So you got a rejection saying the submission isn’t right for us? That’s a typical decline, isn’t it? Frustrating, I know. But it’s typical because it’s so common. Let’s look at the top three reasons my office sends rejection letters.
- The submission isn’t right for us. When you receive this letter, you may feel as though we blew off your work and chose a pig-in-a-poke excuse because we had to fill in a blank. But in fact, this is the number one reason we must decline many submissions. Why?
1. The author didn’t research to discover we don’t represent the category in question.
2. We don’t think the topic will find a place with the editors we know.
3. The author took a chance by thinking we might make an exception for him.
- The market is too tight. Unfortunately, we must turn down many excellent submissions that at other times, we might have been able to accept. We must consider our knowledge and understanding of the current market when evaluating any and all proposals. And though this may seem unfair to the talented author, one major reason to engage a literary agent in the first place is for her knowledge of the current market. Besides, you may meet a different agent who knows three editors looking for a book on The Breath Mint and Garlic Diet. If that’s your book, wouldn’t it be in your best interest to work with an agent who knows those editors?
- We just didn’t like it. You can shout “That’s not fair!!!” from the rooftops and we’d agree. This is the most unfair reason to send a decline. And this is why we try not to admit this in our declines. But look at it this way, do you want your agent to be so lethargic about your work that he says to editors, “You don’t want to buy this, do you?” And since there are A LOT of agents, another agent – one who loves your work and is eager to represent you – is a better fit. That agent may even be a different agent in the same agency.
So there you have it, the reasons we must reject some manuscripts. There are other reasons, but these tend to be the most common.
Your turn:
If you’ve experienced several rejections, what did you find to be the most common?
If you were an agent, why would you turn down a proposal?
It’s Not What You Know; It’s Who You Know
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Tamela, yes I have faced rejection. The most common rejection reason was that my book, Suddenly Single: A Practical Guide for Maintaining your Household when Your Spouse is NLA (No longer available) was because no one knows who I am. So, I am working hard to build my platform….and making blog postings on my website regularly and consistently.
Why would I reject someone? As a writing teacher, I would turn him or her down for a poorly-written proposal, typos and glaring errors in a manuscript, or a boring story. If I don’t like it, like you said, it would be a difficult sell.
Why would I reject someone part two? As a college instructor who teaches public speaking, I would reject someone who did not have the basic skills to present him or herself to the public. For example, if someone is so shy he or she won’t look at me when pitching the book, I would assume that a television or radio interview when the book launches would be out of the question.
Thanks for a great blog posting.
Good points about presentation, Sheri. I think your book sounds practical and interesting!
Sheri, we should talk. One of the college courses I teach is Family Resource Management. Your book is right up my alley (teaching students how to best serve families in unique and not-so-unique situations and family structures).
Hi Sheri
Oh, dear…
I won’t even touch on my grammar.
Many moons ago I was thrust into speaking to large audiences. Shy, I learned. My knees knocked, and many times I was grateful the lectern protected me…
Years later (now) my best speaking occurs one-on-one. My specialty is… dogs. Yes, real dogs.
I can pitch all day long to canines, and sometimes my husband. If I ever speak to an agent, I pray he or she brings along their pup…
🙂 -Claire
P.S. affording a pro @ 3-4 dollars a page is out of my range…
Hi Tamela,
I think I’ll answer question 2, first. As an agent, I would drop the manuscript like a hot patata if it didn’t meet agency criteria. The synopsis must suck me in, but if in the MS, the first paragraph, first page, then ten pages (and if I cringe through the rest, assuming I got that far, the MS having no redeeming factors, I’d say so (in nicer words perhaps). I have purchased some (and some big name authors) and pitched the book for those reasons. Characters, three dimensional. Real obstacles, emotional/physical.
The market would play a big factor. Amish romances are slowing. Now it’s Amish zombies in space… The author’s ability to turn a phrase, an original voice, a ‘that’just’wowed-me new concept on an old take… I would hold the phone and say, hey this is awesome.
