It has happened many times that I get a great story, full of believable characters, with good voice, and one that’s well-written. Sometimes I jump all over it and offer representation. Other times, though, I hesitate. These end up being the most difficult decisions for me. Why do I hesitate? Because this is the thought in my head: I really like this, but can I sell it?
In other words: Is there a larger market for this? What do I think? Will publishing houses agree with me and buy this?
And this is a very difficult thing to say for sure. TWILIGHT was rejected by a dozen or so agents because, I bet, most people didn’t see a market for teen vampire romance. They were wrong. Very wrong. In order to keep up on trends, I talk to editors and read publisher catalogs, follow publisher and librarian blogs, read industry publications, go to trade shows, the whole shebang. I also stop into every book vendor I see (from the neighborhood indie to big box stores to the airport) to browse and see what books are on the shelves there (what books that store is selling and keeping in stock because that store sees demand for those books). I see what queries I’m getting in and listen to rumors about the next big thing. Even with all this research, I don’t know everything that will succeed in the marketplace. Some books that I’m sure will sell, don’t. Other books that I’m iffy on, go to auction.
The most I have is an educated guess, a passion for the project and a gut feeling. It’s persuasive but not guaranteed. That’s what makes passing on a good manuscript a very difficult decision. Even if I love it, there’s still a voice in the back of my head: “Can I sell this project? Is there a market for it?” When my gut and my market knowledge tells me “no,” I tend to waffle and put the rejection off anyway. Because it is — technically — a good book, and I don’t want to let a talented writer go. But it’s that last detail of selling it to a publisher and eventually getting it into the hands of readers (you know, my job) that prevents me from taking on every single good book that comes into my inbox.
The great thing is, there are many agents with many different sensibilities. There are the types of (sad) agents who passed on TWILIGHT because they didn’t think they could sell it. Then there’s the one who took it on and is very much enjoying that decision. When I see a good book but decide that I can’t personally see a way to pitch it or imagine which editors will love it and buy it, there’s another agent out there who probably can.
It really does come down to that with the most difficult rejections I make. At those higher levels, the deciding factor is the fit and the passion. The projects I end up taking on are those that I’m 100% passionate about and think I can sell to publishers. A writer deserves nothing less from their representation. If I reject a great project, it’s usually because I’m not feeling confident and creative about the selling part. Someone else, though, might feel completely differently.
Now, that’s not to say that I’m hot to reject the next TWILIGHT. If anyone has that kicking around, please do send. 
Related posts:
Tags: Commercial, Paranormal, Rejection, Writing
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Thanks for addressing this issue! Rejection is the most bitter pill to swallow for me as a writer new to the publishing process.
But just because something is rejected, doesn’t mean it’s bad at all. Or poorly written, slowly paced, or a dire crime against humanity. It’s all about taste. I can walk into B&N, look at thousands of books, and still not find one that appeals to me, so why do I expect everyone to love my book as much as I do?
And it will make finding the right fit all the sweeter.
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I bet it’s so tough when faced with great work but the possibility of an inability to sell. . .
I like how you said it, “…educated guess, a passion for the project and a gut feeling.” I really think passion is important. If you’re not passionate about a project or a writers voice, how can you sell that?
Press on, my friend.
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I understand your dilemma. You never really know what people will buy or what the publishing houses think will sell. One thing I’ve noticed lately on the YA front is that if you ask YA readers, particularly of the teen market, what they’ll read/buy, it’s a lot different than what’s being published currently (aside from Twi-mania). It’ll always be a moving trend because people’s tastes change, too.
I think if the people had a say certain books wouldn’t be such a hard sell to the big houses and others wouldn’t be published at all. But again, it only takes one person to believe in someone’s work. After that, it’s a lot of luck…
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Excellent! By chance I blogged about this earlier today. http://helpineedapublisher.blogspot.com/2010/01/walk-like-editor-and-agent.html Hope you don’t mind if I include the link, but it is v relevant to your post and you are on my blogroll! In fact it was a commenter on mine who pointed out that you’d just blogged about it too. Are we all thinking about rejections at the moment?!
