Most rejections make you feel like you were wasting your time and money posting the thing in the first place. When I see the same photocopied slip again and again I really wonder if it is worth sending anything new to them. But I've had some rejections that are so positive they not only make you feel better about your work, but that here is an agent who definitely looked at the manuscript. Those people are worth keeping a note of.

Colin M

I got a typed positive response from The Third Alternative magazine. Another story got exactly the same response, word for word, and that was disheartening.

There is something insincere about it, that sticks in the craw.

JB

I got that typed positive response too, from The Third Alternative!

Frances

Sucks, doesn't it?

JB

It said something like "Although there is much to admire..." - ah and I really believed they meant it!

Frances

Yep, exactly right. Much to admire my arse!

jb

Like the experience of most others rejections by post do seem to be the standard - I have had one expression of interest/request to see more material by mail, but all the other more positive responses I've had have been by phone - fairly short calls saying "I really like what I've seen so far, could you send in the full manuscript" .... then the silence returns. And then the return to mail communication - I got quite a long way with PFD last year, and ended up with a long, written "we liked it but it's not quite there" response packed with useful tips. I had a shorter but still positive written post-full-manuscript rejection from Michele Topham at Felicity Bryan and something similar by post from Laura Cecil. The agent who I've gone a lot further with (and who fingers crossed seems to be heading to signing - not naming names until the happy day) swiftly moved on to phone and e-mail contact - she phoned again yesterday to set an appointment to come in. I'm doubly trebly encouraged as publicly this agency is stating their list is full... so digits are all crossed.

I can't overstate the need for patience ... the agent I am going in to meet in three weeks time first made contact to request an m/s in October last year....

my first agent phoned me. my current agent phoned me.

a week is not a long time to wait...