Just not for me/didn't grab me: 14
By far and away the biggest category. What you should take away from this is all those form rejections do not mean your writing sucks. It means you're just writing something that's not
my cup of tea. This is why you query widely. This is why you don't set your heart on one agent and think the world will end if s/he doesn't take you on.
The non-Chum Bucket reply would have been: form rejections
Not my category: 10
I get a lot of things that aren't my categories cause I've sold things that aren't categories I seek out or sign people for. This is why you look at what the agent is looking for in addition to what s/he has sold.
The non-Chum Bucket reply would have been: form rejections
Can't sell this: 4
I'm getting a little paranoid about how often I'm saying this cause I have this image of people saying "Janet Reid said she can't sell this" and about a zillion people thinking it means I can't sell anything. I'm not good at selling some kinds of books. Other agents are.
The non-Chum Bucket reply would have been: form rejections
Query improvement suggestions: 4
I made suggestions for improving queries to four people. I'm hoping they don't form a mob and come after me. This is where I often get in to trouble with authors. Unasked for advice isn't always received the way I hope.
The non-Chum Bucket reply would have been: most likely form rejections
Didn't want to read this: 3
Some of you are writing stuff that is so depressing it just makes me wonder how you got through the entire novel. I really really think characters have to be interesting and compelling, and depressed sad characters aren't that.
The non-Chum Bucket reply would have been: form rejections
Writing: 2
The writing just wasn't up to publication standards.
The non-Chum Bucket reply would have been: form rejections
Asked for more info: 2
A couple of queriers are repeat visitors and I needed more info.
The non-Chum Bucket reply would have been: NOT form rejections
Referral: 1
Not for me, but one of my colleagues should hear from you.
The non-Chum Bucket reply would have been: NOT form rejections
What is the book about?: 2
If you don't tell me what the book is about it's a rejection.
The non-Chum Bucket reply would have been: form rejections
This query is a mess to the point I said No: 1
These usually involve a plea to read the QueryShark blog.
The non-Chum Bucket reply would have been: form rejections sometimes bolding the link to QueryShark.
too short for category: 1
Novels generally need to run more than 60K and less than 120K. Anything outside
those guidelines gets a quizzical read. Most often I can see from the query or pages that the length is a problem in the writing, not the story.
The non-Chum Bucket reply would have been: form rejections
Marked up pages/revised query welcome: 1
Lousy query, pages in need of revision, GREAT concept.
I marked up the first 3 pages in track changes and sent them to the author.
This is where the "don't reply with invective rule" comes in.
I'm hoping it will be received as useful info. Fingers crossed.
The non-Chum Bucket reply would have been: form rejection
oops, I forgot to post this: REQUESTED FULL:2
The non-Chum Bucket reply would have been: request for full!
(this was 1 until noon today when a querier responded to my email asking for more info, and
I replied with a request for a full)
And before all you clever readers do the math, yes I know it adds up to more than 43. Some queries got help and a "not my cup of tea" reply.
0 Yorumlar