This query is part of the Be an Agent for a Day contest. Rules and Regulations here
Please post your rejection or manuscript request in the comment section!
Dear Agent for a Day:
I am seeking representation for my 70,000-word college memoir, Driving Toward The Edge.
Brief Summary:
Driving is the story of a team of engineering students who spent our college careers staying up late and skipping class so that we could spend all our time designing, building and driving racecars. The story starts at the beginning of the school year and follows me, the Chief Engineer, through the difficulties of staying on schedule, overcoming unexpected challenges and managing obstinate team members.
The team designs and builds a racecar to compete in the international intercollegiate Formula SAE competition against engineering schools from around the world. As the year progresses and the team members approach graduation, we become forced to reconcile our passion and drive to win with the realities of our mediocre Grade Point Averages, deteriorating friendships, and the cost of our obsession with racing. Once at the races, the difficulties only amplify. However, absent the distractions of school and work, the team comes together and drives to the top of the points.
Our University had never been a top level competitor in this sport. Formula SAE had always been dominated by preeminent engineering schools such as Cornell and Texas A&M. In our Senior year, we managed to move into the number one spot by an almost unprecedented lead during the competition, only to drop out due to a spectacular engine failure a few laps from the end of the final event.
Audience:
The book would appeal to the thousands of current Formula SAE students and the many more alumni, as well as engineers and fans of auto racing.
Me:
I am a Racecar Engineer and part time writer. I actively participate in the Formula SAE events every year and in other local and national auto racing events. I have a monthly column in Racecar Engineering Magazine.
The book is complete. If I have not heard from you in four weeks, I will assume you are not interested. Thank you for your time.
Author
STATS: 7% request rate
Monday, April 13, 2009
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337 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 1 – 200 of 337 Newer› Newest»Dear Author:
Thank you for your submission, but your project doesn't sound right for me.
Sincerely,
David
Dear Author,
Thanks for submitting your story, but it's not for me. Best of luck,
Bane
(reasoning: not up my alley/don't represent this, though it did give me a flashback to min-Baja - a senior design project and made me smile - thanks)
Dear Author,
Thank you for taking the time to query. I'm afraid this isn't the right piece for me. I wish you the best of luck.
Sincerely,
Agent X
Sorry, but not for me. Sounds like an interesting story, but the query did not draw me in enough. Best of luck.
Dear Author:
This does not seem a right fit for me. Thank you for thinking of me.
Regards,
PC
Thank you for submitting, but unfortunately I didn’t connect with this story idea.
Good Luck,
Keri
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And truly so. The story idea and elements themselves are simply not something of interest to me.
Author,
Thank you for submitting your query. Unfortunately, this is not right for me at this time. Good luck in your search for representation.
Agent Erin
Dear Author of Driving Toward the Edge,
Although your work shows merit, I cannot request further materials at this time. (Memoirs aren't really my thing.) Keep in mind that this business is terribly subjective, and you'll probably get the chance to thumb your nose at me in the future.
Love,
Sophie
Dear Author,
I think your book's audience would be too small for me to take it on as a project. Best of luck in finding the right agent for your work.
Agent For A Day.
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query. Unfortunately, your book isn't right for me. Agenting is subjective, though, and I wish you the best of luck!
Sincerely,
Megan
Dear Author,
Thank you for submitting your query. I would like to see more of this MS. Could you please send along the first 50 pages along with a full synopsis. Thank you and I look forward to reading.
Sincerely,
Cicily
Dear Author:
Thank you for your submission, but your book is not appropriate for my current needs. I wish you luck in your future endeavors.
Sincerely,
Tally
Nice idea. Might have requested pages if we weren't limited by the 5-request thing. As it stands right now, rejection with a personal note recommending them to a nonfiction agent.
Thank you for submitting your query. Unfortunately, it is not what I’m looking for at this time. However, do continue to query widely. After all, it does only take one agent to say yes!
All the best,
Agent for the day
Thank you for querying, but I'm afraid I must pass on your story. Best of luck in your continued writing endeavors.
