Full Manuscript update

[Satyrical Raven]

News – not good

After waiting 6 weeks to hear from the agent in the USA who asked for the full manuscript and with whom I had been communicating with for more than 1 year, she replied. (note, as advised I did not prompt or contact her)

She acknowledged she had received and read it (copied and pasted a form rejection – ‘did not find myself drawn enough to the storyline’ – I know because it was in a different font and different size font).

While I have come to expect rejections, this one was especially hard as I had spoken and emailed her and she me so many times that we were on a first name basis – even asking each other about personal things - nothing to do with writing. Why was it especially hard? When she replied to my email and after reading the full MS which cost quite a lot to send as a hardcopy, she addressed the email to the wrong name!

This has now happened to me 3 (count them 3) times.

While I understand agents too are human, when we write letters to agents we are told 1000x to make sure we address to the right person etc. And here is someone who, after I think 8-10 emails and a physical phone conversation, wrote the rejection email with the wrong name.

Honestly, I feel like giving up!

[Frank Baron]

Ouch.

You have my sympathies, Raven. I won't try to ameliorate the sting. Time will do that. With any luck, it'll happen with an acceptance - soon.

Have an extra drink tonight. Eat a bunch of chocolate. Curse publishing and everyone associated with it.

Then tomorrow, or hell - maybe the next day - start working on the next few agents on your list.

Gotta climb back on that horse....

[Miranda Clementine]

What a jerk! You're right, she should have had more class than that... you don't want her as an agent anyway, imagine her misaddressing a publisher?!

Take Frank's advice, that's good stuff.

[Zoe Saadia]

The rejection itself aside (an email is on its way), I'm shocked how unprofessional a professional can get!
I agree with Miranda. Maybe it's better not to be signed up by a sloppy agent (After what Cindi has told about her ex-agent on the WNSeminars thread, I think you maybe got off relatively lightly. Not that it's of any consolation right now <hug>. Sending you an email)

[Satyrical Raven]

Thanks guy's.

Might just get myself some bad-for-me take-away (never buy take-away unless it's really good sushi or similar), and take Franks advice

[Kitty Foyle]

Here's some sympathy tulips for you, Raven:

I'm now reading J.D. Salinger: A Life, by Kenneth Slawenski. (Well written -- the kind of book that really is "hard to put down.)

A quote from the book: "When Salinger's euphoria over "The Young Folks' began to fade, he discovered that he was unable to sell another story. For eight months, he submitted one attempt after another to various magazines, receiving only rejection slips in reply. Outwardly, he feigned stoicism, claiming to recognize the value of the process and reporting to Whit Burnett that he was finally oriented to his new career. Inwardly, he was growing despondent and reconsidering becoming an actor or playwright."

Another: "When considering Salinger's career, especially during the early years, it is important to distinguish between ambition and confidence. Certainly, Salinger had abundant self confidence, but on the occasions when his confidence ran dry, it was ambition that kept him going. In 1940, his ambition was directed toward recognition and literary success. In years to come, the goal of his ambition would change, but the instinct itself would never desert him."

(Dark chocolate is delicious; indulge yourself, girl!)

*_*

[Belinda T.]

Don't ever give up. You're not a quitter...query on! Agents aren't perfect, so don't let one rejection keep you from pursuing other reputable prospective agents.

[Jena Grace]

And here is someone who, after I think 8-10 emails and a physical phone conversation, wrote the rejection email with the wrong name.


I totally agree, Raven. And seriously, she could have have you e-mail the ms...then if she weren't "drawn into it" by fifty pages or so, you wouldn't have been out the price of a dinner for two at a 5-star restaurant. She really ought to rethink her policy about demanding snail mail mss from overseas authors. Nobody can force her to print out the whole thing.

I know it feels like a loss, but, echoing what others have said: maybe not. But I'm sorry you had to go through this nonsense. Please hang in there.

[Satyrical Raven]

Thanks everyone

And yes, I felt like sending a reply email noting my name error but instead, I sent a short email thanking her for the consideration and wishing her a lovely Summer break. I finished it with 'perhaps one day, after I have sold my manuscript and have a publishing deal, we'll meet up over a coffee and have a chuckle at the entire industry'

I decided, why bother to point out the mistake and burn someone, I'm better than that

[Kitty Foyle]

Good girl, Raven. You got class!

(Anyway, if she's as incompetent as she appears to be, it'll catch up with her some day.)

*_*