I just need to know if anyone has been rejected by an agent? I'm trying to get with ICM I know they are a really big agency and I'm just trying to brace myself for the rejection.
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My book was rejected by about 30 agents before I decided to approach publishers myself. In retrospect, I understand their decision. I was a no-name who wrote a nonfiction book on a subject some consider un-sexy. (Yes! It's true! Some people aren't turned on by fishing! It's a strange world we live in.)
I learned a lot from the rejection though; mostly that these folks are in BUSINESS. They need to make money. They may love writing but love doesn't pay the bills.
Since the amalgamation of the large publishing houses several years ago, wooing an agent has become THE Holy Grail for most writers with a book or four in them. I'll be joining the throng again for my next book.
Good luck.
I learned a lot from the rejection though; mostly that these folks are in BUSINESS. They need to make money. They may love writing but love doesn't pay the bills.
Since the amalgamation of the large publishing houses several years ago, wooing an agent has become THE Holy Grail for most writers with a book or four in them. I'll be joining the throng again for my next book.
Good luck.
:lol you're funny, I'm trying to brace myself for what I know is coming. Somehow I know I'll cry when I get my first one and then I'll be depressed and then I'll be mad and then I'll get over it and move on. I just really am not looking forward to the word NO or anything like it.
I have been rejected by just about everyone - agents, agents' secretaries, their pooches on Bring Your Dog To Work Day, etc.,
What the biggest agency (in name) which turned me down?
I'd have to say the William Morris Agency.
What the biggest agency (in name) which turned me down?
I'd have to say the William Morris Agency.
Agents
I try not to take it too personally. Agents are individuals, and they only take on projects that a. will sell well and b. capture their interest. Everyone's tastes in books are unique so just because an agent doesn't take you on doesn't always mean it's a bad book/proposal.
I have found myself that agents are much more prompt in writing back than publishers. Anyone else?
Alison
I try not to take it too personally. Agents are individuals, and they only take on projects that a. will sell well and b. capture their interest. Everyone's tastes in books are unique so just because an agent doesn't take you on doesn't always mean it's a bad book/proposal.
I have found myself that agents are much more prompt in writing back than publishers. Anyone else?
Alison
Re: Agents
I've just sent to WMA CAA and ICM I'm sending out some more next week I hope for the best but I know everyone won't like my work. Thanks for giving me a new way to look at it, maybe I won't feel so bad when the first 100 rejections come in the door. I'm not sure if agents answer faster than publishers I've never sent to a publisher before how long did it take you to hear from WMA?
I've just sent to WMA CAA and ICM I'm sending out some more next week I hope for the best but I know everyone won't like my work. Thanks for giving me a new way to look at it, maybe I won't feel so bad when the first 100 rejections come in the door. I'm not sure if agents answer faster than publishers I've never sent to a publisher before how long did it take you to hear from WMA?
Re: Agents
I've been rejected by agents. Some were kind enough to at least tell me why they were rejecting me. Some of their reasons were that I was unpublished or that it did not fit with the books they represented. One agent rejected my book because my protag's name was spelled differently than its popular counterpart and also I had my character rushing through several years of her life in just 6 chapters. Oh, well.
I can't change the spelling of the character's name but I did keep that second part in mind.
Don't let the rejections get to you, if you do receive them. If you are lucky enough to get a reason for a rejection, think about taking their advice. Good luck!
--Dawn
I've been rejected by agents. Some were kind enough to at least tell me why they were rejecting me. Some of their reasons were that I was unpublished or that it did not fit with the books they represented. One agent rejected my book because my protag's name was spelled differently than its popular counterpart and also I had my character rushing through several years of her life in just 6 chapters. Oh, well.
I can't change the spelling of the character's name but I did keep that second part in mind.Don't let the rejections get to you, if you do receive them. If you are lucky enough to get a reason for a rejection, think about taking their advice. Good luck!