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So here’s a question that probably doesn’t have a very concise answer: Where is the line between ‘marketable’ and ‘been done’?
I’m getting supportive passes on my post-apocalyptic YA (as well as plain rejections) In one of supportive passes the agent told me that he already had a client working on a post-apocalyptic and he felt he had to remain devoted to them. He also said that my YA was ‘a great mix of smart and marketable’.
I understand the concept of ‘been done’. I surely didn’t write my YA because Hunger Games was a hit, I was working on mine before that came out. And of course, everyone wants to think their work is marketable. But even being passionately in favor of my own work, I just can’t say that there are enough post-apocalytic YAs out there to say that it’s ‘been done’. Not in my own opinion.
Look at all the vampire related topics on shelves today, and they’re STILL coming out, a good number of them as debut authors it seems. Hasn’t vampire/werewolves/and so on and so forth ‘been done’?
Where is the line? IS there a line? Or is it an illusion?
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Great post, Mary!
As a writer, it’s good to know rejections don’t JUST come from simple dislike, or writing that bores someone to tears. But my question to you, however, is this: if you love somone’s work/voice, but you don’t feel you can sell this particular project, do you tell them that’s why you’re rejecting it? Do you give them encouragement to find a topic to write about that you CAN sell, to potentially keep the line open?
As everyone here knows, most agents either don’t reply when they don’t want to represent your work, or they send a form rejection. I know I’ve asked you this before (and you did plan to post on it), but if you don’t know what’s broken — you don’t know what to fix. I for one — with my dream agent in mind — would write about a topic the agent would want, just so I could land them. If they believe in your work, why not!?
If only queries could have check boxes for the agent to respond to:
- Loved it! Let’s make a deal…
- Interested…but I need to see more
- Hated it! You’re writing needs work
- Really enjoyed, but it’s not marketable at this timeWhat do you think, Mary…can we start a new trend? lol. Yes, it’s Monday…and I’m starting my week off on a “hopeful” note.
)Brandi
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Brandi — This is actually very poisonous thinking. The best books come from a writer’s deep connection to a topic or story (unfortunately, it also does have to be marketable). So me telling a potential client what to write about or knowing that someone wrote a project because they thought it’d interest me is a huge no-no. That project’s not going to have any passion in it because it didn’t come from the writer. I don’t even tell my clients what to write. If they bring me several ideas, I tell them which ones sound most saleable, but the idea has to be theirs.
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A — Will do a post about this.
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Back to your original post Mary – when we do send you the next Twilight, which I personally am hoping is going to be a soulful, pastlife psychic realm hopping romance:), God help the writer who breaks the cardinal rule of query letters -never compare your work to someone else’s, i.e. never mention the T word or any other book title in your query. The work we query must stand on its own and its our job in our query letters to show how it is marketable all on its own, right?
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Great Post. Again emphasizes how subjective this process truly is. I for one don’t get the whole Twilight phenomenon, but obviously I’m in the minority.
-NAP
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Terri — Here’s a link to a post on the topic:
http://kidlit.com/2009/11/16/comparing-yourself-to-other-writers-in-a-query/
You can talk about anything in your query but yes, do try and differentiate your project from others in the market and give reasons why it will succeed, if you can. Also, a huge part of the query is to pitch the story itself and to MAKE ME CARE about it. I will never get tired of saying that.
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As much as it stings, it is much better to have an agent reject you for the right reasons than take you on for the wrong ones. I was just reading on Guide to Literary Agents about how author Heather McCorkle had to part ways with an agent because they took her on but weren’t ready for her stuff. What a depressing roller-coaster ride!
I’d much rather have an agent take me on only if they were confident they could sell my work.
Thanks for a great post, Mary!
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Interesting discussion. On the flip side of this topic, what if a manuscript is lacking a little in one aspect of the writing (obviously not so bad as to make it automatically rejected), but is really marketable, how likely are you to take it on? Or does a truly marketable project need to have all those writing aspects done perfectly right away for you to consider it? I imagine this varies from agent to agent, but I wondering about your thoughts, Mary.