For starving artists, the professional editors are spendy. Paying for editing on first MS, then sending to agent who requests edits, may require further edits… then the publishing house(s). That’s a poo-full of clams. I use every resource I can, but hands down, grammar… I hate.
The SLA is thus far the only agency that (hallelujah!)overlooked my commas and pfft, everything else grammar. Yay! Love you guys. A lot. I have had a zillion rejections, and keep them all, yay me… but they are learning experiences.
So, my question however, is — I do not want to nudge the agent at SLA after his requested edits were completed. It’s been about six months and as a first time author I remain without a clue as to how long to wait before a nudge. I count in first readers/reviewers, possibly an editing department (?) before it hits his desk. By the end of this month, I wonder if this is a rejection or I need more of God’s patience .
Claire
Claire, thanks for asking. Actually, Amish romance is doing very well!
I’m always glad to hear that our agency rocks! Yes, I think it’s okay to nudge. Hope it works out!
Hi Tamela – it did work, thank you for your answer, I didn’t want to break any rules. I’ve stopped biting my nails 🙂
By the way, love the SL agency. Oh, think I said that, but take heart. I’d love you guys even if I was rejected, there is so much awesomeness’ that comes from everyone, how could one not (Amish or not)?
C
🙂
Tamela,
thank you–I’ve been biting fingernails wondering if my MS would land in the queue again…
Appreciate the answer!
-C
Tamela,
I had exactly the same response and chuckle that Judi did when I read the headline for your post! It is reassuring that you don’t get rejected by your own agency!
I can empathize with Kristin Joy Wilks’s post relative to my multi-genre collection of rejection reasons. Lack of enough platform was one reason. Another was in-house conflict in the publisher for a particular profession: A board member offered a personal referral for two children’s books I had written. The editorial group invited me to meet them in person and discuss promotion, illustration, and international distribution. But instead of receiving the promised contract, I received an email from another board member saying they didn’t publish children’s books or fiction and wouldn’t publish mine. Wow! The editorial group and the board member who had provided the referral thought the house was ready for moving into those areas via my books, but someone with the power to veto the others’ decisions did not. What a weird, disappointing rejection–after an acceptance!
My historical novel series has been consistently rejected due to the historical context of the stories–the beginnings of Mormonism. Amish books are hugely popular, and their protagonists are actively involved in a non-mainstream faith tradition; Bethany House published solo books and a highly successful series by Marian Wells with a Mormon historical context in the early 2000s; and my books are only set in the context of the beginnings of Mormonism, not about Mormons themselves; but apparently that much still makes them untouchable. Controversial historical context was not a rejection reason I had considered. I actually thought that would be a good hook. ‘Sure was wrong!
And the invited proposal for the 12-week Bible study I researched, wrote, and taught was accepted IF I would combine the students workbooks, teacher’s notes, handouts, and 25-30 PowerPoint slides for each of the 12 lessons into one (BIG!) book. I chose not to do that: it would be a huge job, and I can’t imagine why anyone would buy a book like that. So I don’t know if they rejected me or I rejected them; but a rejection definitely took place. ;-D
Wow, what a journey! I know events such as you describe have happened more than once (two layers of a publishing house in disagreement over the future) so you are not alone.
Your persistence will pay in the long run, no doubt!
As much as I’m upset about the two rejections I’ve received, after reading through my book I realized that my book was not ready to be published! As you said in your reply to Loretta Edison, I am thankful for this rejection because I have taken the new look at my book, have sought feedback from other authors, and am continuing to work on it. You guys know what you’re doing, and your rejection (not yours personally, but any literary agent) only helps me see the flaws in my book and how I can improve. My book has taken a completely different journey because of the rejection. It’s better you reject it than I go through the process of publishing the book and it flops.
I’m still learning the lingo of publishers, authors, and literary agents, and I appreciate the support and the resources that your agency offers!