--Dawn
hey
i'm in favor of young mothers, especially them that can write. forget the female scandinavian olympian with her bareness showing. tell us about your words.
i'm in favor of young mothers, especially them that can write. forget the female scandinavian olympian with her bareness showing. tell us about your words.
seems shortsighted
"One agent rejected my book because my protag's name was spelled differently than its popular counterpart and also I had my character rushing through several years of her life in just 6 chapters."
Could you have just change the protagonist's name, and made did some minor rewrites to address the latter problem?
I think for a variety of reasons it may be unprofessional to tell people why you are rejecting them. For one, you may never get the real reason why someone is rejecting you.
I once got some rejections in which a producer said they simply didn't have the money to make my screenplay into a movie.
Some agents may not be able to sell your project . That doesn't mean that another agent can't sell it or you can't. Some people may invent other reasons for the rejection.
Which is why it is best to say, thank you very much, this project simply isn't for us at this moment. A very human resources, neutral, and safe answer.
"One agent rejected my book because my protag's name was spelled differently than its popular counterpart and also I had my character rushing through several years of her life in just 6 chapters."
Could you have just change the protagonist's name, and made did some minor rewrites to address the latter problem?
I think for a variety of reasons it may be unprofessional to tell people why you are rejecting them. For one, you may never get the real reason why someone is rejecting you.
I once got some rejections in which a producer said they simply didn't have the money to make my screenplay into a movie.
Some agents may not be able to sell your project . That doesn't mean that another agent can't sell it or you can't. Some people may invent other reasons for the rejection.
Which is why it is best to say, thank you very much, this project simply isn't for us at this moment. A very human resources, neutral, and safe answer.
Re: seems shortsighted
Yes, that is true. But we tend to rely on agents, who know the market, to tell us if there is something wrong. Did we suck at characterization? Is our plot too far-sighted? Or has this been done? I know, we should know all these answers ourselves, but some writers out there don't bother to get their homework done or they just submit and hope for the best.
And I couldn't change the spelling of my character's name. Her mom has this "unorthodox" attitude against the world and that's why she spelled her daughter's name differently.
Yes, that is true. But we tend to rely on agents, who know the market, to tell us if there is something wrong. Did we suck at characterization? Is our plot too far-sighted? Or has this been done? I know, we should know all these answers ourselves, but some writers out there don't bother to get their homework done or they just submit and hope for the best.
And I couldn't change the spelling of my character's name. Her mom has this "unorthodox" attitude against the world and that's why she spelled her daughter's name differently.
how 'bout this one...
...the agency i queried with my work [which turned out to be a scam outfit] didn't even get a chance to reject me, because the agent's assistant who read the query loved what i sent, took me and my work and went out on his own, as a legit agent!
...please don't ask for any details, as that was my 'old' life and 'i don't go there' as they say... just thought this would be a fun addition to this thread...
love and hugs, maia
...the agency i queried with my work [which turned out to be a scam outfit] didn't even get a chance to reject me, because the agent's assistant who read the query loved what i sent, took me and my work and went out on his own, as a legit agent!
...please don't ask for any details, as that was my 'old' life and 'i don't go there' as they say... just thought this would be a fun addition to this thread...
love and hugs, maia
Great story
That's a great story, maia. I love it. To think you inspired someone to go out on their own!!
Alison
That's a great story, maia. I love it. To think you inspired someone to go out on their own!!
Alison
Re: hey
Huh? What are you saying about my siggy? * I love Signs* Anyway yeah I'm a mom and yeah I can write or I do believe that. So what is it you want to know?
Huh? What are you saying about my siggy? * I love Signs* Anyway yeah I'm a mom and yeah I can write or I do believe that. So what is it you want to know?
icm...