(Reason: this sounds like it would be too much of a special niche market. If it was written more as fiction based on true events, and focused more on the relationships involved, this could have potential)
Dear Author,
Thank you for sending me your query for "Driving Toward the Edge." Although you have an interesting premise, this does not meet my needs at this time.
Best wishes and keep writing!
(additional comments: The query wasn't compelling enough for me, although I am geeky enough to appreciate the central conflict between grades and an all-consuming hobby. I'm afraid that the audience might be too limited, as well. However, another agent with an interest in racing might be able to sell it better than I could.)
Thanks for your query. I'm afraid I'll have to pass on this one.
Keep writing!
With my very best regards,
Matilda McCloud
Reason for request:
The college age crowd needs encouragement, especially these types of stories like Nerds to Cool guys stories are soaked up like crazy. If the writing is strong, this could potentially do well.
~Cicily
Dear Author:
Many thanks for your query. Unfortunately, I'm not the right agent for this work.
With best wishes,
Onovelllo
Dear Author,
Though your work is promising, the writing just isn't appealing to me, I'm afraid I will have to pass.
Best wishes,
JuJu
Dear Author,
Thank you for requesting my representation. I applaud your determination and effort in completing your novel. Your story is not right for me at this time; however I encourage you to keep writing and pursuing excellence in your craft.
I wish you the best of luck on your journey.
Warm Regards, KDrausin
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query. Unfortunately, I will have to pass at this time.
Best,
Meg Spencer
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query, but it's not right for me. I am more familiar with SAE the frat, than SAE the competition.
Best Regards,
Trix
Dear Author:
Thank you for your query and I apologize for this form reply.
I regret I have to pass on many interesting projects due to time constraints. I wish you the best of luck in securing representation elsewhere.
Sincerely,
DeadlyAccurate
(I think you have an interesting premise, but I don't feel the writing is strong enough).
thank you for your query. While your story sounds interesting, I'm not interesting in cars and racing and think you would best be represented by an agent who shares those interests.
best wishes,
KC in SF
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query. While your work does sound interesting, I do not believe it would be a good fit for me.
I wish you the best of luck in the future.
Karen
Thank you for your query. I'm afraid this isn't right for me.
Best,
Brian
Dear Author,
Thank you for your submission, however, I do not feel excited enough about this story to request anything further.
Good luck in your search for an agent.
Quixotic
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query letter.
Unfortunately, your novel is not a good fit for me.
Good luck!
-Lesley
p.s. This premise shows promise, but the query letter is a bit on the dry side. Consider punching up the plot arc. Does the protagonist win or not?
Dear Chief Engineer,
Thank you for your query. I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to review your proposal, and found the premise for your manuscript intriguing. However, I’m afraid that the manuscript does not meet my needs at this time. Please do continue to send your work to other agents, as someone else may feel differently.
Best of luck in your publishing endeavors,
Jeni
Dear Author:
I'm sorry, but I'm not the right agent for your novel.
Notes: I feel the potential audience is too narrow, and the subject doesn't interest me personally.
Your query is well written, but perhaps overlong. I'd suggest making it shorter and more direct
Dear Author:
Thank you for your interest, but this isn't a good fit for me.
Agent99
Reasons: Not enough verve, conflict, drama, voice.
Dear Author,
Sounds like this could be kind of heartwarming. Or indulgent. That's a risk I'm not ready to take.
Maybe I'm making a mistake here, but I'll pass. Please don't dismantle my car or anything.
Signed,
PPP
Dear Author,
Thank you for your interest in The Authors Write Literary Agency. I have reviewed your query for Driving Toward The Edge, and I’m sorry to say that I do not feel that I am the best agent to represent your work at this time.
Please keep in mind that there are many talented agents out there, and opinions are subjective based on individual preferences, workload, and market climate.
Don’t be afraid to research other agents and query those that you feel are best suited to represent your work. Best of luck!
Regards,
Daley Agent for a Day
Dear Author:
Thank you for your submission. Please forward a synopsis and 3 sample chapters.
