · Nov 16, 2010

Form vs. Personal

I'm on the fence about which I prefer: the Form R or Personal R. Got one of each yesterday. While the Form Rs have the standard "Dear Hopeful Dude," tone (which kinda has that you-are-#X-of-10-billion feel to it), the personal ones do sting a bit. Especially when it's the, "I just didn't find your stuff interesting," type.

But hey, word back from agents is a heck of a lot better than feeling lost in the cosmos with no-impact, no-idea, right?

Sydneyd · Nov 16, 2010

Oh WE HAVE an impact. We fill up the inboxes and mail slots of agents everywhere! Without us to give them something to do they would stroll in to work every morning with their Sudoku books hidden in their briefcase.

joeyc · Nov 16, 2010

I got a rejection today. Which, considering the crickets for the past week, is better than nothing, I suppose.

Theo81 · Nov 16, 2010

Salutations,

I humbly present my first rejection for your approval and politely request to be allowed to come and ~~whine about it~~ commiserate with others while maintaining positive thoughts.

The rejection doesn't hurt that much (because I was fairly confident it would be one), but it does increase the whole generalised fear around everything. I'm sitting in a vortex of too-terrified-to-send-it-out-to-the-"Dream Agent"-in-case-they-say-no. Seriously, I totted up the last five books I'd read which I really enjoyed and three of the authors were repped by the same agent.
If I can get a bite off somebody, then I'll know it's not wholey useless and feel better about sending it to them, but at the moment I'm stabbing in the dark. Plus I *feel* like I'm very limited in the number of agents who would be interested in it (although I recognise that probably isn't true).

Still, a rejection means I actually got the balls together to send it out, right? I'm going to go and do that some more. My rejection feels lonely all by itself. It wants some friends.

*gurds loins* *sends another query out*

Drachen Jager · Nov 16, 2010

Don't sweat the dream agent thing. As long as the agent you get has a history of selling to many/most major publishers, or works for a firm that has that kind of history, you're doing great.

Erin · Nov 16, 2010

Thanks, guys! Sent the partial last night.

Theo81, welcome to the club! Yeah, I wouldn't sweat the dream agent thing. I remember the good old days when I had my top 10. The first 3 never responded on 2 different books right up their alley and one of them ended up losing several clients (according to posts on AW) for various reasons, even though I read her other clients' work. My bubble was effectively deflated! Now I just want an agent who loves my work, believes in me, clicks with me for the most part, and has a good sales record or works with an agency/mentor that does.

EagerReader · Nov 16, 2010

I love visiting here. I read everybody's posts and I'm all, yes! ain't that the truth! These guys really GET IT!

Good luck on the partial, Erin!
Welcome, Theo81!
Still crickets for me. I must have saved the non responders for last.

mkcbunny · Nov 16, 2010

Cricket central for about a week. I have to send out another batch, but I was suddenly very busy with work (for actual pay, yay!).

Now we're closing on on the dreaded holiday void. I don't know how much I'll be able to get out this week—or if it's already too late?? I can't believe this query thing is going to go into another calendar year.

Sigh.

mkcbunny · Nov 16, 2010

Drachen Jager said:
(4) He hadn't had his morning coffee yet and was still grumpy. (5) He's not really looking for anything new right now, but if something blows him away he'd still take it on. (6) His wife didn't put out last night so he was auto-rejecting all queries from female authors. (7) He wasn't even the one who rejected it, it was a pimple faced intern who doesn't have the experience to consistently recognize a good thing. (8) The agent is a figment of your imagination, try querying Tyler Durden, I hear he reps your kind of material.

Tyler would probably like what I wrote. There's a certain similarity thing going on there. Maybe I'll try that.

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