The Word Cloud

15 Comments

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  by AlanP 1 year ago

  Nothing so fat here. But I had one that took about 9 months. I think that's worse.
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  by AlanP 1 year ago

  Fast. FAST. Gawd. Fingers
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  by Tony 1 year ago

  I'm sure that must be a record, Em. At least that's a sort of achievement!
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  by Gerilyn 1 year ago

  You must have been devasted! They obviously didn't even read it- so I suppose you can be relieved that their rejection had nothing to do with the content- they just couldn't be bothered. Well that's the first rejection out of the way at least. Fingers crossed that those who can be bothered to read it will like it.
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  by Spangles 1 year ago

  Actually, I doubt very much that it's a case of the agent no bothering to read your submission, Em. It's far more likely that they read it, realized it wasn't for them (for what could be any number of reasons - did they give you one?) and had the time to respond straightaway rather than leave you hanging around. For instance, you might have unwittingly chosen the day when the agent regularly goes through the submissions.
  
  I know how disheartening rejections can be, but I think the key thing to remember is that this is only one agent, and the fact that they've rejected your work does NOT mean that what you've written is worthless. it simply means that it's not for them. But it might be exactly what another agent is looking for. So good luck with it! xx
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  by EmmaD 1 year ago

  Yes, your email probably arrived when she was looking at her emails, and she dropped straight in. They can usually tell on the first page if it's likely to be for them, and if not, at least by email they may let you know immediately.
  
  A friend has just had a rejection for a hsort story two minutes after he sent it. From an editor who said, 'Sorry the mag is full for this issue but I really like the look of this so do send me something more in the New Year, for the MArch issue.'
  
  Indeed, in the days when my computer clock ran consistently fast for some reason, I sent an email and if you went just by the times the email logged, it appeared that my pitch had been rejected before I'd actually sent it.
  
  In other words, they're hugely experienced readers and can tell very quickly whether they want to go on reading or not. You only need one swallow of champagne, not the whole bottle, to know if you like it or not, but one editor's too-brutal bitterness is another's acerbic delight, so as Spangles says, don't let this put you off. Good luck!
  
  Emma
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  by Em 1 year ago

  Thanks for all your support. Yes, I'm sure she read it and I know she is very choosy, but it would have been nice to have held on to that feeling of euphoria I'd had at finally submitting it for a day or so longer.
  Funnily enough, shortly after that I had another rejection of an earlier version of the same story that I'd sent out 9 months earlier. Hey ho, still hanging in there...
  Have started my next story now to take my mind off the waiting at least.
  Can anyone beat 2 minutes for a rapid rejection?!!
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  by Amarantha 1 year ago

  Fifteen minutes? Phew! Well that's IT I suppose - a thing I've come late to and will have to gird up my loins to face. My longest was around 7 months but almost all by Royal Mail. I'd sent a synopsis and 2 chapters to Golanz, got an invitation to submit full typescript, done that, waited 3 months before querying, learned script was lost. Delivered another full copy by hand to Covent Garden office and after all received a rejection (not suitable for our list) after another 3 months.
  
  Then I read in the literary pages of my national paper that Victor Golanz had been taken over by another publisher. Can't remember by whom; it was a long time ago.
  
  In those days aspiring writers were advised not to send out submissions to more than one publisher at a time so that seven months was wasted. I don't know if the advice still holds good but I'll be finding out before I submit again!
  
  I feel your disappointment, Em but think I'd rather get it over in 15 mins, given the choice.
  
  I wish you encouraging news soon.
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  by Bren 1 year ago

  Sorry Em. That was quick. I am sending off soon to one by email. His reply to request it bounced back surprisingly quickly. I now know to expect perhaps the same with my book. Like Emma said they are extremely fast at reading and now instantly if the ms is not suitable. (Sometimes wonder if they know themselves).yes, it must have been disappointing not being able to wallow in satisfaction for a while.
  Does that mean you have sent it out to twenty more.
  As my dear old mum said today, 'Don't give up, they don't know you from Adam and may be missing the best thing they are likely to come across.' We can all carry on hoping.
  Did you print it out to put in your rejection file?
  I wish you joy with the next one.
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  by Bren 1 year ago

  excuse typos.
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  by MinxieAD 1 year ago

  Sorry about your news. Part of the fun is waiting for a reply, so for it to come through that fast must have been awful for you.
  
  The main thing is that you don't give up and you stay positive.
  
  Good luck. I hope that the next time you send it you have success.
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  by Mcallan 1 year ago

  That was very harsh wasn't it Em! I have only done e-mail subs so far...and they waited a decent interval before letting me down...if they bothered to reply at all. Onwards and upwards though and here's to the first postive reply!
  Mac
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  by Kaz 1 year ago

  Hi Em, my picture book rejection took two weeks and my Womans Weekly short story took fourteen months! Not that they were email submissions. Keep at it, don't give up, I know you will find an agent who loves you and your book xxx
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  by ohthattanya 1 year ago

  I'm sorry, Em. That's horrible and I know what you mean when you say that you wanted to hold onto that feeling of euphoria - and hope! - for a little while longer. I know it's easy for me to say but don't take it to heart. I agree with Spangles and EmmaD in that the agent may have read your covering letter and realised that she/he had recently taken on a similar book. At least she/he didn't keep you dangling, right? It's like pulling off a plaster: quick and painful. But much more humane than being left hanging for months. And I'm so glad you have something else you're working on because it will help. I'm about to start querying myself and I've already started working on something else because I don't want it to become THE NOVEL, you know? As for the record rejection, someone on a blog I follow got an email rejection 90 seconds after she sent her query letter. I don't even know how that's possible! At least you know the agent read yours so good luck and I hope you get a positive reply soon. Keep us posted.
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  by SecretSpi 1 year ago

  I'm sorry to hear that Em: it's rather like ripping off a sticking plaster, isn't it! I haven't had anything as rapid as that but I had a reply to one I'd posted within a week (given that it takes two or three days to get there from Germany that was pretty quick going.) Another one I had that was pretty rapid I later found out that she already had a writer who was doing retro-style adventures - the book was published a few months after the rejection - so I guessed it was a case of her not wanting too much of the same. Keep on plugging away - your story is the business and I'm sure it and you will find an agent!