Note to All Writers

  • By: Jessica Faust | Date: Apr 01 2010

I will not return your phone call simply to give you detailed advice of why I rejected your proposal, especially when I have no idea why I rejected your proposal, because I only have a very vague recollection of said proposal at best.

So please stop calling.

Jessica

22 responses to “Note to All Writers”

  1. JustineDell says:

    Okay, I'll stop calling. Kidding. Once again, I can't believe people actually do this sort of thing. Geez.

    ~JD

  2. Donna Lea Simpson says:

    Writers need to stop taking rejection so personally. One rejection means ONE person didn't think they could sell your book.

    Sheesh! It doesn't even mean the agent/editor didn't like it, just that they weren't crazy enough about it to sell it.

  3. Yvonne says:

    Sure glad you aren't talking to me.

  4. Debra L. Schubert says:

    But, I was just calling to get your home address so I could knock on your door and ask you in person during your private time why you rejected me. Is that so wrong?

    Goodness, people, get a life. Like sh*it, rejection happens. A lot. Get over it and move on.

  5. Steph Damore says:

    Debra, you're too funny.

    Writers, accept the rejection and move on!

  6. this writer says:

    I never called. I read your rejection, thought it wasn't meant to be between us, and went out and found an agent.

  7. Melissa Sarno says:

    I always find these kinds of posts hilarious. At least these outrageous people make me feel like I have a leg up on the competition πŸ˜‰

  8. Kate Douglas says:

    Thank you. I really, REALLY needed this this morning! Sheesh…would chocolate help?

  9. Fawn Neun says:

    I've had first dates like that. At least they're not tapping on your window at 2 am because you were dumb enough to let them know where you live….

  10. Ms A says:

    If I've reworked my query letter to the point where it is now an entirely different letter with much better substance, can I resend it?

    I don't want to fall into the camp of those people who just don't get it, but I really like you as an agent and would love it if I could give it another swing.

    I promise I'll take a second rejection at face value(should that be the case). If it makes it any more appealing, version two of my letter has already gotten a few responses from real live agents asking for pages.

  11. jjdebenedictis says:

    Well, it is April Fool's day. You have to expect to hear from a few fools. πŸ˜‰

    ~~~~~~~

    Ms A
    She rejected your book, not your query letter. If the query has been rewritten but the book has not, then you're probably wasting her time re-sending the query.

    I'm smiling though, because I know exactly how you feel. We all get that impulse to re-try our dream agents. Best of luck in your querying. πŸ™‚

  12. Aimless Writer says:

    Does this mean you won't give personal critiques to all 9 Bazillion queries you get each week?
    WWWwhhhhhaaaaa!

  13. Kimberly Kincaid says:

    It never ceases to amaze me what people out there in queryland will actually do! And I'm your basic newbie at this- still querying myself. Wow.

    Ms. A- don't fret and congrats on the nibbles for your pages. I was in this exact same boat a few months ago, and it *is* disappointing when someone that you respect and admire declines. In my humble experience, the earlier poster who said that unless you've re-worked your MS, you probably won't get far is dead-on. I re-queried and still got a no, thanks. Doesn't mean it will happen to you, of course, but other sgents have since expressed interest. So keep working πŸ™‚

    Nice to see I share that boat with a fellow writer!

  14. Kimberly Kincaid says:

    That would be querying, myself…

    If I queried myself, do you think I'd get any better results?! πŸ˜‰

    Oh, it's the end of the week!

  15. scarlettprose says:

    I keep getting collect calls from the county jail. I'll trade you, Jessica.

  16. Barbara Ann Wright says:

    But what if we whine a lot? Whining helps, right? C'mmmmmoooooonnnnnn. Ah, c'mon!

  17. Stephanie says:

    Wow!! I can't believe writers actually call you!!! Yikes! That takes a lot of brass….and I don't mean that in a good way!

  18. Anonymous says:

    I guess I'm the lone person to disagree with the commenters, but I found your post to be extremely condescending and needlessly snappy. I've read you faithfully for over a year now and it just made me think, wow, this agent is not a nice lady. And for the record, no, I have never dared to call an agent. Pity anyone who makes that mistake!

  19. Cynthia Reese says:

    Oh, no, they didn't.

    How can people be so DUMB?? My condolences, not just to you, but to ALL agents and editors who have to endure this.

  20. Carol J. Garvin says:

    And a Happy April Fool's Day to you, too, Jessica. πŸ™‚

  21. Anonymous says:

    I don't think I would want to have representation from this agent. Her posts always sound as if she's on her period.

  22. Mary McDonald says:

    Wow! People actually do that? *mindboggle*