A great rejection from Threepenny review.

Dear Hettie,

I have considered this story very carefully and taken much longer than I usually take with it, because it is so much better than most of what we received -- a powerful voice, created with full authority, and interesting from the first sentence to the last.  But for some reason, in my numerous re-readings, it just never added up to a Threepenny story, so I am regretfully turning it down, in the certainty that you will find a good home for it elsewhere.  I hope you will send us more of your fine work; it is great to be hearing from a REAL writer who lives so far away.

All best,
Wendy

Wendy Lesser, The Threepenny Review

This is on their submissions page. ...You will get an email message when the online submission is received, and another email message when it is decided upon. Due to the large number of online submissions, it is not possible for us to reply individually to each one. We apologize in advance for the auto-replies.

so did I get an individual reply or not? no matter...I love it.

Here is there submission call out on writing career.

I must give them another go.

rejection in the nicest way from The Bent Agency

Dear Hettie,

Thanks so much for being in touch.  I’m flattered that you thought of me for this, but it just didn't quite strike a chord.  I do admire the quality of the writing and the execution and I’m sorry it wasn't a fit for me.

Very best,

Jenny
The Bent Agency
204 Park Place, #2
Brooklyn, NY  11238

My novel wasn't a good fit for them, but yours just might be? You gotta be in it to win it.

Ampersand Rejection

Just when I thought I'd had the best rejection evah!
Ampersand have gone and done it again.
What's gonna happen when I actually send a piece that they want?  Ampersand Books

Well, this a rejection note, but you wanted a great one. Now I feel self-conscious and not sure how to go about topping the one you got last time. 

Uh... honest reasons for rejection: 

1) I quit smoking a month ago and really have a hard time liking anything anymore. Most of the time I'm not even sure I like my wife. Coffee is still good, though. But without cigarettes, coffee doesn't make a lot of sense. 

2) I've read so many submissions I think I've forgotten how to read. 

3) Just finished two books just days before the deadline, but showing up at AWP without books to sell is still a possibility. (stressful). 

4) I have a 150 lb. dog I haven't been able to walk because she's been in heat. She punched me twice while reading your story. That might have something to do with it. 

Pretty good, huh? 

Cook 

About Ampersand Books/review/online

Ampersand Books is a madcap romp through literature’s unexplored basement, a heroic quest to its highest peaks, a gasoline-and-banana smoothie. Our books are nuns in thongs and dogs playing poker, gallows humour and deathbed confessions, honest country preachers with that con-man’s smirk. Our books are celebrations of the written word, explorations of the written world, concentrating on fiction, the short story, Bloody Fine Chapbooks, and the critically acclaimed literary magazine, The Ampersand Review, available both in print and online.

The nicest rejection I've ever had.

this has to be the nicest rejection I have ever had. It is witty and shows above all things that the editor actually read my piece. Hurrah.
Thanks Ampersand Review.


Hettie,

First off, let me apologize for the tardiness of this reply.  We've tried to come up with some good excuses for the lag time in replies, because the truth is so prosaic and has nothing to do with the Mossad: we just got carried away publishing books, and the litmag is always the first thing to suffer.

We also have to apologize for making this long-awaited note nothing more than a rejection.  We really did enjoy "A Charitable Act," especially the way the tragedy crept in.  And, you're right: the style is just what we like, but we seem to have been in a mood to like that kind of thing a bit much lately.  We've already accepted a few pieces with a similar monologue tone, and there are already a couple of dead kids.  Often, rejections have little or nothing to do with your work itself and are more a result of things outside anyone's control.

It's a shame we don't have beer wires yet.  I'm sure Apple will fix that pretty soon.  As soon as they do, I'm putting Australia in charge of getting the whole world drunk.

Thanks for letting us read your work, and sorry again about the wait.

Cook

Editor

Ampersand Books

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the New Yorker gets cracking

The New Yorker has an email submission process. It is sooo much easier than the ol' letter writing days.
And
the bonus is that you get a reply, albeit a rejection for my effort. They take three months the submission editor says and I submitted on the 28/11/10 and received my reply today true to their word give or take a day.



Dear Kerry,

We regret that we are unable to use the enclosed material. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to consider it.