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Katie — This is definitely a consideration, of course. Publishers can only publish so many literary masterpieces a year (what my personal taste leans toward), and a lot of their bread and butter — as well as an agent’s bread and butter — is the big commercial book with the more “fluffy” writing. I will work with a writer whose craft might not be all there if their work is really commercial. When I got started, this is the best advice I got: “Represent those clients whose work you love and whose writing you are really excited about, of course, but represent those clients whose work you like and whose writing you are really excited to sell, too!”
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I tried to write what I thought would be a ‘marketable PB.’ Even though the result was a relatively good story, I still don’t like it enough to even bother polishing a query so i can try to land an agent with it! I think I’d rather be rejected for work that I love than try to produce the kind of stuff I don’t even bother to check out of the library. Yes, I probably will die poor and unpublished. But I’ll have remained true to my passion, darn it!
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Thanks for your passionate and inspiring post. It’s nice to know that rejection is hard on all ends!
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Thank you for posting this, Mary. I wish I knew how to send you a manuscript with “perfect fit and passion for Mary Kole” stamped all over it, all over every page, every single page.
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I’m sure some agents passed on, Twilight because it wasn’t written all that well, even though it was an interesting premise. When it went through my fifth-grade class like wildfire, I decided to see what the fuss was about. After reading the first book, I could see the fuss, but wished it didn’t drag on and have so much repetition. By the second book, I didn’t see the appeal at all.
I guess it’s good that I’m not an agent.
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Gail — I appreciate your kind words but do go up and read my comment to Brandi, above.
Theresa — Shh. I am specifically trying to avoid saying that TWILIGHT is poorly-written. Because I know that if it came to my inbox, I would’ve probably passed, laughing, after the first ten pages.
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Hi Mary,
I was just wondering, like Brandi: do you tell the author exactly why he or she is being rejected in a case like this one? Thanks!
Juliette -
Juliette — In these cases, yes, I do go into more specifics. If you receive a form rejection, that means, 99% of the time, that the writing isn’t strong enough. If I do take a really close look at your work, I do go into more detail. Most of these difficult rejections also come after I look at a full, and those rejections always have more detail in them.
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Hi Mary.
I do apologize if I hit the wrong nerve with my comment earlier. We all work/write/create differently. I’ve worked in PR and Marketing for 13-years, so I’m one of those people who is given a subject/idea daily, and I have to write about it. For me, I’m passionate about writing, not just the subject. I do understand what you’re saying, but there are those of us who can write about ANYTHING if we want to. I don’t think it’s a bad thing to want to write something you know an agent is looking for, if you feel you would truly connect and work well together. The working relationship is just as important as the writing.
At the end of the day, we’re all doing our research, trying to find our dream agent. So I would hope, at the same time, we also feel passionately about what the agent represents. I certainly wouldn’t query an agent who’s looking for the next best erotica book out there, and write it simply because they ask for it. The agents “I” query, represent ONLY genres I like — or would write myself.
Sometimes, inspiration comes from unlikely, or suprising places. Sometimes, hearing someone say, “I’d LOVE to find the next TWILIGHT”, will give a person an idea for a book they’ll love more than anything else they’ve ever written. You just never know.
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Brandi — Sure. I just find that the best stories come from something deeply personal for the author. TWILIGHT was the story Stephenie HAD to write. It’s this personal connection that usually gives rise to strong voice. At least for breaking in with your own work, I think that’s important. And for me, as an agent, the writing is hugely important, and only then do I even begin to think about a working relationship with the person. Relationship is important, don’t get me wrong, but I can’t sell an editor on my great working relationship with the client. I sell the book and the writing.
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I love it when agents list things they specifically like. And especially if they have a wish list like you have. Then it’s a better feel for what they like and what they think they can sell.
There is probably no nice way to say it’s not marketable. I know I didn’t want to know when I’ve been told. It’s like being told your son or daughter is stupid and will never make it into college. These are people’s babies they’re putting out there, they care about the book regardless if the world does. I know I’d smack a stranger if they told me my babies were ugly or stupid. So I suppose it is best when agents just say “not for me” when selling is the problem because someone else might have just the right vision for it later. If you as an author think there’s something wrong with it beyond salability, hire a savvy set of eyes.
