Though we’re still behind, Renee and I have been doing our best to get to all of your queries, and while it’s true we do use a form response, we absolutely look at every single one of them. How are we going to find a diamond in the rough if […]
rejections
9 posts
On Twitter yesterday, Penguin executive editor Anne Sowards posted “An offer I made was turned down. Everybody gets rejected.” And it’s worth reiterating — rejection isn’t just something that happens to authors. Rejection happens to agents, when we fall in love with a manuscript only to find the author already […]
We all know how the publishing process is supposed to go. You write a fabulous book, then land your dream agent, who sells your book to a publisher. A year later–voila! You’re a published author. Except, it doesn’t always work like that. Sometimes that first book never finds a publisher. […]
I wish this post was just off the cuff, and not in connection with anything I’m doing, but unfortunately, that’s not the case. The sad fact about publishing is this: not everyone is going to make it. Sure, in this technologically evolving world, you can take your manuscript that’s been […]
Really eye-catching shoes, but how do you walk in them? for Pablo, who wants to know, "What does it mean when an agent rejects a manuscript and says, 'I didn't make a strong enough connection with the manuscript to offer representation.'"
Chinese shoes for Susan, who writes, "I am writing a memoir about my marriage to a man from central China and have received requests for partials from a number of agents. And rejections from most of those agents. So in early June, I started working with a couple of editors to get my sample chapters in better shape. I've gone through 2-3 rounds of changes with each editor, both of whom I've paid and have said that the chapters have vastly improved. One agent has patiently been waiting for my samples since July, so I sent off 50 pages to him yesterday. My question is this: if this agent rejects my samples, do I query another agent and send the same samples, or do I go back to the editors and revise again?"
Bill asks, "How many unanswered or rejected queries should it take before a writer should assume the story ideal is not publishable?"
Rose shoes for Susan, who writes, "I'm trying to find an agent to represent my memoir about my time in China, specifically when I was married to a man from rural, central China. My query letter seems to be working: I've had half a dozen requests for my proposal or sample chapters after sending out only 20 letters. Of those requests, I've already received three rejections. Some agents think I need to broaden the scope of my readership and that a memoir about failed marriage to a guy from a completely different world won't sell. One suggested that I pitch it as a look into Chinese culture from the perspective of an American woman who becomes part of a Chinese family. Do you have any thoughts about that? Would a women-focused memoir sell? Or should I open it up to entice men to read it, too?"
What's the best (i.e. the worst and/or funniestand/) reasons you've heard or heard about for a book being rejected?