Sincerely,
The Diva Agent
Thank you for sending me your query. Unfortunately, this project is not right for me. I wish you the best of luck in securing representation elsewhere.
Thank you for your submission, but I do not think this project is right us. This is a subjective business and other agencies will feel differently. We wish you every success with your project.
Dear Author,
Thank you for your submission. This doesn't sound like the right project for me at this time, so regretfully I'm going to pass. Good luck on your writing.
Sincerely,
Bridge
On a personal note, I might try switching to fiction, simply because memoirs seem to be a hard sell if you aren't famous. I don't think the target audience is necessary in the query and it bogs them down. Also what makes the characters special, quirky, read worthy? Can you capture that voice in the query? Hope this helps
Dear Author,
Thank you for your recent query; discovering new talent is one of the joys of being a literary agent, and I am always honoured to have the opportunity to read a writer's best work.
Please accept my regrets, however, as I won't be offering to represent this novel. I apologize for informing you of this using a form letter, but the volume of mail I receive makes it impractical for me to give personalized rejections.
I wish you the very best luck in finding a literary agent whose enthusiasm will bring your book the success it deserves!
Sincerely,
J. J. DeGoblin
~~~~~~~
For your reference, here are the most common reasons why I decline certain queries. Please note that if your submission was very good, my reasons for rejecting it were probably much subtler than the items on this list and cannot be put quickly into words. Again, I apologize for this form letter, but I cannot invest the time to critique those submissions I have chosen to not represent. Thank you for your understanding.
Most common reasons why I decline manuscripts:
[ ]--The manuscript is in a genre which I don't represent
[ ]--The query appears to be a non-personalized mass mailing
[ ]--The query/manuscript's presentation was worryingly unpolished
(E.g. Many spelling, grammar, punctuation or homophone errors; a non-standard format)
[ ]--The writing doesn't seem polished enough
(This improves with practice; your next novel may be excellent)
[ ]--The plot doesn't sound compelling enough
(Again, this improves with practice and self-education)
[ ]--The plot sounds too similar to something book-buyers have already seen
Comments, if any:
This sounds like a great read, and something I'd be interested in, but to succeed as a memoir, the book needs to have a strong narrative, and your query doesn't give me confidence you have an aptitude for narrative.
You might consider re-working this book as non-fiction, especially if you have photos taken during the building of the car. If you decide to do that, please re-query me, because your story really does interest me!
Thank you for the query. I am working only with fiction at this time.
Writing, "brief summary" "me" "audience" tells me don't know how to write a pithy, concise query.
What's the book going to be like?
Reject.
Thank you for your query. As a former engineer, I found your premise interesting. However, your query didn't engage or intrigue me enough to want to know the details.
I truly suggest you consider a crit group or beta reader to help you distill the essence of why this would be a fun and exciting book for fans of the sport and engineering nerds everywhere.
Best wishes to you: Agent
Dear Author:
The story doesn't interest me, but I think you might find a fit with an agent who specializes in non-fiction.
Best regards,
Agent Caroline
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query. I'm afraid this isn't right for me.
Best regards,
Agent for a day
Dear Author,
thank you for your query. Unfortunately this isn't right for me. Best of luck,
Sincerely,
David de Beer
Dear Author,
While you've written about a subject I find fascinating, I don't generally deal in memoir.
Having said that I'd still like to read further to see if this could be a fit for me.
Please send a brief synopsis and the first 50 pages as an attachment in .doc format.
Best,
Cat.
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query. I'm afraid this project isn't right for me. I wish you luck in your search for representation.
Regards,
Suki
Reasoning: Intriguing idea, but I question marketability. I also cringe at the idea of how much of it would be the run-of-the-mill college angst. Also, from the format of the query, I question whether the author is ready to be querying. A closer pass, but still a pass.
the formatting of this query is odd, but it gets the point across. The story's not something I personally would want to read though. So:
Dear author,
Your manuscript is just not right for me. Thanks for querying.
sincerely,
moniza
Thank you for sending me your query. I appreciate you considering me.
