Favorite rejection quotes - Page 4

Timoun · 05-21-2009, 06:13 AM

"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)

Tburger · 05-21-2009, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timoun

"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.

alias octavia · 05-21-2009, 05:13 PM

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.

stace001 · 05-22-2009, 05:25 AM

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.

MsJudy · 05-22-2009, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stace001

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.

that's right.

and Americans will never elect a black man president, either.

wannawrite · 05-22-2009, 08:17 AM

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.

Timoun · 05-22-2009, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tburger

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.

True, but one should also grant the possibility that an editor is simply an ass.

S.C. Denton · 06-04-2009, 03:11 PM

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.

Ken · 06-04-2009, 03:51 PM

... 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 ...."

NoelleB · 06-06-2009, 04:39 AM

how about this one:

"Not for me Thx."

Laura Lond · 06-13-2009, 12:09 PM

"This is a bit too arch for me."

I actually took it as a compliment. Yes, my book is "arch," and intentionally so!

MsJudy · 06-13-2009, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S.C. Denton

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.

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.

Clovia · 07-12-2009, 01:49 AM

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.

J. M. Hunter · 07-26-2009, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katrinangel

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?

I got this exact same rejection, so I am going to call "form" on this one.

kayleamay · 08-13-2009, 10:21 AM

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.

J. M. Hunter · 08-14-2009, 02:30 AM

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...

the addster · 08-18-2009, 07:21 PM

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?

Arkie · 10-20-2009, 02:42 AM

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."

Wayne K · 10-20-2009, 02:49 AM

I got a great reject the other day.

Quote:

Hi Wayne,

I’m so sorry for the slow response time. Thank you for letting me take a look at BLACK DARK. You are clearly a talented writer and there was much to be admired in these pages. That said, I just can’t see a way to market your book to a general trade publisher, nor can I see a way to revise it that wouldn’t compromise some of the elements I liked. Given these reservations, I’m going to step aside so you can go ahead and find an agent who will give your work the full enthusiasm it deserves.

I’m sorry to disappoint you, but others will surely feel differently and I certainly wish you every success.

Best, Eleanor

Eleanor Jackson

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.

newgreekwriter · 10-21-2009, 12:27 AM

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.

romi41 · 10-22-2009, 07:40 PM

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....

Blarg · 11-03-2009, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shadow_Ferret

"We're mailing this rejection because we couldn't meet you in person to punch you in the nose."

Love it!

PT50 · 11-10-2009, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Unfortunately, however, the other fiction editors and I have decided not to accept your story for this issue. Although we liked the idea behind it and how well it related to our theme, the execution was not quite as polished as we would like.

Only took ten days to get this one..polite, anyway. They could have said "Great idea, crappy writing" I suppose!

I wish I knew how much polishing is "not quite"...

newgreekwriter · 11-12-2009, 12:46 PM

"Due to the overwhelming volume of electronic queries the Agency receives, we do not respond—specifically—to your query electronically. We have however briefly read your query. Although it certainly has potential for success, it does not appear to be right for this Agency.

We pass and wish you better luck in placing your work with an agent who will make us look shortsighted."

I like the end.

angelfrancis · 01-12-2010, 12:13 AM

"Thanks for sending along the opening pages of Collide. Truth be told, though, I'm afraid these pages just didn't draw me in as much as I had hoped. I'm pressed for time these days and, what with my reservations about the project, I suspect I wouldn't be the best fit."

"Thank you for sharing Collide with me—I enjoyed reading. You write
well—but, I'm afraid, this is not quite right for us."

--those rejections were from partial requests....

Sometimes I wish they would just tell me what they didn't like. I'm so tired of hearing, "Thank you for your submission. Unfortunately, this is not right for me."

uhmmmm...one day!

05-21-2009, 06:13 AM	#76
Timoun Death will be anticlimactic Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 23	"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) __________________ Don't wrestle with a pig. You'll both get dirty but only the pig enjoys it.