Kate diCamillo is another one that had “unique” books that many agents felt they couldn’t sell.
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Mary, I completely understand. The series I’m working on is driving me nuts until I get it out of my head. It’s consumed my entire life (no joke) for a year. Will I be as passionate about my next project? Maybe not to the same extreme as this one, but I’ll still love it — because it’s coming from my heart, even though the idea was inspired by someone else.
One day, I’d love to be one of those people who’s writing/voice you connect with….even if you don’t think the material is something you could market just yet. And no matter what…I will still strive to do so.
I’ve got nuttin’ but love and respect for ya, Mary — which is why, like many here, you’re my dream agent!
Brandi
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While you have to offer based on the book that’s in front of you, I think a lot of “first books” never sell. I signed with an agent based on a book that didn’t sell after several submissions and is sitting solidly in a drawer today. Luckily, I had more than that book in me, and we sold Dirty Little Secrets a year later.
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Cynjay — Very good point. But I bet your agent believed that your first book would sell… based on the fact that it went out on submission a few times. I know that a lot of first books don’t sell, but I offer and submit and believe anyway, because that manuscript has so much potential. And if something doesn’t sell, I hold out for that client’s next project. But I will not take anything on that I don’t sincerely believe could sell, and I don’t put my name on anything I submit to an editor that I’m anything less than proud of.
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Great post! I was hoping to finish revisions on the next Twilight
in order to enter your contest this month — not sure I’ll make it but if not, I’ll look for the next contest. Thanks so much for all the great, informative info you post here. -
So it all comes down to the fit and the passion? Same with finding a good man!
Jeni -
isn’t there a fine line between “I think I can sell this” and “This is safe”? I’m not sure what the difference is between doing something Different and doing something that’s unsellable.
good, solid writing clearly isn’t enough, is it? the manuscript has to possess some mysterious “spark” that catches just the right agent/publisher, doesn’t it?
…
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I’m just wondering. If the work really is good, do you tell the writer why you said no and ask to see their next project or just send the usual rejection letter?
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I imagine, even doing your best to research and monitor trends, there’s going to be that manuscript yet to be discovered or taken on by a agent that will be the one to START the trend.
In that case, it I guess the agent has to go with their gut and if the writing is strong and compelling enough, take a chance and be pleasantly surprised to luck on to the next Twilight-current trend in evidence or not.
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Jeni — The relationship comparison is strangely accurate, one I often make.
Fivecats — It’s really hard to answer because, at that point, it really is all about that unique manuscript and that unique person considering it. But yes, I’d argue that special spark and “x-factor” are going to play a huge part. Why write something without spark?
Jodie — As mentioned, I do go into quite some detail at this stage and, yes, do usually open the door for them to submit again with another project.
June — This is one of the big considerations. “If there’s no market for this right now… COULD there be?”
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I just wanted to say–thank you. This post is an encouragement to all of us out there who know our writing is good, but perhaps are not writing in the vein of what is hottest right this very second. Thanks for giving us the hope that someone, somewhere, will see how our project can work. If we just keep at it.
Thanks.
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Mary.
I’m so glad you addressed this. It makes perfect sense that agent only take on projects they adore. Conversely, why would an author want an agent if they agent didn’t love their work?
Rejection is tough. But it’s not always a bad thing. Sometimes, feedback from a rejection illuminates flaws that need to be addressed.
I’m grateful for every rejection with a scrap of insight.
After all, “getting published” is not my endgame focus. Yes, publishing a book is a goal. But…I’m interested in growing and learning enough to write something worthy of a place on the shelf. Someday, if I accomplish the impossible, I’ll look back and be grateful for the rejections which helped me improve.
It’s all good. Enjoy the journey, right?
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I received solid advice when I first started down Query Road: your work is not your baby, it’s your product. It’s your work product, period.
Rejection is a given, regardless of effort, craft, story. So, the sooner a writer de-romanticizes the process, the better.
