The Daily Rejection

"Just curious -- do you guys also get constant spam from Canadian pharmacies offering you cut-rate prescriptions?"




I queried Janet R. two days before she closed to queries, and I never heard back, which sounds really odd for her. Now I don't know if I should consider following up before July since she's now technically closed.

She's probably swamped with the contest. Any followup now would probably be ignored.

How did your first day at work go?

Sigh. My full manuscript was just rejected. The agent in question unfortunately had it for over four months. Her comments were encouraging (she said I write well and that it's an accomplished story), but alas a rejection is a rejection.

This is the third agent to pass on my full manuscript. All three were quite positive and said that it was close to an accept. One agent rejected it because he had an established author working on a similar project (I know the author and book, and he's right: they are similar).

So, I'm a little bummed. But, though my hopes were up, I expected disappointment all along. I've gotten to that point in my life where I expect all my hopes to be dashed. Sad, yes, and painful, but at least I know it's coming.

Even so, I'm not as bummed as I thought I would be. The positive feedback from those three agents is encouraging, and I keep thinking it's a matter of time before I catch the right agent at the right time.

There I go again. Hoping. Silly me. Oh well.

You're not being silly at all. Positive comments from all three agents that have read your full (plus having three agents who've chosen to read it) mean you are close.

angeliz2k, I agree with Hathor. You're really close with that kind of feedback. Sounds like it's just a matter of finding the right fit.

Hathor, work was good. Thanks for asking. It's actually where I used to work before I went freelance, and a lot of the people are the same. So it's sort of like home in a way. If I can just get used to regular working hours, all will be well I think.

Angeliz-that's heartbreaking. But I do think if you got that close before, an acceptance is right around the corner. Keep at it. *hug*

QB-so glad everything is working out for you with the new job.

Hathor-The only spam I get is for medication to enlarge my penis. But mine's already huge and I delete those speedy quick.

I sent an email to the fast-responding agent to see if they received my submission. I didn't ask if it was read, or why haven't I heard. Instead I asked if they wanted me to resend it if they didn't get it in the first place.

Thankfully there's a hockey game on tonight and I can stress about that instead for a while.

Oh, and my first beta for my sequel loved the first 5 chapters and said she couldn't wait to read more. Woot! I should get another chunk of chapter edits back sometime today.

Thanks everyone. I'll keep plugging.

Speedy agent has two other requests ahead of mine unanswered. I looked up all the clients on her list (from her website) and she only has two YA authors, nothing like my book. But she's been requesting a lot of YA lately so I guess she's trying to build her list. I think that works in my favor.

Nothing yet from her assistant about whether or not my submission was received. Fingers crossed.

Yes, fingers crossed!

OK, even though that does make it hard to type.

Rejections are hitting harder this time around. Sucks... I thought I was past this stage.

Drachen Jager said:

Rejections are hitting harder this time around. Sucks... I thought I was past this stage.

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Tell yourself you'll feel better tomorrow -- an odd-numbered day.

I'll feel better when I get a new agent, or at least the sub list from my ex-agent.

With two pages of editor notes, they must be interested in a second look, that would be a huge plus for my query.

I didn't know you were getting rejected, DJ. Last I heard you were getting request after request. Hang onto the good and leave the rest.

Two requests, one had it when I signed, one was a referral. One referral is a non-responder so far and the other who was looking at my MS when I signed seems uninterested (but will look at it if/when I get the sub list/editor responses).

Five rejections. Considering I haven't had a single request based entirely on merit, I'm beginning to harbour serious doubts.

Baby on the way in a little over a month, cash is tight and I have a stress cramp in my neck that won't go away.

I've been avoiding bringing up the whole story so far 'cause I didn't want to come off whiny.

Drachen Jager said:

Two requests, one had it when I signed, one was a referral. One referral is a non-responder so far and the other who was looking at my MS when I signed seems uninterested (but will look at it if/when I get the sub list/editor responses).

Five rejections. Considering I haven't had a single request based entirely on merit, I'm beginning to harbour serious doubts.

Baby on the way in a little over a month, cash is tight and I have a stress cramp in my neck that won't go away.

I've been avoiding bringing up the whole story so far 'cause I didn't want to come off whiny.

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First, congrats on the baby

Second, 5 isn't many rejections. you know that. Give it some time. How long did it take the first time round? Months, right? It's only been a couple weeks.

Sit back, watch some hockey and feel better. It'll happen. I'm sure of it.

And lastly, whining is part of this thread. It's kinda the point! whine away!

Five rejections, and no requests on a manuscript that's been agented and gone through the wringer with editors, seen a massive overhaul, then been rejected by the agent who'd agreed to rep it in the first place.

I just thought things might be easier this time around.

Listen to Carleree. She's a smart woman. (Except for the dustup at the gas station and her hair-coloring fiasco. Am I leaving anything out? )

Gee, thanks Hathor.

DJ-nothing is ever easy. Take the Canucks-they're good, but haven't won the cup yet. These things take time.

D - congratulations on the baby! Something always comes along, although not always in the way we thought.

I wish I had something to tell you. I don't know what will become of your MS, but I don't think it sounds like it's time to throw in the towel on this one just yet.

As for me, I don't know....

More bad news... I just found out my ex-agent is entitled to her cut if I sell my MS to any of the publishers she's contacted in the next nine months, even though she dropped the ball on me entirely.

ah, agents.

Drachen Jager said:

More bad news... I just found out my ex-agent is entitled to her cut if I sell my MS to any of the publishers she's contacted in the next nine months, even though she dropped the ball on me entirely.

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That makes sense to me. She made the first contact/pitch and got the publisher interested. Why should another agent make the commission on the work she'd done initially?

Aug, my favorite, highest paying magazine just rejected my fifth submission--they've accepted the previous four and paid on the spot. Apparently the focus of the article was too narrow, and I had a damn feeling that it was. Alas, I'll think up something more general and widely popular. Guh. Can't win 'em all, I guess.

tri

Carleree said:

Gee, thanks Hathor.

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Anytime, sweetie. Or was that meant sarcastically?

You have nothing on me. Remember, I queried over 200 agents with a letter referring to my "forward."