Comments on: Rejection Follow-Up Part 3

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By: Lisa

Lisa — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:59:26 +0000

Thank you for this and for your other posts. They have been most helpful.

By: Julia Boyce

Julia Boyce — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:29:52 +0000

I could leave a comment on every entry on KIDLIT.COM. What a wonderful resource. Thank you so very much for opening up and sharing your process, feelings, likes, and dislikes.

Julia Boyce

By: Kris

Kris — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:42:25 +0000

I quite agree with your post. There are so many different websites and organisations that offer support that, with a little effort, new writers can find. I’ve lived in three different countries now, and in each one of them I was able to find very valuable critique groups and local organisations offering free (or fairly inexpensive) support and advice. It just takes a little effort.

I enjoy your posts. Thank you.

By: Jean Ann Williams

Jean Ann Williams — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 01:02:52 +0000

When I first began sending out my work years ago, I did not understand why an editor would not tell me the reason for the decline. By the time I started querying agents, I understood.

I’ve worked hard to get this far. My time is valuable. Agents/editors work hard and their time is valuable. I get it that people can not work for free.

I’m grateful for even one line of “what did not work for me” in a decline from agents. I’ve compared notes and if many are saying the same thing, I’ve revised.

Really like your blog, Mary. Thanks for all you do here.

By: Lisa Gibson

Lisa Gibson — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:46:10 +0000

I think it’s presumptuous of an author to ask anything after a rejection. The author needs to behave in a professional manner and move on. Either query someone else or take a hard look at their query letter and ms. Just my humble opinion. Your blog is always such a great source of information.
~Lisa

By: Mary

Mary — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 01:54:57 +0000

Tara — I try to give advice where I can, but usually not to follow-ups to a form rejections. One time, I sent a form rejection and the man called me a minute later to ask a question. I answered his question, then he emailed me to ask the same exact question. Anyway, that’s the day I took my phone number out of the signature I use to correspond with writers. Another writer didn’t like my answer, so he wrote a thinly-veiled rant about me on his blog. It’s just too difficult to trust that people will take helpful advice as constructive, not destructive, so I really can’t do as much as I’d like.

By: Tara McClendon

Tara McClendon — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:48:59 +0000

I know an agent who was kind enough to respond to a request for information from a fellow writer. Only she didn’t like his answer, and so she followed up again. And again. Finally, the agent had to be very frank with her. Let’s just say his patience and his advice wasn’t respected.

By: @jmartinlibrary

@jmartinlibrary — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:59:59 +0000

WOW. You are so nice to give any feedback at all.

In the past, if an agent has given me encouragement/feedback/critique/advice on a full or partial, I respond with a quick “thank you, I really appreciate your time.”

But, now I’m second guessing myself. I’m probably just wasting MORE of an agent’s valuable time by saying “thanks.”

Argh!

There’s a fine line between being appreciative/gracious and being a pest, I guess.

By: Margo Kelly

Margo Kelly — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:31:50 +0000

Lack of knowledge, inexperience, naiveness… many writers simply don’t understand the process.

When the writer’s mother, brother, husband, children tell(s) her the manuscript is great and then she gets rejected, the mother (especially) will say, “Can’t you ask that big ol’ mean agent what was wrong with your wonderful story?” If the writer is naive, she might just ask the agent.

However, if a writer has done any research at all (and hopefully stumbled upon your blog as I did), they’ll know better and not ask the agent to “hold their little author hands or dole out the milk of human kindness” (pretty sure I read that on therejectionist.com).

Anyhow, Mary, you have gone above and beyond helping writers for free not only with your blog, but also with your contests and responses to individual email questions.

I thank you. The check is in the mail. (kidding on kidlit…)
Margo Kelly
http://www.margokelly.net