You Are Just Wrong, Girl
just_a_girl said:
I realize that most agents can tell after a few pages whether or not they want to read on. This is why most of them ask for sample chapters BEFORE they ask to see an entire manuscript. Why isn't anybody getting this point??? .
I think you are the one who's missing the point, and since I'm also a woman, I hope you don't accuse me of sexism.
The idea that "most agents do this," or "most agents do that" is one that leads a lot of people to do the wrong thing. In my experience --I've published one book, and I'm now in the process of sending queries, partials and fulls to agents for my new novel-- agents are as different as any other kind of people. Some don't accept e-mail queries, some only want email queries; many want synopsis, others hate to see the plot spoiled; a few want bios, others don't give a damn who you are as long as you can write; some want to see a few pages, others want the whole thing; etc.
From my queries, I've gotten more requests for full manuscripts than for partial manuscripts and, yes, it can get expensive (except in the case of those agents who asked me to e-mail them the whole manuscript, which was a very welcome surprise) but that comes with the territory. Eventually, technology will catch up and we'll probably do all of our business over the Internet. That time is not yet here and I think you're being terribly unfair to the agent.
First of all, he asked to see the full manuscript. That's a great thing and you are terribly mistaken to construe it as a flaw of his. It means he thought he'd probably like it enough he'd want to represent you. Does it suck that he didn't like it? Of course. But that's just the way it goes. If you can't handle rejection, you're in the wrong game. Not everyone is going to like the things you write--not even all the agents who thought they would, and for that reason requested to see the full manuscript.
Second of all, he was fast. You act like that's a bad thing. What would you have preferred? That he sits on the manuscript for six months before replying to you? Would that have made you feel better? It doesn't take that long to read an average-size novel. To me, an agent who responds quickly is someone who's efficient, organized and considerate of the author's time.
Yes, there are bad agents. I'm not saying that every agent who's legit is a good one. I had a terrible experience with an agent and I know too well that some of them are unprofessional and plain bad.
But so can writers, and your "BEWARE" about Matt McGowan was highly uncalled for, and unprofessional. I don't know McGowan from Adam, but from your emails I can say he did nothing wrong. He liked your query. He liked it so much he asked you to see your full manuscript. He read it quickly. These are all pros, not cons. Just because he decided to pass on your manuscript doesn't give you the right to publish what indeed is a very hysterical warning.
And if you don't believe me, if you think I know nothing, I don't get your point, or whatever, why don't you ask other agents? Google "Miss Snark" and you'll find the blog of the anonymous agent. She has links to other agents who blog. Contact any of them. Contact all of them. Tell them what happened and I can guarantee that they are going to say the same thing everyone has told you here: that the agent did nothing wrong. That it's you (not him) who needs to take a deep breath, calm down, change your attitude, and go easy on the exclamation marks.