The only downside of e-queries
Apr. 17th, 2009 02:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
megwritesEvery time I check my email, my heart skips a beat because I never know what's going to be in my inbox. Could be a request, could be a rejection.
The Rejection Fairy visited today, and I've decided that I like the kind of rejection that I got from this agent the best of all the ones I've gotten.
Hers said simply (paraphrased): I am sorry, but I am not the right agent for this work. I wish you the best of luck.
And that was it.
I wish more agents would send out rejections like that. Short, to the point, blessedly non-specific. No offense to the other agents who have given me a pass, because they've all been really professional and respectful, but I do sort of wish that they wouldn't use such phrases as: "we only accept high quality writing with a strong, unique voice" when rejecting people.
Because no matter how well intentioned, it's very backhanded. There's no way for it not to be. From a writer's perspective, there's no way for that not to be hurtful. The agent didn't mean for it to be (in fact, that probably thought they were being really kind), but that doesn't mean it didn't hurt.
One thing I've learned from RaceFail2009 is that intention is never as important as the end result. You can mean well, but if you don't do well, it doesn't tend to matter.
When rejected authors read that, they see: "Your writing was weak and your project was terrible. And since we only accept good writing, we can't accept you, because you're obviously inferior. *hmph*. *nose in the air*."
It's sort of like when you ask a woman who has a rounded belly if she's pregnant and find out that she isn't. You probably were trying to be very sweet, but you just told her that she's so fat as to look knocked up. And if you were looking for a way to ruin someone's day, you just found it.
I'm wary of coming off as bitter, in the wake of #agentfail, and I hope I don't sound like I'm angry or entitled or anything. Again, I'm pleased as punch with the results I've gotten so far, and I definitely think that the agents out there are (in general) doing a fantastic job.
Oh, and just a moment of snark to my fellow writers who complained about agents blogging and twittering and then complaining that they have no time?
Yeah, 'cause you've never been fapping around on the internet or livejournaling or playing minesweeper when you had a deadline or should have been writing. Man, if I had a dime for every time a writer (including myself) posted, "*SIGH* I should be writing, but...", I'd be able to call it quits and buy a house in the Hamptons.
Just alerting you to that little pot and kettle situation there, in case you were interested.
The Rejection Fairy visited today, and I've decided that I like the kind of rejection that I got from this agent the best of all the ones I've gotten.
Hers said simply (paraphrased): I am sorry, but I am not the right agent for this work. I wish you the best of luck.
And that was it.
I wish more agents would send out rejections like that. Short, to the point, blessedly non-specific. No offense to the other agents who have given me a pass, because they've all been really professional and respectful, but I do sort of wish that they wouldn't use such phrases as: "we only accept high quality writing with a strong, unique voice" when rejecting people.
Because no matter how well intentioned, it's very backhanded. There's no way for it not to be. From a writer's perspective, there's no way for that not to be hurtful. The agent didn't mean for it to be (in fact, that probably thought they were being really kind), but that doesn't mean it didn't hurt.
One thing I've learned from RaceFail2009 is that intention is never as important as the end result. You can mean well, but if you don't do well, it doesn't tend to matter.
When rejected authors read that, they see: "Your writing was weak and your project was terrible. And since we only accept good writing, we can't accept you, because you're obviously inferior. *hmph*. *nose in the air*."
It's sort of like when you ask a woman who has a rounded belly if she's pregnant and find out that she isn't. You probably were trying to be very sweet, but you just told her that she's so fat as to look knocked up. And if you were looking for a way to ruin someone's day, you just found it.
I'm wary of coming off as bitter, in the wake of #agentfail, and I hope I don't sound like I'm angry or entitled or anything. Again, I'm pleased as punch with the results I've gotten so far, and I definitely think that the agents out there are (in general) doing a fantastic job.
Oh, and just a moment of snark to my fellow writers who complained about agents blogging and twittering and then complaining that they have no time?
Yeah, 'cause you've never been fapping around on the internet or livejournaling or playing minesweeper when you had a deadline or should have been writing. Man, if I had a dime for every time a writer (including myself) posted, "*SIGH* I should be writing, but...", I'd be able to call it quits and buy a house in the Hamptons.
Just alerting you to that little pot and kettle situation there, in case you were interested.
no subject
Date: 2009-04-18 03:36 am (UTC)Hilarious analogy and so true!
no subject
Date: 2009-04-18 03:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-04-18 06:08 am (UTC)Hang in there, and from everything I see, you do eventually get hardened to the in-box sweats. So they say. Okay, I'm skeptical, but it could happen. Maybe. ;)
I completely agree with you regarding the 'thanks but no thanks" thing. They try to be personal, though, but they've got so many of them they don't have time or real interest, so it still comes off as generic but hurtful. Though I've gotten some very kind ones, too, that I would not have missed for the world. I don't know, it's like anything, it all depends.
no subject
Date: 2009-04-18 03:51 pm (UTC)I completely agree with you regarding the 'thanks but no thanks" thing. They try to be personal, though, but they've got so many of them they don't have time or real interest, so it still comes off as generic but hurtful
Yeah, I know what you mean. Frankly, I think that as with all transactions with people, professional or otherwise, if you can't say something nice don't frakking say anything at all. Seriously. Just say, "I'm sorry, but I am not the right agent for this manuscript" and leave it at that.
Because a) it's true. If your manuscript is bad or just not interesting, then yeah, of course they're not the right person for it and b) if your manuscript IS good, but they just weren't that inspired or were too busy, then it's still completely true. A too-busy, uninterested agent *isn't* the right agent!
no subject
Date: 2009-04-18 05:38 pm (UTC)That's a very good attitude; instead of disappointed, you might even feel relieved :D
I'm sure you'll connect with someone just right for you. Soon, I hope.