I reviewed your proposal and unfortunately am going to pass on representing it as I do not feel that I would be the best advocate for your work. Please keep in mind that this is a subjective business, and another agent may feel differently. I encourage you to query widely.
Best of luck to you.
Dear Driving Toward the Edge:
Thank you for your query. Unfortunately your project is not right for me but another agent may feel differently. Best of luck.
Lisa R
I don't read a lot of non-fiction. This sounds interesting and I think the query is well-written but don't feel I'm a qualified judge of non-fiction.
Dear Author,
Thank you for your submission, but I do not represent non-fiction or memoirs. Good luck on your continued efforts.
-- Personal tastes.
Dear Author,
I think you should direct this to someone with more technical understanding than I have in order to evaluate it more fully.
Best of luck and thanks,
Lucy A muse ision
Fictitious Agent
(note: with new name)
(old name only for pointing fictitious gun at foot and shooting it)
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query. While your premise sounds intriguing, I'm going to have to pass at this time.
All the best,
Laurie
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query. Unfortunately, I'm afraid this isn't right for me.
Best of luck!
JR
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query, but this isn't right for me at this time.
Best of luck,
Agent for a Day
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query, but I don't feel like I would be able to adequately represent this sort of memoir.
Best of luck in finding representation,
Kitti
Dear Driving,
Thank you for your query. Unfortunately I do not think I am the right person for this book. I wish you success in your search for representation.
Best,
Dara
Specifics: Don't think the audience would be big enough for representation. Otherwise, an interesting premise.
Dear Author,
Thank you for submitting your query. However, I don't think I am the right agent for your work as I don't represent memoirs. I wish you the best of luck in your search.
Selestial
This is something that is definitely going to appeal to a specific group of people, but I'm not sure how easy a sell it will be to the world at large. In addtion, the format of the query was weird for me.
Thanks, but I have to pass on this one. Good luck.
Pass.
I don't have an interest in racing, sorry! Best of luck.
I've heard that books featuring college students are hard sells, and there didn't seem to be much at stake here. Plus, engineering is not an exciting subject to most people (including me).
Sorry, not for me.
Sorry, we don't handle memoirs. Best of luck.
Dear Author,
Your idea sounds interesting and I agree with your assessment of a reading audience. I'm sure an agent who handles non-fiction would like to see the first three chapters of your book to see if there's a compelling enough story here to grab audiences. I would suggest seeking them out.
Thanks for considering me,
Scott
Dear Author,
Although I appreciate your submission, I'm sorry but it just isn't for me. I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors.
Sincerely,
beth
(Reasoning: Doesn't interest me enough--I don't like memoirs as a rule, and this one had nothing that appealed to me personally)
Dear Author:
Thank you for your interest in my agency. Unfortunately, I do not feel I am the right agent for you at this time. Best wishes as you continue your search.
Sincerely yours,
:)Ash
Dear Author,
You have created a strong story, but I'm afraid it doesn't fit my needs at this time. Your query was quite good, but it could use some tightening overall. Thanks for thinking of me.
Melissa
Thank you for your submission, but I'm afraid you will need to find an agent who is in with car-racing in order to have an impartial decision.
Dear author,
Thank you for your submission, Driving Toward The Edge. Unfortunately, it's not quite right for me. I wish you good fortune in your quest for an agent.
Sincerely,
K. Andrew Smith
Thoughts: If I were an agent, I probably wouldn't represent memoir.
Dear Author:
Thank you for your time and consideration. Unfortunately, I’m afraid I’m not the right agent to represent DRIVING TOWARD THE EDGE.
Best wishes,
Casey
***
There is nothing here that interests me personally so I don't feel particularly qualified to comment further.
Dear Author,
Thank you for your submission, but it isn't what Im looking for at this time. Good luck with your publishing endeavors.
Kiki
Dear Author,
Thank you for your submission, but the subject is not a good fit for me.
Best of luck,
Agent Laura
Dear Author,
Thanks for giving me the chance to consider your work. Unfortunately, it's not something I think I can sell at present. I wish you the best of luck in your writing career.
