Is this a form rejection?

Zombolly · Sep 16, 2014

I've been lurking around this part of AW searching for an answer, but I think I just want a direct opinion.

I got a very nice rejection for a partial from an AWESOME agency. I will say while my dreams were crushed, I was also thrilled to have feedback from them. That is also why I'm analyzing the rejection to pieces.

Most of it sounded like a form rejection except for the first part. They said my manuscript was "smooth and polished," but it didn't really grab them.

This is my first round of queries (ever), and I'd like to think an agent wouldn't give false compliments just to let me down easy. I'm very early in the stages of querying, so I'd like to know it's not my writing that's the problem.

Thanks in advance!

Drachen Jager · Sep 16, 2014

Nobody can say for sure, but it's a pretty safe bet that if they didn't include specifics about your manuscript it's a form.

Antonin · Sep 16, 2014

It could also be a sorta-kinda form reject. Like, they have a form but they insert a detail or two.

Hey, it could be worse, you could have gotten a form reject on a full! (Like I did.

)

Jamesaritchie · Sep 16, 2014

If they don't give specific criticism, it's form. Most forms have one "compliment" or another attached. By and large, when it really is a personal, you don't have to ask, you know.

Zombolly · Sep 16, 2014

Hahaha, thanks James. I'll use that rule from now on.

And thanks everyone else! I'm taking the news pretty well, considering. Although that could be the couple of adult beverages I've had. Woot! This is the best way to celebrate rejections!!

Katrina S. Forest · Sep 16, 2014

"Smooth and polished" does sound a bit generic. Very possibly a form. (These types of forms irk me a bit, actually, because I feel rejections should be truthful, and I know dang well that not everything in the slush pile is "smooth and polished.")

Antonin said:
Hey, it could be worse, you could have gotten a form reject on a full! (Like I did. )

Worse? I'll take a full rejection over a query rejection any day of the week, form or not. It means someone liked my work enough to ask for the full to begin with.

PenTeller · Sep 17, 2014

I vote form with a few details. "Didn't grab me" sounds a bit generic, but I don't think many agencies would call a MS smooth and polished if it wasn't (since a lot of MSs they get most likely aren't!).

Fruitbat · Sep 17, 2014

Sounds at least a bit personalized to me, too.

Parametric · Sep 17, 2014

Antonin said:
Hey, it could be worse, you could have gotten a form reject on a full! (Like I did. )

Hey, at least somebody replied to your full. :tongue

Wilde_at_heart · Sep 17, 2014

According to what I've been reading on Twitter, etc. a few agents do what they call 'nice rejects' or 'encouraging passes' which aren't personalised and are still form r's, but genuinely mean 'just not for me' rather than 'what are you thinking even querying this drivel'.

Phaeal · Sep 17, 2014

My rule is that if a letter doesn't contain a SPECIFIC reference to the work, such as "I loved the way Jojo rescued the baby angwantibo," it's form.

Worrying about whether you've gotten a form R or a personal one really isn't helpful. No remains no unless mitigated by an unambiguous statement that the agent or editor would read a revised version of the MS. Very rarely you might also get specific advice. If the advice makes sense to you, take it. Otherwise, on to the next submission.

blacbird · Sep 17, 2014

If the letter doesn't contain any useful advice addressing specific things about your manuscript, it doesn't matter if it's "form" or not. It just means "No."

caw

Zombolly · Sep 17, 2014

Thanks for the continued advice! I've only sent out ten queries, so I'm still very green.

I've decided not to worry about the rejection, and move on to the other partial I sent out (and of course working on my other book).

Is this a form rejection?

Zombolly

Drachen Jager

Professor of applied misanthropy

Antonin

▐п╣�▀╪? ╧ы§�Й!

Jamesaritchie

Zombolly

Katrina S. Forest

PenTeller

Fruitbat

.

Parametric

Wilde_at_heart

υπείκωphobe

Phaeal

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

blacbird

Zombolly

Is this a form rejection?

Professor of applied misanthropy

▐п╣�▀╪? ╧ы§�Й!

.

&#965;&#960;&#949;&#943;&#954;&#969;phobe

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

υπείκωphobe