It’s not personal, it’s business.
Looking at the query process this way takes out the sting, and in doing so, keeps a writer able to keep subbing even through the rejections.
That’s what I found to be hardest: the day-in, day-out belief in yourself in the face of professional rejection.
Great post.
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Great post, Mary, and excellent points. I’ve been writing for two years off of a high from a “nice” rejection that followed these lines. Personalized rejections – the next best thing
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I agree with an earlier post– how did Twilight get so popular? And since I’m on that topic, people say Stephanie Meyer is a horrible writer. So I guess this means that young adults care more about storytelling than writing. I think this is something that literary agents should think about more before they reject someone.
I also heard that some agents are rejecting great work just because of word count. It doesn’t seem that quantity should be more important than quality. And by the way, I heard Twilight started out as 130,000 words…way over the normal for a YA novel…
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Leiann — I’d like to pop in and remind that TWILIGHT was a complete fluke. Notice how we’ve had only two literary phenomenon in the last more-than-a-decade: HARRY POTTER and TWILIGHT. The hooks for both — boy in wizard school and forbidden romance between teen and vampire — are what sold them. For the most part, manuscripts that have a high word count are grossly overwritten, hence the high wordcount. And just because a hit has a writing style that’s not very literary, doesn’t mean that we should try and put MORE poorly-written work into the marketplace. Again, everyone knows about TWILIGHT because it’s a one-in-a-billion phenomenon. What applies there doesn’t apply to every book and I’d hate to see people using TWILIGHT’s wordcount or writing quality as an excuse to not do their best work. It is mistaken to assume that rejections are quick or careless. They’re not.
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Mary, I have to say, your TWILIGHT comments are making me feel all sparkly.
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Bane — Somebody open a window and clear the air… bad TWILIGHT joke!
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Hi Mary,
I understand better about saying no to great books after I participated in a writing contest. We had to choose our top favorite stories. There were a ton of entries, and I got to where a piece had to GRAB me on the first sentence.
I kept saying to myself this must be what editors and agents do.
So now, when my next decline comes in, I’ll understand a bit better. And I’ll keep sending my queries out and keep writing.
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Jean Ann — Being on the “other side of the desk” is truly one of the most important, and humbling, experiences a writer can have. Their piece of writing — or the writing of their critique group and published books, of course — is usually all they know. But to see what an editor or agent sees — hundreds of manuscripts a week, thousands of manuscripts a year — is really eye-opening. I’m so happy you had that experience.
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Thanks for your honesty. I had never thought of an agent liking a project that she had to pass on. The marketplace is the ultimate decision maker, and I respect your ability to make those tough decisions.
Great post!
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It’s comforting to know that being rejected doesn’t mean I’m a bad writer. I always fear that I’m like one of those people on American Idol who can’t understand why the judges are laughing. I don’t want to be that person! I just have to keep looking for that agent who will be my perfect fit.
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What is a writer to do when and agent really enjoys their work but passes? Obviously a form rejection tells you you’re way off the mark. If you are rejected because of an issue with the writing you can look at fixing it. But a rejection because the agent doesn’t connect with the story leaves a lack of direction. Do we leave our work as is and search for other agents? Do we assume the MS isn’t marketable and scrap it? Do we consider submitting other another Ms to that agent in the hope it will be a better fit? And, if we did submit to that agent again (and got accepted) would he/she pitch the stories the he/she already passed on? If the agent works for a house we really respect, do we query a different agent there with a future MS because they might be more passionate about our work?
Yes, these are the questions that rattle around in my head when I should be sleeping.
I would appreciate your take on what the next step in the process is.
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Michele — Lots of questions. Will do a post about this, but probably not until February.
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Thanks Mary ; )
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Dear Mary:
Delilah says that rejection is the worst part of her writing experience. I say, to her, wait until you’ve been rejected for forty-five years, and then complain.
Thanks,
Sumner Wilson
Great News!
Client Books: Picture Books
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WHEN BLUE MET EGG by Lindsay Ward (February 2012, Dial/Penguin)
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