Dear Author:
Dear Author:
Thank you for your interest in the "Be An Agent For a Day" contest. While I find your idea intriguing, I'm afraid it failed to grab me on an emotional level.
I wish you all the best.
Thanks for your query. It is our top priority to select what best matches our agency. We wish you success as you pursue an agent better suited to your work.
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query, however the project is not right for me at this time.
All the best,
Cindy
[form rejection]
Dear Author,
thank you for submitting your story. I regret to inform you that it is not right for me. Please keep in mind that this is only my personal opinion and other agents might think differently.
Sincerely,
Cat
rejection because I hate race cars. But I do think this story has potential. It would probably help to tighten the query a bit and at the same time include some of the obstacles you faced during the engineering of the race car. Also, you do not need to summarize the whole novel in your query, just make the reader (agent/editor) interested enough to continue reading the additional material you sent.
Dear Author,
Thanks, but I'll have to pass!
Sara
Dear Author,
Thank you for the opportunity to consider your work, but it's not right for me at this time.
Best,
hannah
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query. However, I am not able to offer representation at this time.
Best Wishes,
Belinda
Thank you for sending me your work. Unfortunately, I must reject it. Don’t feel bad; I receive about 2,000 queries per week, and reject 99.99% of them. Assume I’m wrong about you. Don’t give up. In the meantime, increase your chances of success by downloading my e-book, “Kick-ass Queries,” available on my website for only $199.99.
Author-
Sorry, but I don't represent non-fiction.
If you have not already, you may want to check out AgentQuery. It can help you find an Agent who best suits your needs.
http://www.agentquery.com/
Sincerely,
Rick O
Thank you for consideration, but this isn't right for me at this time.
Best of luck, Craven
Dear Author,
Thank you for your submission. I'm afraid this project doesn't sound right for me.
Sincerely,
Amy
Dear Author,
Thank you so much for submitting your work and considering me to represent it. While the story sounds quite interesting, I am afraid it does not fit my list at this point in time and I must regretfully pass. I know rejections can be hard to take, but please keep submitting and following your dream.
Best of luck in your agent hunt!
Sincerely,
Madison
Reason for rejection: I do not believe that there is a strong enough audience for this book, even though it sounds interesting.
Sounds interesting, is it non-fiction? Thousands is not a large market in the publishing world. Would it appeal to NASCAR fans? How would you market to your niche?
I will have to pass since car racing has a negative appeal to me personaly.
Dear Author,
While I appreciate your consideration of our agency, I will have to pass on your project.
I am sorry to say I did not have the passionate response to it that I would need to request more or offer you representation.
Obviously you want an agent who will stand enthusiastically behind your work.
Additionally, given today’s publishing climate I do not believe I would be able to get you the attention from a publisher that your book deserves.
Publishing is very subjective, though, and another agent may well feel differently.
I do wish you success in finding representation and, once again, thank you for the opportunity to consider your work.
Sincerely,
Lois Lavrisa
Agent for a day
Thank you so much for your submission. Unfortunately, I don't feel I'm the right agent to represent your work.
Good luck and keep writing!
No thanks. The subject doesn't interest me and your time conditions are an arrogant turn-off. I'm not even sure if this a memoir or a novel, and your target audience seems microscopic. I hope you receive this rejection within your four-week limit.
Thanks for your query, but it's not right for me at this time. Best of luck to you in your writing endeavors!
Elaine
Dear Driving Toward the Edge Author,
I find the situation (a group of brilliant student engineers skipping class and working late nights to build racecars) intriguing, but from your query, I could not identify one central conflict that would keep readers enthralled in this world. While I have to pass at this point, keep me in mind in the future for a revised version of this project or any others you may develop.
Best wishes,
Agent for a Day
(Tamara)
Dear Author,
I received and read your query.
I'm going to pass. Your idea sounds interesting, but I'd need more hook/conflict to keep reading. I do like the energy in your writing.