Sincerely,

The Editors

Rejection after a second look

One goes to all sorts of trouble to get the query just right. And although the rejection is pro forma I didn't even get a DearKerry.

Kerry,

Thank you again for your interest in Wendy Sherman Associates. We've reviewed your pages and enjoyed your writing style but, unfortunately, we've decided your novel is not right for our list at this time. As you know, this is a very subjective business and to that end we wish you the best of luck in finding enthusiastic representation.

Best,

Vicky

rejection in less than 24 hours.

Talk about a turnaround. Thanks Stephen for being so prompt. No waiting!

Hey there Kerry,

Thanks so much for giving me a shot at Literary Licence. I’m sorry to say that I wasn’t connecting wholeheartedly with your writing, despite its many charms, so I ought to step aside, but I truly appreciate the look, and I wish you the best of luck!

Sincerely,
Stephen
Stephen Barr
Writers House, LLC.
21 West 26th Street
New York, NY 10010
212-685-2400 x 140

sbarr@writershouse.com

Rejection in the new year

this is one of those form letters but they have tried to deceive the author into thinking it is personal. If that is the case they should have put my name.
Not very professional if you ask me. Although it only took 4 months for a reply.

Dear Writer,

Thank you for querying me about your manuscript. While this is certainly a compelling premise, unfortunately the manuscript is not a strong fit with my tastes or client needs, as I do not represent projects in your genre.

I appreciate your interest in Upstart Crow Literary, and wish you the best of luck in your search for an agent and publisher. Keep writing!



Kindest Regards,

Danielle Chiotti

Upstart Crow Literary

rejection after 3 months.

Dear Ms. Ashwin,

Thank you for submitting Literary Licence to Serendipity Literary Agency. I sincerely apologize for the delayed response. While we really like the concept of your book, we’re afraid that we will not be able to offer you representation with our agency at this time.

Due to the number of submissions we receive, our agency is often not able to take on all clients who merit publication. While we believe that your ideas might have market appeal, we are not convinced that we could represent it successfully at this time.

We encourage you to continue to develop your work and we wish you the best of luck in all your writing endeavors. If, in the future, you wish to submit a new query, proposal, synopsis, or full-length manuscript, please feel free to do so.

Best,

Foladé Bell
Agent, Serendipity Lit

cheeky rejection of 5 words.

after all the trouble we go to to make a good query, the effort the angst and I get a 5 word reply. Cheeky to say the least. But it took less than 24 hours to reply. small comfort. no waiting about in hope.

Not for me-thanks anyway.
Paul S. Levine
literary agency

CONTACT

PAUL S. LEVINE by email: paul@paulslevinelit.com
Phone: Paul S. Levine: (310) 450-6711 (direct)
Fax: (310) 450-0181
Toll-Free Fax & Voicemail: (800) 883-0490

REJECTION FROM NEW YORK

Dear Kerry Ashwin,
Thanks so much for your query. Unfortunately, I fear I am not the right agent for this project, but I wish you much luck in getting LITERARY LICENCE published.
All best,
Caryn
Caryn Karmatz Rudy
Defiore and Company
47 East 19th Street, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10003
T. 212.925.7744 Ext 115
F. 212.925.9803

ckr@defioreandco.com

Number 50 Submission

I have just sent off my 50th submission.
stats are
changed the query letter 5 times.
changed the MS 14 times, sometimes only a little bit but still...
have had 22 replies to my queries. Tutt tutt. I know we are only the little people but an email takes two secs.
since I changed my query I get more replies. It's a small victory I guess.
I still have a positive attitude. I might even go for the Guinness book of records for submissions and rejections.

a nice rejection, albeit standard

Aside from the spelling error, and god forbid I had a spelling error in my query, this is standard but with a feel good nuance.
Dear Ms. Ashwin

Thank you for giving us the chance to consider Literary Licensce.

Though I found much to admire in your writing and creativity, after careful consideration I feel that this project is not quite right for the agency. The fiction market is extremely tight these days, particularly for new or unknown writers, and I don't feel your book quite met the extremely rigorous standards needed to be published in today's difficult market.

As you know, however, these decisions are highly subjective and another agent or editor may have a completely different opinion from mine.

Again, I thank you for giving Martin Literary Management the chance to look at your work.