...why them?... i know the chief story exec there, but his department deals with screenplays, not novels... as an unknown newbie, you'd have a much better chance with a small agency... even better with a new start-up one that would be more likely to take on an unknown... the big guys are only interested in earthshaking best-seller material...
even if you are sure that's what you have [like most newbies], it would be wise to get a second opinion from someone knowledgeable, before approaching agents... typos, grammatic/syntactic goofs and such can doom even the best of stories...
and have your query checked, too... many new writers never get anyone to read their mss simply due to badly-written queries...
if you want a neutral critical read, let me know... best of luck to you... love and hugs, maia
...why them?... i know the chief story exec there, but his department deals with screenplays, not novels... as an unknown newbie, you'd have a much better chance with a small agency... even better with a new start-up one that would be more likely to take on an unknown... the big guys are only interested in earthshaking best-seller material...
even if you are sure that's what you have [like most newbies], it would be wise to get a second opinion from someone knowledgeable, before approaching agents... typos, grammatic/syntactic goofs and such can doom even the best of stories...
and have your query checked, too... many new writers never get anyone to read their mss simply due to badly-written queries...
if you want a neutral critical read, let me know... best of luck to you... love and hugs, maia
Re: icm...
Thanks mama, I have a thing for ICM I know it's a stupid reason but hey we all have them right? Incase you want to know it's Orlando yeah Bloom:heart Anyway I know they are a large agency however I think I might have a shot
And if not oh well I tried it doesn't hurt to right? I am though sending to other smaller agencies also I just wanted to submit to the big guys first. Oh and yeah I submitted for novel and screenplay. I'd love for the novel to work but my heart is set on the screenplay, yeah another recipe for disaster.
Thanks mama, I have a thing for ICM I know it's a stupid reason but hey we all have them right? Incase you want to know it's Orlando
yeah Bloom:heart Anyway I know they are a large agency however I think I might have a shot And if not oh well I tried it doesn't hurt to right? I am though sending to other smaller agencies also I just wanted to submit to the big guys first. Oh and yeah I submitted for novel and screenplay. I'd love for the novel to work but my heart is set on the screenplay, yeah another recipe for disaster.Re: icm...
have you already completed the screenplay?... if so, and if you'd want me to, i'll be glad to check it out and if i think he'd be interested, would pass it on to the guy i know there...
he does take a serious look at any work i send him from my most promising mentees... one, a 14-yr-old girl at the time, had such a good [but too dark] script, he's been keeping track of her work ever since... let me know...
hugs, maia
[email protected]
have you already completed the screenplay?... if so, and if you'd want me to, i'll be glad to check it out and if i think he'd be interested, would pass it on to the guy i know there...
he does take a serious look at any work i send him from my most promising mentees... one, a 14-yr-old girl at the time, had such a good [but too dark] script, he's been keeping track of her work ever since... let me know...
hugs, maia
[email protected]
OK. Well, I got an agent rejection story to add. A novel of mine was recently rejected because the agent said the pacing was wrong for that particular genre. That did not hurt as much as the fact that she won't give it a second chance if I fix it! ARGH!
that both sux and blows. Hopefully you'll find some one that will give it the reading it deserves, keep your head up.
I hate the ones who scribble "Not for me" on my original query letter. How courteous! I'd rather them not reply at all.
Then this agent, after reading my manuscript over two days (now that's a quick read), told me "I can't connect with the material." Ouch. Well, if you take a little more time to read the 500 pages, you may. I'm not bitter. I move on.
Then this agent, after reading my manuscript over two days (now that's a quick read), told me "I can't connect with the material." Ouch. Well, if you take a little more time to read the 500 pages, you may.
I'm not bitter. I move on. Then this agent, after reading my manuscript over two days (now that's a quick read), told me "I can't connect with the material." Ouch. Well, if you take a little more time to read the 500 pages, you may.
Ah, there's a problem there, Maestro. The Agent, or Publisher, or Reader for that matter, shouldn't have to read deeply into the work before they connect. It should happen right out of the gate, so to speak.
I tried reading a novel published by a house I was rejected by and fought to the 100th page, then Uncle Jim'd it (threw against wall). I'm pretty sure it didn't suddenly get better on page 101, and if it did, perhaps the first 100 pages should have been cut.
Ah, there's a problem there, Maestro. The Agent, or Publisher, or Reader for that matter, shouldn't have to read deeply into the work before they connect. It should happen right out of the gate, so to speak.
