I just got a great rejection. I know, rejections suck, but in this case it was complimentary. The agent said it was a “fun, fast-paced read,” but she just wasn’t “excited enough about the voice” to move forward. Sure, it’s a rejection, but it’s a rejection that makes me feel good. A “fun, fast-paced read”Continue reading “A Good Rejection”
Category Archives: Rejections
Reporting from the Query Wars
Queried: 38 Agents, 3 publishers Form Rejections: 30 (28 Agents, 2 publishers) Requests for Partials: 5 (all agents) Personal Rejections: 3 Still out: 3 Agents, 1 Publisher Neither publisher got past the slushers, near as I can tell. And that’s okay; I expected that. I haven’t had a partial request since last summer, which isContinue reading “Reporting from the Query Wars”
Novel Attack Plan
I’m still working on The Widening Gyre, Book 1 of The Remembrance War. Looking at my stats, I’ve sent it out to seventeen agents. Of those, six did not respond at all, which is the annoying way to say “no, thanks.” Eight responded with form rejections, for a total of 14 outright rejections. Three agents asked forContinue reading “Novel Attack Plan”
Angry Robot Result
Spoiler: They said no. Got my rejection today. Here it is, in its form-letter glory: Thank you for sending us “The Widening Gyre: The Remembrance War Book 1”. The Robots really appreciated the chance to read it, and thank you for taking the time to submit it to this year’s Open Door. Unfortunately, this bookContinue reading “Angry Robot Result”
Just checking in
If you didn’t hear it through other channels, the agent who requested pages passed on the project. I spent about twelve hours crushed, because the agent in question was Sara Megibow, who is awesome in many ways, and I was really hoping she’d share my enthusiasm for the book and want to work with me.Continue reading “Just checking in”
Even Good News Can Make Me Itch
So this morning I saw I had an email back from one of the agents to whom I still have active queries out (no names; it seems unethical to say who they are here). I had a mixed reaction to seeing the email there; all I could see of the message was the same genericContinue reading “Even Good News Can Make Me Itch”
Checking in from Queryland
My novel has now gone out to a total of 9 agents. That’s really not many at all, but I’m holding now until I hear back from a few more. Otherwise I get overwhelmed. Also, doing research on good prospects takes time. Setting aside the obvious bad idea scam agents, there are some agents who areContinue reading “Checking in from Queryland”
State of the Teacher/Writer/Father
Teacher One of the frustrating things about teaching–and there are many frustrating things–is that I am often working with students who have a completely different set of values than my own. I’m really really good at connecting to students who come from a similar class background to mine–middle class or higher. But I’m somewhat less good at connectingContinue reading “State of the Teacher/Writer/Father”