Rejection, or not?

VickyH · Feb 29, 2008

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, but here goes.
I sent my current manuscript to Mary Seymour at the end of last year. After requesting the first fifty pages, she wrote back with some suggestions, which I followed. I re-submitted just after Christmas and received this reply today:

"Might have requested a complete if you where in the US. I would request you to mail me 10 complete copies if I'd accepted, this would have been very epensive."

What would you do in my shoes? Would you contact her and say you were willing to mail the necessary copies, or would you see this as a rejection and move on?

Susan Gable · Feb 29, 2008

VickyH said:
I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, but here goes.
I sent my current manuscript to Mary Seymour at the end of last year. After requesting the first fifty pages, she wrote back with some suggestions, which I followed. I re-submitted just after Christmas and received this reply today:

"Might have requested a complete if you where in the US. I would request you to mail me 10 complete copies if I'd accepted, this would have been very epensive."

What would you do in my shoes? Would you contact her and say you were willing to mail the necessary copies, or would you see this as a rejection and move on?

Ummmm...she said she MIGHT have, so I don't know. I'd probably move on. (and like, why couldn't she have mentioned this policy to you BEFORE she had you do the rewrites and resubmit? <scratching head> She knew you were out of the country at that point.) She may have been using this as an easy way to explain why she didn't ask for the complete that didn't require her to actually give a reason. <G>

But I will tell you this for future reference -- I believe there are places in the States like Staples, or maybe Kinkos, etc. that you can EMAIL a file, have them print it and deliver/ship it. I have a friend in Canada who sometimes does this. Has a Staples (or whichever company) in NYC print it and deliver/ship it. Cheaper that way.

You might want to do some investigating and see what you can find.

Susan G.

VickyH · Feb 29, 2008

Hi Susan,

Thanks for the tip about Staples/Kinkos -I'll check it out. In the meantime, I've emailed Mary Seymour offering to send her the manuscript. If she says "no thanks," then I'll know her letter was meant as a rejection. Perhaps she didn't realise how tenacious we Brits can be! Give us an inch....

In the meantime, I hope your new book is going well. Hope to catch up with you at the RWA in S.F.

Jenny
writing as
Victoria Howard

Crinklish · Feb 29, 2008

I'd move on...and find an agent who owns their own copy machine.

Irysangel · Feb 29, 2008

Have to agree with Crinklish. If she was truly excited about it, she'd spring for reading it on screen, or printing out a copy, or even saying to you "Can you print a copy and send to me?"

A 'meh' response means she is probably pretty 'meh' as well.

job · Feb 29, 2008

Just one thought ... since this is an agent, rather than an editor ...
unless you are just wild about this agent, I'd move on and try somebody else.

Even with an agent, there's likely to be times of difficulty and discouragement ahead. You need somebody who really believes in your work and in you. Somebody enthusiastic.

VickyH · Mar 1, 2008

Thanks to everyone for their comments. I've more or less decided to move on - a) the cost of shipping 10 copies of a manuscript to America and b) there's doesn't appear to be a way to have this done in the USA. What I can't understand is why she would want 10 copies now, when she hasn't read the whole manuscript. If she then goes on to suggest changes and requests another 10 copies I could easily be bankrupt!

Susan Gable · Mar 1, 2008

VickyH said:
Thanks to everyone for their comments. I've more or less decided to move on - a) the cost of shipping 10 copies of a manuscript to America and b) there's doesn't appear to be a way to have this done in the USA. What I can't understand is why she would want 10 copies now, when she hasn't read the whole manuscript. If she then goes on to suggest changes and requests another 10 copies I could easily be bankrupt!

She didn't want 10 copies NOW, Jenny. She said she would have wanted 10 copies if she'd ACCEPTED you.

Those 10 copies would be the copies she would send out to editors. As Crinklish said, it would be better for you to find an agent who's willing to make their own copies of the ms, even if they charge you for it. (Which I actually find sort of cheeky. I mean, I have to print out copies of stuff to send around, and I consider it part of my cost of doing business. Some agents consider it thusly, and some charge extra for it. <shrug>)

Susan G.

BarbaraSheridan · Mar 1, 2008

Just to add a bit to what Susan posted for any new writers out there.

If an agent does happen charge any copying / mailing fees they do so AFTER they've sold the book and tend to deduct it our of your advance when taking their own cut.

smlgr8 · Mar 1, 2008

Yes, absolutely. I made that mistake myself several years ago now. I paid the copies up front and the agent never did sell it so I was out the money and she was out nothing. She later left agenting which was no doubt a good thing for everyone. I would never do such a thing again.

Cathy C · Mar 1, 2008

I agree. I'm squeamish about agents who can't be bothered to spend the money to sell the book. It always makes me wonder what other "cost-cutting" decisions they make during the marketing process. Do they not go to lunch with the editors and buy lunch, or fly to NY if they don't live there? Those are all normal and customary expenses of selling books---just like copies.

My advice is also to move on.

Crinklish · Mar 1, 2008

Who buys this round?

Cathy C said:
Do they not go to lunch with the editors and buy lunch?

Actually, this cost goes to the editors...although occasionally an agent will pick up the tab. But as a rule, that's why I have an expense account--to wine and dine agents to send me the very choicest projects! Agents, of course, are expected to pick up the bill when taking their clients out.

Susan Gable · Mar 1, 2008

Crinklish said:
Actually, this cost goes to the editors...although occasionally an agent will pick up the tab. But as a rule, that's why I have an expense account--to wine and dine agents to send me the very choicest projects! Agents, of course, are expected to pick up the bill when taking their clients out.

Geez, then they should pay for the copies. <VBG> They're getting a free lunch. LOL!

Susan G.

Cathy C · Mar 1, 2008

LOL! I never asked my agent. I just assumed she paid. Lucky lady, considering some of the restaurants I know they've gone to! :ROFL:

VickyH · Mar 2, 2008

Since posting yesterday, another agent, Helen Breitwieser has contacted me and asked for a partial.

Susan Gable · Mar 2, 2008

VickyH said:
Since posting yesterday, another agent, Helen Breitwieser has contacted me and asked for a partial.

Good luck! FIngers crossed for you!

Susan G.

escritora · Mar 2, 2008

Since posting yesterday, another agent, Helen Breitwieser has contacted me and asked for a partial.

That's wonderful news!

Kasey Mackenzie · Mar 2, 2008

You go, Vicky! I currently have three partials out, and am putting a full in the mail tomorrow. I'll be biting my fingernails along with you!

Rejection, or not?

VickyH

Susan Gable

Dreamer of dreams, teller of tales

VickyH

Crinklish

Irysangel

She of Many Names

job

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

VickyH

Susan Gable

Dreamer of dreams, teller of tales

BarbaraSheridan

insert catchy phrase here

smlgr8

Eternal Lurker

Cathy C

Ooo! Shiny new cover!

Crinklish

Susan Gable

Dreamer of dreams, teller of tales

Cathy C

Ooo! Shiny new cover!

VickyH

Susan Gable

Dreamer of dreams, teller of tales

escritora

.

Kasey Mackenzie

One Hit Wonder?

Rejection, or not?

Dreamer of dreams, teller of tales

She of Many Names

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

Dreamer of dreams, teller of tales

*insert catchy phrase here*

Eternal Lurker

Ooo! Shiny new cover!

Dreamer of dreams, teller of tales

Ooo! Shiny new cover!

Dreamer of dreams, teller of tales

.

One Hit Wonder?

insert catchy phrase here