Best to you,
Agent SCL
Dear Author,
Thank you for your submission. Unfortunately it's not what I'm looking for. Best of luck in your search for representation, and keep writing!
Dear Author,
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to consider your work. I regret to say that I don’t feel that I’m the most appropriate agent for this project.
Best wishes,
HHS
Thank you for your query. I don't feel this is quite right for me but I wish you the best of luck.
Sincerely,
Kristi
Dear Author,
Thank you for your submission, but this is not for me. I wish you luck in finding a home for your manuscript.
All the best,
Barb
Thank you for querying our agency. Unfortunately, this project is not right for us. Best of luck finding representation for your work.
All best.
Thank you for your query. I don't feel I am the right agent for you, so I must pass at this time. Good luck.
Dear Author,
Thank you for submitting your query but I'm afraid I will have to pass on this one. Best of luck to you in your future endeavors.
Dear You,
Thanks for querying, but I'm going to pass. Remember that opinions vary greatly in this business, so query widely. Best of luck!
Steph
Dear Author,
I'm afraid that at this time I am unable to offer representation for your novel. This is purely a business decision, and unfortunately means that we must turn away many talented individuals. I encourage you to continue querying agents you think might be interested.
I appreciate your interest in Agent for A Day, and wish you every success in your writing career.
Regards,
Cassandra
Dear Author,
Thank you for allowing me to read this query, but it's not right for me. Best of luck, and please keep me in mind for future projects.
Lily
Reason: Just not for me. ;)
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query but i am sorry to innform you that I do not accept memoirs or non-fiction of any kind.
Bef of luck in your future endeavors.
-Lea
Dear Author,
Unfortunately, I am unable to offer you representation at this time. Thank you for submitting your work for consideration. Please keep me in mind for future projects.
Kindest Regards,
D. Agent
Dear Author,
Thank you for your recent submission. While our agency is not the best fit for this particular project, other agents may feel differently. I wish you luck in your search for representation.
Regards,
Bookshop
_________
(Hi! I thought this was such an intriguing idea. It reminded me of what I call "sports thrillers," the memoirs of coaches and athletes that pull you deeply into the heat of a sporting event, and I think this could be really gripping if done right.
While if I were an agent I would not accept memoirs, I can tell you that 2 things threw me about your query:
- the tense shift halfway through your description. I was completely unable to tell if you were doing this to indicate a past experience separate from the narrative of your story or not.
- the fact that you went on to describe how your team in fact lost, and then didn't follow it up with any type of ultimate consequence or revelation.
Even a memoir needs to have a narrative. People don't just get to the last thing that happened to them and then stop. In this case it seemed like you had a great narrative going, and then with the tense shift you drove it towards an ending that felt anti-climactic, and left me without a sense that this was something that had made a lasting impact on you or your university or the sporting world.
I would suggest that for the purposes of the query you try harder to hone in on what the ultimate outcome and lesson of that time spent in racing was. Then tighten the query and show us what was at stake for all of you, how the racing impacted your whole college experience.
I look forward to seeing this on shelves one day! Good luck!)
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query, but it's not for me.
Good luck!
Heather
Dear author,
Thank you for your submission. Unfortunately, DRIVING TOWARD THE EDGE is not a good fit for me at the moment.
Thank you,
Nicole
note: I would recommend moving the first sentence to after the summary; don't use headings (Brief summary: etc.). Also, the first sentence of the summary is awkward and distracted me during the rest of it, which is written well.
Dear Author,
Sorry, I only represent fiction. This does sound like a viable project but I have no suggestions as to who would most likely be interested in it. Good luck in your search for representation.
Sincerely,
Chuck
Dear Author of Query #16,
Thank you for your query, but DRIVING TOWARD THE EDGE isn't right for me.
KathyF
Form Rejection
Dear Author,
Thank you for your interest. Unfortunately, this project is not a good fit for me at the present time.
Regards,
Gwen
***
(Side note: this particular story is not within the scope of my interests and so I would have a difficult time giving it the attention that it deserves.)
Dear Author,
Thank you for taking the time to submit.
I regret to inform you that at this time I would like to pass on your book.
