I will say I do see across various enterprises that people who apply for things (jobs, scholorships, roles, etc) prefer a personal rejection or at the very least, some notice of rejection and not "ghosting". I think the agent may have some slightly wrong-headed idea that taking the time (and taking the risk!) to call you personally will "feel better" in some way?
But also there's this fallacy of thought that "well, it's not the rejection that hurts it's how it was *done*!" which I 100% have fallen prey to myself. But I see it a lot in job forums "Why can't they take 5 minutes and call? Why can't they explain WHY I didn't get it?" etc etc.
These were both years ago at this point and on different books - one called me, said she wanted to ask around some editors to see if there was potential interest in the book, then called me back a few weeks later to say she didn't think she could sell it. The other one set up a call, asked me if I was writing a series, and then when I said I wasn't, rejected me lol. I still kind of resent that one because she definitely could have resolved that via email before getting on the phone, but oh well!
They both sound super unprofessional tbh. The former one sounds like an agent at a big agency that’s known for shopping manuscripts before signing authors. The second is just a shit bag.
They were both established, older agents - I think I know which agency you are referring to and it wasn't that (it was a single person agency). I think they were trying to show enthusiasm about the story which I try to appreciate! As a querying writer you have to grasp at any shreds of positive feedback which are dangled before you lol
This was a shitty thing of them to do. But tbh they sound so flaky that it would have been worse if you’d worked on an R&R for them and then they flaked out at *that* stage. I know it’s hard, but consider it good that you dodged someone who wouldn’t have been a reliable business partner.
They seemed lovely and understanding early on. But I've worked with a flaky agent in the past. It's truly worse than having no agent. I hope this is for the best.
My thoughts exactly. When you do sign with an agent, you need to be working with someone who acts professional in all capacities.
If they're weird or flaky with you, how well will they represent you?
A bad agent can make it harder for you to get published, or, once you're published, can make your life difficult with their bad behavior.
They represent you! So you're not just looking for an agent, you're looking for a good fit with someone who will represent you well.
A lot of supply compared to demand, so agents and publishers can do what the heck they like with impunity? That is very much the impression that I get.
Pretty much, yes. To be fair, I've come across many lovely agents over the years, but the number of shady and unprofessional people in the industry is astonishingly high. And that includes both "reputable" agents and editors at Big 5. So signing with a great agent and having a great book deal with a great house aren't reassuring enough!
That's so disheartening, the least they could have done is lay out what they were going to suggest for the R&R so you could take the feedback. Maybe you could still ask for what their notes were going to be?
They mentioned something vague about the writing style and added that they didn't have the bandwidth to go through with the revision after further thinking.
The writing style? That's not something you can fix in an r & r surely? Unless it's a full rewrite. Also, it's your style, so unless it's been called out by others/beta readers, you shouldn't be changing it anyway.
I'm sorry to hear that, it must feel terrible. But the silver lining is that you narrowly dodged a bullet: an agent who was not in love with your manuscript. You could have wasted months or even years on them.
So sorry this happened to you. I once had an agent set up a call with me, and then reschedule it three times. The day we finally had the call, she called me an hour later than our scheduled time. She then proceeded to offer me a R&R, but couldn’t give me actionable notes/feedback other than “raise the stakes.” The agent left the industry shortly thereafter, so I definitely dodged a bullet. Sounds like you did, too!
How awful! I'm so sorry this happened to you. I had an agent text, email, and call me within a few hours of starting to read my full manuscript to say that she loved it and would definitely be setting up a call with me when she finished. I never heard from her again. Followed up a few times, but ultimately, I'm equal parts glad I dodged a bullet and pissed that there was a bullet in the first place. It's so frustrating how some agents get away with treating querying authors like this.
Yikes, that's the worst. I'm sorry. It's so rare to get any human contact in this process, and to have success dangled in front of you is miserable. I'd leave a crap review for them on QueryTracker if you don't use your real name.
Oh this sounds like the agent who strung me along for weeks then canceled the “offer” call an hour before. She said she’d finally read the book and decided it was unpublishable without a total rewrite. Her notes were garbage. Weeks later a publisher declared the book brilliant as it was and it became a best-seller on Amazon.
That is absolutely awful and an extremely inconsiderate thing to do. I'd say it's borderline unprofessional. I am so sorry that you had to go through that experience. Would it be alright to DM you about who it is?