05-21-2009, 05:13 PM	#78
alias octavia smooshed Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: in exile Posts: 738	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. __________________ "The point is not to take the world's opinion as a guiding star, but to go one's way in life and to work unfalteringly neither depressed by failure nor seduced by applause." -Gustav Mahler

05-22-2009, 05:25 AM	#79
stace001 Look into my eyes Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 293	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. __________________ Super Hero and out of control 'Chocoholic' in desperate need of help. "Books are well or badly written. That's all." Oscar Wilde ______________________________________________ WIP Adult Fiction - 51,500/90,000 WIP Adult Fiction - 22,000/85,000 WIP Children's Middle Grade - 6500/40,000 No Experience Necessary- 95,000 completed - submitting From The Grave - 85,500 completed - submitting Andy's Attic Adventure - children's chapter book completed - submitting Fergus and Lucy - children's picture book completed -submitting www.thesbmgroup.com.au

05-22-2009, 08:17 AM	#81
wannawrite practical experience, FTW Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 819	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. __________________ http://www.kcwildwood.net Demon Heart; Sold to Lyrical Press. Yeah! Out of the Dark Trilogy; Got a 'revise and resubmit' invite. heavy sigh Back to the drawing board. Cowgirl Up; Request for a full! Texas Hold 'Em; Request for a full! Blood Moon; Still waiting on query reply. heavy sigh Sweet Surprises; I finally finshed the mutherhumper! Now what do I do with my time?

06-06-2009, 04:39 AM	#85
NoelleB figuring it all out Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Osaka, Japan Posts: 55	how about this one: "Not for me Thx." __________________ Every boat floats until it sinks. Historical Fiction LOM Iris - Sending Queries! Untitled Thriller

06-04-2009, 03:11 PM	#83
S.C. Denton Moderate Violence Approved Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Arkansas Posts: 147	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.

06-04-2009, 03:51 PM	#84
Ken an Eric Dolphy fan Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: AW. A very nice place! Posts: 8,339	... 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 ...."

06-13-2009, 12:09 PM	#86
Laura Lond practical experience, FTW Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 291	"This is a bit too arch for me." I actually took it as a compliment. Yes, my book is "arch," and intentionally so!

07-12-2009, 01:49 AM	#88
Clovia Flying blind on a rocket cycle. Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 1,611	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.

08-13-2009, 10:21 AM	#90
kayleamay I'm on the phone. Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Vantucky, WA Posts: 15,129	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.

08-14-2009, 02:30 AM	#91
J. M. Hunter practical experience, FTW Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 99	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... __________________ J. M. Hunter "It's all make believe, isn't it?" - Marilyn Monroe Complete: Gods Go Begging (Currently Querying) WIP: The Magnificent Maude (65,000 words so far) Blog (I'm trying it out): Belles-Lettriste: Uncategorhetorical

08-18-2009, 07:21 PM	#92
the addster practical experience, FTW Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 471	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? __________________ "They're fancy talkers about themselves, writers. If I had to give young writers advice, I would say don't listen to writers talking about writing or themselves. ~Lillian Hellman

10-20-2009, 02:42 AM	#93
Arkie a reader's ear and a writer's heart Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Arkansas Posts: 688	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."

10-21-2009, 12:27 AM	#95
newgreekwriter Never listens. Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Where do you think? Posts: 115	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. __________________ "If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it." --William Arthur Ward

10-22-2009, 07:40 PM	#96
romi41 Where have you been all my life? Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 165	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.... __________________ Romi Facebook Page Amazon Author Page Twitter My insane blog "There is nothing like dreams to create the future. Utopia today, flesh and blood tomorrow"-Victor Hugo

11-12-2009, 12:46 PM	#99
newgreekwriter Never listens. Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Where do you think? Posts: 115	"Due to the overwhelming volume of electronic queries the Agency receives, we do not respond—specifically—to your query electronically. We have however briefly read your query. Although it certainly has potential for success, it does not appear to be right for this Agency. We pass and wish you better luck in placing your work with an agent who will make us look shortsighted." I like the end. __________________ "If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it." --William Arthur Ward

01-12-2010, 12:13 AM	#100
angelfrancis I got this! Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: The Beach, FL Posts: 235	"Thanks for sending along the opening pages of Collide. Truth be told, though, I'm afraid these pages just didn't draw me in as much as I had hoped. I'm pressed for time these days and, what with my reservations about the project, I suspect I wouldn't be the best fit." "Thank you for sharing Collide with me—I enjoyed reading. You write well—but, I'm afraid, this is not quite right for us." --those rejections were from partial requests.... Sometimes I wish they would just tell me what they didn't like. I'm so tired of hearing, "Thank you for your submission. Unfortunately, this is not right for me." uhmmmm...one day! __________________ Now Editing: Cinderella's Glass Stiletto - YA Fantasy, Mean Girls meets Once Upon a Time When Norah and her suicidal half-sister are sent to a boarding school in Germany, they are shocked to learn their classmates are characters from storybooks. Twitter Blog

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