Now don't get me wrong. When I e-query an agent, I'm grateful when that agent is nice enough to respond with a "no thanks"--even when their own websites warn that would-be authors should take silence as a rejection.
But some rejections are just puzzling to me. I've gotten a few "Not for me, thanks" or "No thanks" and a round of singing crickets. But today I received an e-query rejection that was short, succinct, yet rather nice.
"I'm going to pass, but it's an interesting premise and I appreciate
the look."
I assume something about the five-page sample and the synopsis within the query made her pass. Fair enough. But when they say things like "interesting premise" I have to wonder what exactly it was. I mean, you're rejecting my query so there's no pressure to say something nice, unless of course you mean it, right? Or if she was just saying "interesting premise" to be kind. Or if she meant "interesting" like I do when I tell my four-year-old cousin it's "interesting" that she pours three different sodas into one cup and then stirs it with a pixie stix.
I'm not really depressed. I know my story's not going to appeal to every agent (hell, so far, it hasn't even appealed to nearly a quarter of the agents I've queried). But I'm curious. Do you think it was just a kind form-type response? What are some of your kind query rejects?
But some rejections are just puzzling to me. I've gotten a few "Not for me, thanks" or "No thanks" and a round of singing crickets. But today I received an e-query rejection that was short, succinct, yet rather nice.
"I'm going to pass, but it's an interesting premise and I appreciate
the look."
I assume something about the five-page sample and the synopsis within the query made her pass. Fair enough. But when they say things like "interesting premise" I have to wonder what exactly it was. I mean, you're rejecting my query so there's no pressure to say something nice, unless of course you mean it, right? Or if she was just saying "interesting premise" to be kind. Or if she meant "interesting" like I do when I tell my four-year-old cousin it's "interesting" that she pours three different sodas into one cup and then stirs it with a pixie stix.
I'm not really depressed. I know my story's not going to appeal to every agent (hell, so far, it hasn't even appealed to nearly a quarter of the agents I've queried). But I'm curious. Do you think it was just a kind form-type response? What are some of your kind query rejects?
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well, yeah, of course. she definitely thought the premise was interesting. she was interested enough in it to ask for a partial, right? so, she meant it. don't beat yourself up over it-it'll happen. 
