So, after Monday’s post I can honestly say I will never ever read material that is already out with an agent.
Before I send it?- Yes!
After I receive a rejection?- Absofrickin’lutely!
But never ever while it’s already out there and there’s nothing I can do to change it. There’s no reason to put myself through the torture. Thank you all for your kind comments and advice! Glad to know I’m not the only one.
Still no word from the agents but I have been in this situation before, of course, with another book. And at the time, the agents both sent very kind letters.
Pass letters.
They say a spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down. But Pass Letters are kind of like poison. No amount of sweetness can counteract the fact that they kill your soul a little. I’m really not looking forward to going through that again. Which is why I was completely inspired by Rachelle Gardner’s post this morning about Pass Letters. She features a whole bunch of quotes from pass letters sent out by agents and editors for books that eventually went on to sell with publishers!
This couldn’t have come at a better time for me so THANK YOU GoodAgent Rachelle!
Do YOU recognize any of those pass reasons? I know I’ve seen at least one or two in my past pass letters. Still stings:)
21 comments:
Thanks for the link to Rachelle's post CQG--every little inspiration helps.
Wonderful post, Katie. I love your spunk.
And yeah, been there seen that! Good luck on your requests.
Yes, I have seen those pass reasons. *sigh*
I've learned that publishing is like chaos theory.
Okay, so get this. I just heard that sometimes? An agent will call you to give you advice on how to improve your MS and then...NOT OFFER REPRESENTATION.
*gutted*
On the scale of thanks-but-no thanks, that rates a 9.5 for devastation, I think.
*heads over to look at pass letters, to prepare self.*
You rule, as always.
Sometimes the worst are when the agent gives you heaps of praise but then still passes. You think, well if you like it, what's the problem? :o(
I love her blog! I'm glad you found inspiration. I haven't gotten to the full request yet, but I understand completely the dread for rejection letters at any stage. You can't help but get excited when you first see a message from an agent in your inbox. You hold your breath, click it open...and your heart falls to the ground real quick.
I hope you have better luck this time! My fingers are crossed for you!
And you know what? YOU are inspiring to ME! You're sometimes my very own personal spoon full of sugar! And I'm not joking! :)
Thanks for posting about Rachelle's post. I'm going to have to check it out.
Good luck on the querying. Ugh! I hate the happy/rejections. But they are better than nothing, I guess. ;)
Yes, I would far prefer a happy rejection than a straight pass. Good luck with your latest :)
Good Luck and yes I like my sour with a little sweet. It somehow makes it easier to digest.
That is encouraging to see what was passed on that eventually makes it. I look at it like this. We need to keep writing until we write one that breaks through--gets the agent... gets the publisher. Once we are IN, then we have professional help to get our back-work up to stuff (at least some portion of it)--I think having 3-5 titles ALMOST ready when we actually publish our first book is wonderful, as we can put out books regularly enough to become a NAME rather than just a book.
Good luck with the querying! As I've got a loooooooooooooooong way to go before I even begin to query, I guess I'll pass on the pass letters! I think for now I'd want either a yes or a no and not a maybe or not quite! LOL!
Take care
x
Ooooh, I'm sorry. Even when the words are kind, it still hurts. I'm wishing you lots of luck for the future!
This business is so subjective, isn't it?!
I also constantly revise even after I send it out. I need to stop it!
I so agree that reading material that's currently out of your control is a really bad idea. Pass letters do kill the soul a little. :(
I've had some that just made me feel like a lousy writer! Like, "This is too dull. Not enough concept. Too boring. You can do better."
First off, how would they know I can do better? That query and first page sample are all they have of me.
Second off, it blows my mind how one agent can think one thing is too dull or too small a concept while another thinks it's a-ma-zing. yeah. crazy.
oh, that IS a good thing to do! Read posts like that.
I've been in sort of a dumpy mood lately, too... I'm wondering if it's the season change. :p
((BIG hugs)) you're gonna be great~
It's all so sujective isn't it - but at the end of the day you only need one to fall in love with it.
BTW there's a little something for you over on my blog :-)
I received two pass letters just this week. Consider my cherry popped! :)
Off to check it out. I could stand to hear this now, too. :D
following u back from karen's bbq! great blog, ill definitely be back to creep around lol
btw, when i had stuff out with agents, i sometimes sent them a revised copy and asked if they'd look at the most recent one they received (and they usually did!)
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