I tried reading a novel published by a house I was rejected by and fought to the 100th page, then Uncle Jim'd it (threw against wall). I'm pretty sure it didn't suddenly get better on page 101, and if it did, perhaps the first 100 pages should have been cut.
To coincide with the April 2004 release of GINNY GOOD, easily one of the best books published anywhere in the world in the last twenty years, I'm also releasing the fully revised THIRD EDITION of EVERYONE WHO'S ANYONE IN ADULT TRADE PUBLISHING which includes
2,114 literary agents, editors and publishers
of adult trade books in the US, UK, Canada and Ireland broken down like this:
Literary Agents: US 890; UK 268; Canada 20; Ireland 1; Total 1,179
Editors & Publishers: US 783; UK 197; Canada 47; Ireland 8. Total, 935
Ha! That's a lot of literary agents, editors and publishers—and EWA for the most part does not include book doctors, agents who charge fees, vanity presses, POD publishers or any total schlock operations, in general—nothing but the cream of the crop and only those with valid e-mail addresses.
The reason the Third Edition of EWA coincides with the release of GINNY GOOD is that out of all 2,114 agents, editors and publishers on my little list, the only TWO who didn't reject it were Laura Strachan and Paul Cohen. Laura's the agent for the book and Paul Cohen is the boss of Monkfish Book Publishing Company. When GG starts getting read and reviewed and ends up kicking the total objective crap out of the books the other 2,112 agents, editors and publishers DID NOT reject, won't they all just rue the day? Nah. Probably not. But I'll be pretty stoked. Now all I gotta do is get the thing past the stranglehold big publishing houses have on critics and book review guys and media outlets and the rest of the hype they buy. That's gonna be no small feat. The reason big publishers think their crappy books are so good is that they're only compared with themselves. Hey, this crappy book is just as crappy as this crappy book, whoopee, we've got another New York Times Bestseller! Get some new blood in their smarmy little closed system and let readers read something worth reading for a change, that's what I say.
2,114 literary agents, editors and publishers
of adult trade books in the US, UK, Canada and Ireland broken down like this:
Literary Agents: US 890; UK 268; Canada 20; Ireland 1; Total 1,179
Editors & Publishers: US 783; UK 197; Canada 47; Ireland 8. Total, 935
Ha! That's a lot of literary agents, editors and publishers—and EWA for the most part does not include book doctors, agents who charge fees, vanity presses, POD publishers or any total schlock operations, in general—nothing but the cream of the crop and only those with valid e-mail addresses.
The reason the Third Edition of EWA coincides with the release of GINNY GOOD is that out of all 2,114 agents, editors and publishers on my little list, the only TWO who didn't reject it were Laura Strachan and Paul Cohen. Laura's the agent for the book and Paul Cohen is the boss of Monkfish Book Publishing Company. When GG starts getting read and reviewed and ends up kicking the total objective crap out of the books the other 2,112 agents, editors and publishers DID NOT reject, won't they all just rue the day? Nah. Probably not. But I'll be pretty stoked. Now all I gotta do is get the thing past the stranglehold big publishing houses have on critics and book review guys and media outlets and the rest of the hype they buy. That's gonna be no small feat. The reason big publishers think their crappy books are so good is that they're only compared with themselves. Hey, this crappy book is just as crappy as this crappy book, whoopee, we've got another New York Times Bestseller! Get some new blood in their smarmy little closed system and let readers read something worth reading for a change, that's what I say.
Careful Newbies...
Before you start salivating at the prospect of firing off a couple of thousand emailed pitches-- please refer to Victoria's caution on the Bewares Board. It's under the "EWA" thread.
Before you start salivating at the prospect of firing off a couple of thousand emailed pitches-- please refer to Victoria's caution on the Bewares Board. It's under the "EWA" thread.
Chunky, the agent liked the first 50 pages so she requested the rest (over 550 total). So I thought she was hooked by the first 50 pages. I suspected that the book turned out to be something she didn't expect.
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