I'll Show You Exciting!

JustJas · Nov 2, 2011

Warning: major venting ahead :rant:

After querying a large number of agents with my latest manuscript and getting nothing but rejections in return I noticed that quite a few of them have similar form letters that have really put a bee in my bonnet. These letters state that the agents were not sufficiently "excited" by my work to take on.

Now I don't mind the rejection - at this point in my writing career it's par for the course. What I do mind is agents sticking the boot in like this in a standard rejection letter.

When an agent rejects your work it's very obvious that they didn't like the manuscript, that it's not interesting to them or suitable for their list. Is it really necessary to imply that it's unexciting to drive these points home? What set me off was I got the same rejection from one of the major publishers today too. Did they all attend the same rejection letter seminar or what? How to Crush the Dreams of Budding Authors 101.

All I'm trying to say is that standard rejection letters should be
as gentle as possible, and I find this comment a bit harsh. If it was a personalized rejection letter in which they explained why my work wasn't sufficiently exciting to them I would be more than happy to take the feedback on board.

I know this is petty nitpicking at it worst, but I did warn that this was a rant, and what do you know, I feel a bit better now!

Is there anything that drives you crazy about agents / publishers and their rejections (apart from the bleeding obvious)

Mr Flibble · Nov 2, 2011

Take a deep breath

It's not personal. They weren't saying it's not an exciting book, only that they weren't excited by it. However they word the rejection, people get the hump at the slightest (or even no) hint of derogation.

It's a business letter. That's all. They are under no obligation to you at all, not to be polite or to save your feelings (And frankly I've had way worse comments than that - and mostly it's not a problem. Those harsh comments were helpful)

So have a little pity party, maybe read this, then forget it and move on.

Kado · Nov 2, 2011

Thanks for the link. Very sobering point he made (paraphrasing): your manuscript has your heart and soul attached to it but all we see are the words on the paper, which is as it should be; after all, words on the paper is all the reader will see.

KVL · Nov 2, 2011

JustJas said:
These letters state that the agents were not sufficiently "excited" by my work to take on.

I've gotten a few of these but it's never really bothered me. Although since we're talking romance submissions, perhaps the word "excited" takes on a bit more context?

In all seriousness though, I wouldn't consider it sticking the boot in

I think it can be dangerous to the ego to dwell too much on the wording of a rejection letter.

Elaine Margarett · Nov 2, 2011

For what it's worth, I read a published author's blog (she's pubbed 15 plus books in 18 years) and she said she got mostly form rejections before an agent signed her.

Form rejections are just that. Don't take it personally. Move on. It's the only productive thing to do.

Hang in there~

Lady MacBeth · Nov 2, 2011

I'll take a form rejection over no response any day.

JanDarby · Nov 2, 2011

The flip side of this kind of rejection is knowing that when an agent who uses this language DOES take you on, then they really are excited about your story. Because that's the agent you want, not the one who's kinda' meh about the story.

Ambri · Nov 2, 2011

Remember to not take it personally; they're rejecting the MS, not you personally. It's hard to maintain that distance, when we've poured out our souls into each and every story we've written, but from the business end of things, sometimes all they have time for is a form rejection. I'm hardly an expert, but I'd imagine especially in this day-and-age of downsizing and overworked, harried staff, that they literally don't have time to send out personalized rejections.

JustJas · Nov 3, 2011

Thanks for all for the good advice, and especially the link! I am definitely learning about thick skin but it's probably going to take a while.

Eggle · Nov 24, 2011

@JustJas, isn't it ironic that an industry that's built on creativity can't even come up with original form rejections? The sad part is that we have to depend on the judgment these herd mentality types to buy our novels.

job · Nov 24, 2011

If you're getting many requests for a full manuscript, your query letter and your writing sample obviously WORK. You're getting close. Hang in there.

You only need one agent.

As others have said, do not take the wording of the form rejection as a comment on your manuscript. The agent sent fifty of these form letters out last week. She's not trying to tell you how she feels about your writing. She's just saying, 'no'.

When it comes to being annoyed that the agent says she's 'not excited by your work'-- this is actually a good reason for rejection. Many times a good manuscript will be rejected just because the agent doesn't connect with it.

Filigree · Nov 24, 2011

And sometimes you don't need an agent at all. It may be a matter of looking again at your writing goals, and what might work best for you at this moment.

Whatever you choose, giving your mms that extra 'punch' of emotion can only help.

JustJas · Nov 24, 2011

Eggle said:
@JustJas, isn't it ironic that an industry that's built on creativity can't even come up with original form rejections? The sad part is that we have to depend on the judgment these herd mentality types to buy our novels.

So true! I think that's what annoyed me the most because so many of these letters use almost identical wording.

Anyway all's well that ends well as I have just accepted a contract with Siren-Bookstrand for this manuscript so clearly someone was 'excited' by it!

Filigree · Nov 24, 2011

Hey, way to go!

I'll Show You Exciting!

JustJas

Mr Flibble

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

Kado

KVL

Elaine Margarett

High and Dry

Lady MacBeth

Out, damn'd spot! out, I say.

JanDarby

Ambri

Plotting something

JustJas

Eggle

Write or Wrong

job

In the end, it's just you and the manuscript

Filigree

Mildly Disturbing

JustJas

Filigree

Mildly Disturbing