Sheesh.

I know times are tough all over, but this stunt a writer pulled takes the cake. Apparently, a writer faked a request for a partial from an agent, without realizing that she only asks for full manuscripts to save time. So not only did this writer heinously lie, but they did it badly.

I feel the writer deserves a slap with a codfish and the agent in question deserves chocolate or the sugary confection of her choice, just for having to deal with that sort of thing.

While I can understand the desperation and drive to get published, what I don't understand is the dishonesty. As a tactic, it just doesn't seem smart, much less ethical. First off, the ruse depends on the agent being so disorganized and so bad at keeping track of their work that they don't know who they sent off requests to and who they rejected.

As dianafox said, she had records of who she sent rejections and requests to, so it was very easy to see that the writer was lying.

How could anyone be that stupid? Supposing your ruse does work, you still don't stand any better chance of getting published! Okay, so you snuck into round two. Odds are that whatever got you rejected the first time will get you rejected again.

Even if it doesn't get rejected, you're still dealing with an agent apparently so disorganized and gullible that they believed you! Is that really the kind of person you'd want dealing with editors and publishing companies on your behalf?

I get it, rejection hurts. But lying hurts more, and it hurts more than just you.