Received Rejection #13 today, snail mail-style. Ever notice that rejection letters always seem to include the words "however" or "although?" The one today made use of the word "although." A promising admission on the part of the rejector was simultaneously tempered by the brilliant use of the word in question. "Although we found your idea interesting ..." began the second paragraph in this abrupt correspondence, a revelation I immediately contrued as something tantamount to a beautiful woman telling me she finds me attractive, but that she's already engaged to another guy. The use of "although" actually deemed the balance of the sentence unnecessary. "... I am afraid we are unable to offer you representation," the sentence ended. Now, I ask you, was the remainder of the sentence overkill? Would I have understood where this thing was heading had the agent simply ended this particular paragraph at the word "interesting ..."?
And another thing ... I have also realized that many of these letters make heavy use of the word "afraid." Why, I submit, would an agent be "afraid" that she can't offer representation? If an agent is "afraid" that she is unable to offer representation, then why not offer representation instead? If I was afraid of jumping off a diving board, I wouldn't do it. If I was afraid of reading a Stephen King novel, I wouldn't do it. With that in mind, if I was an agent who was afraid that I could not offer representation to somebody, I'd offer representation.
And another thing ... I have also realized that many of these letters make heavy use of the word "afraid." Why, I submit, would an agent be "afraid" that she can't offer representation? If an agent is "afraid" that she is unable to offer representation, then why not offer representation instead? If I was afraid of jumping off a diving board, I wouldn't do it. If I was afraid of reading a Stephen King novel, I wouldn't do it. With that in mind, if I was an agent who was afraid that I could not offer representation to somebody, I'd offer representation.