Well, got my first rejection letter to a query. It stings, it really does, but, knowing that every author goes through this, I just gotta stash that letter away and work on another agent. Here's to many more rejections and that just one will be a yes.
Nice! May it be the first of many -- because the only way to get published is to keep trying. Good luck!
kyle777, Just remember that you cannot succeed unless you first query/submit. Hang in there and good luck. Terry
Congratulations, Kyle. Keep it and frame it. You can hang it on your wall next to the dust jacket of your first published work.
Thanks everybody. Okay, got a quick question here, folks. If an agent asks for a query, a synopsis, and the first two pages, is the synopsis included with the letter? Is a synopsis a quick, one paragraph hook, or does it map out the entire story?
The query letter contains a mini-synopsis. When you look online most of them say it should just be a single paragraph. The synopsis I think you are referring to should can be anywhere from a page to five pages on average It should be more detail on the story. A more elaborate summary on the whole novel.
yup!... s-wo nailed it... the synopsis should be written in simple, but compelling present tense and include no dialog...
The synopsis must include the ending. Resist the temptation to leave the agent "wanting more" by withholding the outcome.
The first of many. Don't worry, it will only make the accepted feel that much better! Cheers, [also]Kyle
I am told you should be proud and excited about your first rejection letter - it means you are a real writer.
Wow, writing a synopsis is quite...difficult. Compressing the plot of a 127,000 word novel into two pages is no easy feat ...But it must be done.
I recieved my first rejection today so I'm in your club! Congrats, atleast we know someone actually read our letters.
You have a point, but I'm going on faith they read it since the letter said 'we read your submission and it's not what we are currently looking for but please keep shopping it around". So I'm hoping they are as honest and nice as they sound. Haha
you'll be lucky if it's only 4-8 weeks... many agents take much longer than that to reply... if they do... some don't, if they're not intersted, so don't hold your breath, if blue's not your best color... ;-) congrats for getting this far, anyway! hugs, m
Waiting is part of the business, and the suggested response time is often longer than what is listed. Waiting gets easier--and while you are, start a new project! Good luck. Terry
The first agents on my list are ones that mention they do read over and send back a reply, even a form rejection. I couldn't stand not getting a reply. By the way, has anyone heard of the Knight Agency? Just wondering as they were one of the first ones I sent out and I'm still waiting for a reply.
The Knight agency only accepts email queries. Did you submit it through email? They said they refuse paper. haha I submitted to them today, I'll let ya know if I hear back soon.
I submitted to them by email. They just have an abhorrently long waiting period. It's been more than two weeks now. Whew.
Nice site, maia. I've heard of it, just never used it. I think I'm definitely gonna run an agent by them before submitting.
use it to check publishers, workshops, and all the other entities listed there, too... the site also has a lot of good basic info that new writers should study...