Kate Folkers

Literary Agent

Martin Literary Management LLC

321 High School Road NE, Suite D-3, #316

Bainbridge Island, WA 98110



kate@martinliterarymanagement.com

www.MartinLiteraryManagement.com

rejection again

this rejection comes with an apology. Nice!


Dear Author,

Many thanks for your email regarding your manuscript, which I am declining with my regrets.

Given the demands of running a boutique agency and continuing to best represent my current clients, I must make difficult decisions every day regarding what new projects I can sign. I appreciate your thinking of me, and wish you the best of luck in your search for representation.

Cheers,

Kate Schafer Testerman
Kate Schafer Testerman
kt literary, llc.
9249 s. broadway, #200-543
highlands ranch, co 80129
720-344-4728
kate@ktliterary.com
http://ktliterary.com


P.S. I apologize for this form letter and my lack of personalization, but I’m hoping that it will help me get closer to my desired response time of two weeks again.

rejection again

This took four days to bounce. It seems that when I submit from the Find an agent web site they always come back quick. I don't know if I am jumping the slush queue or what is going on but hell I like it. No hanging about. There and back in less time than it takes to write the darn query.
Just click on the title of the post to take you to Writers House.

Dear Kerry,



Thank you for your query. Dan Lazar asked me to reply after he evaluated your submission.



We’re afraid your project does not seem right for our list, but thank you for thinking of Dan, and best of luck in your search for representation.





Sincerely,



Stephen Barr

Assistant to Dan Lazar





Stephen Barr

Writers House, LLC.

21 West 26th Street

New York, NY 10010

212-685-2400 x 140

sbarr@writershouse.com

rejection lickity split

from the Claire Gerus Literary Agency. click on the post title to take you to her submission guidelines as per Publishers marketplace.

This came back in three days. At least I don't have to wait around for ever!

Thanks so much for thinking of us for Literary Licence! It has quite a novel plot! (Sorry, didn't mean to use that particular simile).

Alas, we are jam-packed with fiction right now; however, I do wish you best of luck in landing an agent!.
Claire

REJECTION FROM NEW YORK

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST. this agent is an aussie in new york and I thought well why not, the antipodean connection. but Catherine is straight to the point and I like that. Inkwell seems to have a good reputation and a good list of agents and authors. click on the title of the post to take you there. good luck.
Dear Kerry,

Thanks for your query. I’m afraid this isn’t for me.

Good luck,

Catherine


Catherine Drayton

Literary Agent

InkWell Management

521 Fifth Ave

New York, NY 10175

catherine@inkwellmanagement.com

www.inkwellmanagement.com

REJECTION IN 5 DAYS

this came back quick.
Thank you so much for your query letter. This isn't quite right for me but thank you for thinking of my agency. I wish you the best of success!

Sincerely,

Sally van Haitsma
van Haitsma Literary
204 N. El Camino Real, Suite E-431
Encinitas, CA 92024

another quickie.

Once again this bounced back in 24 hours. I found both these agents in the same blog and I can only guess they are on the ball.
Click the title of the blog post to take you there

August 20, 2010



Dear Author:

Thank you so much for sending the Nelson Literary Agency your query. We’d like to apologize for the impersonal nature of this standard rejection letter. Rest assured that we do read every query letter carefully and, unfortunately, this project is not right for us. Because this business is so subjective and opinions vary widely, we recommend that you pursue other agents. After all, it just takes one "yes" to find the right match.



Good luck with all your publishing endeavors.



Sincerely,

Kristin Nelson

Sara Megibow

Anita Mumm

Nelson Literary Agency

www.nelsonagency.com

GOOD OR REALLY BAD.

I sent my query off one day and received a rejection the next.
Either Wernonika is really on the ball or my query was so off the mark it just about bounced!

once again just click on the title to take you to her blog.

Dear Kerry,

Thank you for your interest in D4EO Literary and for writing me about LITERARY LICENSE.

I regret to say that I don't feel I am the most appropriate agent for your work. Considering the subjective nature of the business, I hope that you will find someone who thinks differently, and I wish you the best of luck in your search for representation.



Cordially,


Weronika


---

Weronika Janczuk

D4EO Literary Agency

weronika@d4eo.com

www.weronikajanczuk.com

www.d4eo.com

651-399-3780