Personal rejections--common or uncommon?

GrammarGoddess · Mar 7, 2008

First off--I'm a newbie, so I apologize if I violate any unspoken/unwritten posting social codes!

The first novel I queried was women's fiction, but I've just written my first middle grade novel. With women's fiction, I got pretty much all form letters. With my middle grade novel I've gotten more personal rejections with helpful feedback than I imagined I would. In y'all's experience, are agents who represent middle grade more likely to give feedback than agents who represent primarily adult fiction?

Thanks in advance! I look forward to talking with everyone on this and other threads.

Danalynn · Mar 8, 2008

Interesting question. Hopefully someone on here can give you some insight on this.

And by the way, WELCOME ABOARD!!!!~

:welcome:

stormie · Mar 8, 2008

I noted you said "personal rejections with helpful feedback." That's a clue that they see potential, whether it's MG or adult fiction. Agents and editors are many times to busy to give helpful feedback, whether they rep or publish MG, PBs, YA, or adult. You might be onto something there, so best of luck! (Oh, and welcome to AW!)

ETA: If you had just said "personal rejection" I would have said that many times form letters look like a personal rejection, but aren't. You added that part about helpful feedback, that makes me think they do see potential.

GrammarGoddess · Mar 8, 2008

Thanks, everyone; I really appreciate it!

I feel very welcomed to AW.

brainstrains · Mar 9, 2008

Hi, and welcome!

I actually just wrote an entry about this on my blog.

http://cyn2write.livejournal.com/91140.html

I've never received a personal rejection before in my life, and yet I have had my YA book accepted by Delacorte.

Yes, it's great to receive helpful feedback to improve your work, but a no still, unfortunately, means no, no matter how nicely it is stated.

Good luck-- I wish you a YES very soon.

Wyatt · Mar 20, 2008

Hello grammargoddess,

My experience in Young Adult arena is 75% form and 25% personal. One agency even gave me a huge list of improvements to make. Another said one of their agents absolutely loved it but their client list was too full.

Either way, it is a very good thing when it's a personal letter and not a form letter.

Best of luck, hopefully you won't need it because you're skilled enough to break through.

birdfeeder · Apr 1, 2008

Personal rejections with helpful feedback aren't that common in any market. If you've received invitations to resubmit with the suggested changes, capitalize on it!

Rolli · Apr 1, 2008

Personal Rejections

I'd say that about 20% of my rejections are personal, and a third of those positive. Though it's frustrating to be told "We love it! We don't want it!" this is less disheartening than receiving a nasty rejection letter. Not long ago, an editor, from whom I usually receive form rejections, went to the trouble of telling me that my manuscript was "predictable, derivative rubbish." Thanks, sir! That little bit of self-esteem I had left was only getting cumbersome to lug around.

stormie · Apr 1, 2008

Rolli said:
I'd say that about 20% of my rejections are personal, and a third of those positive. Though it's frustrating to be told "We love it! We don't want it!" this is less disheartening than receiving a nasty rejection letter. Not long ago, an editor, from whom I usually receive form rejections, went to the trouble of telling me that my manuscript was "predictable, derivative rubbish." Thanks, sir! That little bit of self-esteem I had left was only getting cumbersome to lug around.

I had to laugh. You're right. One time I got a rejection from an editor who had previously published several essays of mine and her comments about that particular piece were derogatory, to say the least. I chalked it up to maybe she was having a bad hair day.

MsJudy · Apr 1, 2008

Rolli said:
Not long ago, an editor, from whom I usually receive form rejections, went to the trouble of telling me that my manuscript was "predictable, derivative rubbish." Thanks, sir! That little bit of self-esteem I had left was only getting cumbersome to lug around.

Well, now, isn't that constructive! Sheesh.

Good for you, that you can make a joke of it and move on.

Rolli · Apr 5, 2008

It might have been a bad day, stormie. Still, a few editors seem to have nothing but bad days. Though I suppose a thousand manuscripts being tumbled onto one's lap every day might make anyone touchy. I'd rather have a form, though, than a thrashing.

I joke, Jud, true - but moving on ain't so easy, sometimes!

brittanimae · Apr 5, 2008

Sorry about the mean rjxn Rolli.

And welcome from a fellow Saskatchewanian! :welcome:

Rolli · Apr 9, 2008

Always nice to see a fellow Sasquatchian!

Elliot Cowan · Apr 10, 2008

After sending out what seems like a billion submissions/queries and such over the last two years, I've received the sum total of about four personal rejections.
Most of them were hand written, "Thanks but no thanks" kind of things and one was very positive.
She loved it but didn't think she had buckley's chance of selling it to anyone else.
I am pleased to say that since then (in the last few days in fact) I've found someone who doesn't feel the same way.

scope · Apr 12, 2008

Personal rejections are rare - fiction or nonfiction. And while rare to get, they hardly ever contain any truly useful feedback. Overall, you'll probably be better off and avoid paranoia if you consider any sort of rejection as simply a rejection.

Personal rejections--common or uncommon?

GrammarGoddess

Danalynn

NEVER give up!!!!

stormie

storm central

GrammarGoddess

brainstrains

4-8-8-4

Wyatt

birdfeeder

Rolli

writes - and draws a little

stormie

storm central

MsJudy

Rolli

writes - and draws a little

brittanimae

making a fresh start.

Rolli

writes - and draws a little

Elliot Cowan

Publish Me

scope

Commonsensical Maverick