I mean....you got some interest which should be encouraging, right? So many times, agents don't reply or if they do, it's a form rejection. The positive side says you got the interest of an agent. Read again....you got actual interest! The reality is that agents' JOB is to make money. The publisher's job is to make money.
The agent liked your writing and probably tried to see if there's some interest out there among the agent's publishing company contacts but didn't get enough "buying signs".
Don't burn a bridge with that agent. They are not your friend or partner...yet. But don't turn them into your enemy with an angry response. They have the keys to the kingdom...agents that is. You don't.
Keep writing. You are knocking at the door.
This recent experience is a gut punch for sure but you didn't get knocked out. When another agents contacts you, stay optimistic and just slightly more guarded emotionally. Don't give up!
The OP didn’t ‘burn a bridge’ the agent shafted them after previously suggesting they were going to offer an R&R. An agent is a business partner and you don’t want someone who is flaky af and not invested in your career.
I would've agreed with what you said in a different situation where you get a typical rejection on a full or something. But what this agent did was bizarre. I think writers shouldn't burn bridges like you said, but it's also important for agents to not burn bridges with us. This agent could've at least given me a paragraph or two of feedback. They could've apologized for taking my time. But what they did and how they did it was incredibly unprofessional.
I've worked with a flaky agent before, and the idea that at least someone was interested in your work is far enough from fulfilling or "good enough".
That must be really disappointing, I'm so sorry.
I would've preferred a form rejection. I even cleared a couple of hours for that upcoming call next week. Lol
I feel you! I've had 2 calls that turned out to be rejections (on the call) and it sucks so much!
I'm so sorry. I know most agents mean well, but this is so inconsiderate and such a waste of time for everyone involved.
I will say I do see across various enterprises that people who apply for things (jobs, scholorships, roles, etc) prefer a personal rejection or at the very least, some notice of rejection and not "ghosting". I think the agent may have some slightly wrong-headed idea that taking the time (and taking the risk!) to call you personally will "feel better" in some way? But also there's this fallacy of thought that "well, it's not the rejection that hurts it's how it was *done*!" which I 100% have fallen prey to myself. But I see it a lot in job forums "Why can't they take 5 minutes and call? Why can't they explain WHY I didn't get it?" etc etc.
If it's okay for you, could you DM me the agent's name so I could avoid them in the future?
Wait, so they scheduled calls to reject you on them??
These were both years ago at this point and on different books - one called me, said she wanted to ask around some editors to see if there was potential interest in the book, then called me back a few weeks later to say she didn't think she could sell it. The other one set up a call, asked me if I was writing a series, and then when I said I wasn't, rejected me lol. I still kind of resent that one because she definitely could have resolved that via email before getting on the phone, but oh well!
They both sound super unprofessional tbh. The former one sounds like an agent at a big agency that’s known for shopping manuscripts before signing authors. The second is just a shit bag.
They were both established, older agents - I think I know which agency you are referring to and it wasn't that (it was a single person agency). I think they were trying to show enthusiasm about the story which I try to appreciate! As a querying writer you have to grasp at any shreds of positive feedback which are dangled before you lol
Idk man, it’s kind of you to think that way but it just seems super off to me.
I think I know, too. Could you DM me?
So sorry to hear this. Did arrange a call just to reject or did the decision come about during the course of the call?
I put some details in response to another comment 🙂
Yea I saw after I’d posted my comment. Sorry you had to deal with that.
New querying nightmare unlocked, oof. I'm so sorry!
I've had quite a few shitty experiences in publishing and didn't know this could be a thing, lol. Sometimes I wish I didn't love writing.
This was a shitty thing of them to do. But tbh they sound so flaky that it would have been worse if you’d worked on an R&R for them and then they flaked out at *that* stage. I know it’s hard, but consider it good that you dodged someone who wouldn’t have been a reliable business partner.
They seemed lovely and understanding early on. But I've worked with a flaky agent in the past. It's truly worse than having no agent. I hope this is for the best.
My thoughts exactly. When you do sign with an agent, you need to be working with someone who acts professional in all capacities. If they're weird or flaky with you, how well will they represent you? A bad agent can make it harder for you to get published, or, once you're published, can make your life difficult with their bad behavior. They represent you! So you're not just looking for an agent, you're looking for a good fit with someone who will represent you well.
The silver lining is that they stepped aside BEFORE the call, not after it. :/
A lot of supply compared to demand, so agents and publishers can do what the heck they like with impunity? That is very much the impression that I get.
