Dee McKinney's Blog - Posts Tagged "rejection-letters"
How a classy rejection isn't like a scorpion
So, while nail biting for the read on the full manuscript, I got rejection letter #10 (and many agencies had already said that no letter = rejection, so it was more like letter 40). I thought this one was quite polite and courteous. Here's the gist, without revealing names:
"Thank you so much for submitting your query and pages to me here at (agency).
Please know that I read all queries myself and consider each and every submission carefully. Unfortunately, I am going to pass on asking to read the full manuscript of your book - I’m sorry. I wish you the very best in your agent hunt!"
Now, while this may have been a form letter, it was a nice one. The agent said thank you, gave the book a pass, and wished me luck. Compare that to:
"I'm sorry. This is not for me."
I get it. Agents are super busy, and their slush piles are huge. HUGE. But if it's a form letter...make it a professional one. It does lessen the sting. Really.
When I started this whole process, I read some of the ones J.K. Rowling received. A few were atrocious. I guess I fall back on my hero Buckaroo Banzai: "Don’t be mean; we don’t have to be mean. 'Cause, remember, no matter where you go, there you are."
It behooves us writers to remember this, too. Don't be mean if you get a rejection. Stay professional. Be classy. You never know if a later book sent to that agent you snarked may hook you a deal...until they recall your reaction to that previous rejection.
PS: I got another rejection today, from a rather 'big name.' However, it was among the most courteous I've received. Thanks to those agents who stay professional, even when the answer is "no."
"Thank you so much for submitting your query and pages to me here at (agency).
Please know that I read all queries myself and consider each and every submission carefully. Unfortunately, I am going to pass on asking to read the full manuscript of your book - I’m sorry. I wish you the very best in your agent hunt!"
Now, while this may have been a form letter, it was a nice one. The agent said thank you, gave the book a pass, and wished me luck. Compare that to:
"I'm sorry. This is not for me."
I get it. Agents are super busy, and their slush piles are huge. HUGE. But if it's a form letter...make it a professional one. It does lessen the sting. Really.
When I started this whole process, I read some of the ones J.K. Rowling received. A few were atrocious. I guess I fall back on my hero Buckaroo Banzai: "Don’t be mean; we don’t have to be mean. 'Cause, remember, no matter where you go, there you are."
It behooves us writers to remember this, too. Don't be mean if you get a rejection. Stay professional. Be classy. You never know if a later book sent to that agent you snarked may hook you a deal...until they recall your reaction to that previous rejection.
PS: I got another rejection today, from a rather 'big name.' However, it was among the most courteous I've received. Thanks to those agents who stay professional, even when the answer is "no."
