SRHowen said:
I don't quite get this--they asked for it then sent you a rejection, how is the rejection untrue, you figure that it is untrue that it doesn't fit their needs since they asked for it? Or how do you get that they didn't check to see if it was solicited?
I sent the ms personalised, with a cover letter, to the agent who had requested it, which made it clear that it was solicited to whoever opened the parcel. The response I got was a form letter from the agency, and it came so quickly I know the manuscript had not been read; can't you tell? I can! In the two cases where my full manuscript has been read and rejected, there was a personal letter included.
In this case it was a quick brush off, almost by return of post. It was treated as an unsolicited ms. And even if she had read it overnight: I know I can't
expect a personal comment ; but I do expect some kind of intimation that
the agent I sent it to read it herself - that is, signed by that agent, by name, and not simply by the secretary or whoever. That, I'd say, is common courtesy, and if she HAD read the whole ms, can be expected.
(The "patently untrue" bit I said did not refer to the ms not fitting their needs but to the statement that they had "read it with interest". I just don't believe that.)
Most agents try to get to you when they say they will, no one puts it off just to be rude.
But in this case, the agent had asked me to take certain measures (ie, give the agent who was reading it a deadline of a week) that involved a risk for me. What if the first agent was just about to read it, and was cut short - and offended - by such a deadline? Yes, it was a risk for me - particulary as the first agent would have been preferable to this one requesting it.
She asked me to do this, and give her an exclusive next-read, and promised a very quick read - days. I gave her three weeks. I think it wouldn't have cost her much just to send off a quick email with a "sorry I couldn't keep the deadline I promised." Instead, I had to chase up on it.
If I can't keep a promised deadline for any reason I always get back to the other, unasked, and apologize. Even in little things.
Perhaps it's wishful thinking to desire common courtesy. I believe in it for it's own sake, but even for selfish reasons it's not a bad idea. Who knows what business deals you may miss if word gets around that you are rude.
We writers need to know as well that the process takes time, and even after you sign with an agent the process takes time--sometimes a long time.
I know. I've had an agent.