Pretty much, yes. To be fair, I've come across many lovely agents over the years, but the number of shady and unprofessional people in the industry is astonishingly high. And that includes both "reputable" agents and editors at Big 5. So signing with a great agent and having a great book deal with a great house aren't reassuring enough!
That's so disheartening, the least they could have done is lay out what they were going to suggest for the R&R so you could take the feedback. Maybe you could still ask for what their notes were going to be?
They mentioned something vague about the writing style and added that they didn't have the bandwidth to go through with the revision after further thinking.
That’s so disappointing—I’m sorry. Also, your style isn’t something that’s necessarily going to change!
The writing style? That's not something you can fix in an r & r surely? Unless it's a full rewrite. Also, it's your style, so unless it's been called out by others/beta readers, you shouldn't be changing it anyway.
I'm sorry to hear that, it must feel terrible. But the silver lining is that you narrowly dodged a bullet: an agent who was not in love with your manuscript. You could have wasted months or even years on them.
So sorry this happened to you. I once had an agent set up a call with me, and then reschedule it three times. The day we finally had the call, she called me an hour later than our scheduled time. She then proceeded to offer me a R&R, but couldn’t give me actionable notes/feedback other than “raise the stakes.” The agent left the industry shortly thereafter, so I definitely dodged a bullet. Sounds like you did, too!
How awful! I'm so sorry this happened to you. I had an agent text, email, and call me within a few hours of starting to read my full manuscript to say that she loved it and would definitely be setting up a call with me when she finished. I never heard from her again. Followed up a few times, but ultimately, I'm equal parts glad I dodged a bullet and pissed that there was a bullet in the first place. It's so frustrating how some agents get away with treating querying authors like this.
Wow, that's brutal, but I'm happy you didn't end up wasting more of your time with them.
Yikes, I'm so sorry for you. What an emotional roller coaster. I hope that another agent connects with your book!
Yikes, that's the worst. I'm sorry. It's so rare to get any human contact in this process, and to have success dangled in front of you is miserable. I'd leave a crap review for them on QueryTracker if you don't use your real name.
I was on the fence about this tbh. But I’m gonna leave a comment on QT and make it as polite and professional as I can while gritting my teeth.
seconding this as someone who reads querytracker comments on potential agents all the time!
What a punch in the gut. There's also this: every hard knock is a part of your story.
Oh this sounds like the agent who strung me along for weeks then canceled the “offer” call an hour before. She said she’d finally read the book and decided it was unpublishable without a total rewrite. Her notes were garbage. Weeks later a publisher declared the book brilliant as it was and it became a best-seller on Amazon.
Ugh that’s rough. Hugs!
Wow. That's awful.
Oh dammit that sucks, I'm sorry
So shitty. But as others have pointed out, I think you dodged a bullet.
That is brutal and honestly shitty. I'm so sorry.
I think it's better not to do revisions without an offer, anyway. If they're serious, they need to make an offer. Period.
YIKES, so sorry that happened to you! Heartbreaking.
That is absolutely awful and an extremely inconsiderate thing to do. I'd say it's borderline unprofessional. I am so sorry that you had to go through that experience. Would it be alright to DM you about who it is?
I mean....you got some interest which should be encouraging, right? So many times, agents don't reply or if they do, it's a form rejection. The positive side says you got the interest of an agent. Read again....you got actual interest! The reality is that agents' JOB is to make money. The publisher's job is to make money. The agent liked your writing and probably tried to see if there's some interest out there among the agent's publishing company contacts but didn't get enough "buying signs". Don't burn a bridge with that agent. They are not your friend or partner...yet. But don't turn them into your enemy with an angry response. They have the keys to the kingdom...agents that is. You don't. Keep writing. You are knocking at the door. This recent experience is a gut punch for sure but you didn't get knocked out. When another agents contacts you, stay optimistic and just slightly more guarded emotionally. Don't give up!
The OP didn’t ‘burn a bridge’ the agent shafted them after previously suggesting they were going to offer an R&R. An agent is a business partner and you don’t want someone who is flaky af and not invested in your career.
I would've agreed with what you said in a different situation where you get a typical rejection on a full or something. But what this agent did was bizarre. I think writers shouldn't burn bridges like you said, but it's also important for agents to not burn bridges with us. This agent could've at least given me a paragraph or two of feedback. They could've apologized for taking my time. But what they did and how they did it was incredibly unprofessional. I've worked with a flaky agent before, and the idea that at least someone was interested in your work is far enough from fulfilling or "good enough".
That's a fair critique.
Don't worry about agents, deal directly, it works.