Hello All
I'm new to this forum and to publishing my work in general and just wondered if my (quite horrible) experience thus far, is usual.
I finally completed my novel last year and sent it away to my #1 choice literary agent (one of the "biggies"!). A person who I assume is their reader, contacted me shortly after saying that she had really enjoyed it and would like to see the whole book. I sent this away and was again contacted by the same person to say that she thoroughly enjoyed the book and would be submitting it to an agent... Months passed and I finally contacted her via email, only to have my query answered by the receptionist. She said that this person had left without tying up her loose ends, that my work had been submitted to an agent who decided that it wasn't suitable for her list, many apologies. The receptionist also informed me that the copy of my manuscript (for which an SAE had been provided for its return) had been lost! Given that this behaviour came from such an important agency, I feel especially disheartened about submitting my work again. Especially as finding an agent with an interest in my genre (Briget Jones-esque humour) is not an easy task.
Any advice for a newcomer?

Oh dear - this sounds like a case of the enthustiastic editorial assistant, trying to be helpful to everyone and perhaps making the mistake of contacting you when she should have waited, simply spoken to her boss, the agent, and then let matters take their own course. I may be wrong but it just rings of that... I used to work in a publishing house, many years ago, and we were all encouraged to look through the new manuscripts and give a view... but we weren't encouraged to become personally involved with the writers.

In my case, I sent to a big agency and the girl who opened the post was intrigued, handed it to my agent who luckily, also loved it. So if I ever get published I shall buy that girl a very large bottle of champagne.

As far as you case is concerned, keep submitting, keep positive... lot of published authors had countless rejections and unpleasant, hurtful experiences before they went on to find success.

Best wishes.

Sarah

Really bad luck, Ashley, but definitely don't give up! If the manuscript has caught the eye of one agent it may well catch the eye of another. The only other advice I can give is don't submit to just one Agent/Agency at a time, but send copies out in batches of half a dozen. Also, if the first agent is still in the business, albeit at a different agency, it might be worth tracking them down and resubmitting it to them along with the others.


- NaomiM

Yes, I'm sure SB is right, and it's really bad luck: a rejection's always worse if you've been given reason to hope. Allow yourself to be miserable and pissed off for a bit.
I'm not surprised you're feeling disheartened, but in a sense you're no worse off than if you hadn't heard anything except a rejection.

I know what you're saying about there not being many agents interested in a given subset of a genre, but you can dilute the agony by sending out samples to lots of people. It pays to do your research, but also to remember that there's a lot you can't second-guess about who might like what, especially perhaps when there's a new, hungry agent you haven't heard of. At least if you've got lots out there any one submission has less riding on it.

Very best of luck

Emma

<Added>

Crossed with Naomi!

Don't worry.
I think a few war stories will only add to the excitement when you do get an agent.
I recall one letter thanking me for my war manual - I write crime fiction - which still makes me laugh.
You'll be telling this one at dinner parties long after you've signed up with someone.

It's horrible isn't it? I've had squillions of rejections which one would think would tell me something (take up embroidery probably) but for some reason I find myself unable to give up peacefully. I think you should take this as a painful sign that you shouldn't give up either. At leaast one person really liked it, hopefully next time it will be someone more powerful who falls in love with your work.

Lots of luck,

Saturday

Would it be worth finding out where that enthusiastic reader moved on to? She may have moved onto a better position in another agency...

Sorry to be a pedant but it sounds like your reader is both disinterested and enthusiastic and your agent uninterested.
Sorry - pain in the arse.

Best
Sion

That's so annoying and unfair - but there's not much you can do except say 'oh well' and move on to the next submission. Get it out there now - don't get discouraged!