I am not representing memoirs at this time.
Best of luck in the future,
Regards,
Agent for a Day, Bookworm Megs
Dear Author,
Thank you for submitting your query. Unfortunately, I am not able to offer you representation at this time. Best of luck,
Agent KES
Dear Author,
Thank you for sharing DRIVING TOWARD THE EDGE, but I'm going to pass.
Best of luck!
Dear Author
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to consider your work at Kavanaugh and Byrne’s Literary Agency.
We do not feel that are the best match with this project.
We wish you every success with this and other ventures
Flower Kavanaugh
Dear Author,
Thank you for the query. I regret to inform you that this is not the right work for me to represent at this time.
I wish you luck in your future writing career.
Sincerely,
Kelly Guentner
Dear Author:
Thank you for allowing us to consider your work. I’m sorry to say that this is not something we are interested in at this time. We receive hundreds of submissions every week and, unfortunately, cannot take them all on. This is a very subjective business and I wish you luck on your journey to publication.
Sincerely,
Horserider Literary Agency
Dear Author,
Thank you for submitting your query to the Most Awesome Literary Agency Ever. I regret that, at this time, your project is not quite what I’m looking for. I wish you the best of luck in your continuing search for representation.
Sincerely,
Jen C.
Dear Author,
Thank you so much for submitting your work to me. Unfortunately, Driving Toward the Edge is not a good fit for me at this time. I wish you much luck in your writing endeavors.
Agent-for-a-day
Dear Author,
Thank you for querying me. Unfortunately, I don't think I'm the right agent to represent your work.
Best,
Agent
Dear Author
Thank you for your query. Sorry, but it is not for me.
Sincerely,
Agent for the Day
Thank you for querying me. Unfortunately I am going to have to pass at this time.
I wish you the best of luck with another agent.
Sincerely,
Agent
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query. Unfortunately, I don't think I'm the right agent to represent your work.
Yours truly,
AftD
Dear Author,
Thank you for your interest in my agency. However, I will not be requesting any further materials from you at this tie. Please note that submissions are a very subjective game and this is not a critique on your writing ability. I strongly encourage you to continue your search for an agent and wish you all the best.
Your sincerely,
Make-believe Agency
Dear Author,
While this project shows merit, I'm afraid it didn't fully resonate with me. I feel sure that another agent will feel differently, and wish you the best of luck.
-Agent Pro Tempore
Dear Author,
Thank you for the opportunity to consider your manuscript. I'm afraid it isn't right for me.
Regards,
-Annalee
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Reason: The query feels too general in the wrong places--it's hard for me to get a firm grasp on the central conflict. Is it the race that's the subplot, or the other stuff? It sounds like a premise someone could love, but alas, not I.
Dear Author;
Form rejection.
Cordially,
Agent Gregory
[This might be a fine non-fiction book and would appeal to a niche racing audience. Don't know how big that is. Recommend the query get more specific, more compelling, (but not longer! -- I know, very hard). More compelling means it reveals a stronger hook into why we care about the protagonist, and the huge challenge he must overcome (a hint of the growth arc... coming of age, redemption, triumph over failure, whatever it is)]
I'm sorry, but this doesn't sound right for me. Thank you for submitting.
I already posted my rejection for this one, but I came back to say this query is STILL haunting my brain. I would say no again, for the reasons I listed before, but the geek in me really loved this idea and wanted to read the book anyway.
Form rejection
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query, but unfortunately this project isn't right for me. Best of luck in your search for representation.
Sincerely,
Melinda
P.S. I'd cut this line; could be a turn off to some agents for you to say they must respond within a certain time frame: If I have not heard from you in four weeks, I will assume you are not interested.
Dear Author, while this sounds like an interesting premise, it is something I cannot get enthused enough about to represent. Good luck elsewhere.
Dear Author,
Thank you for your submission, but this does not sound quite right for me. This sounds like something that might only appeal to those familiar with the life of racecar building/driving - a small target audience compared to the total number of readers out there.
Best of luck to you!
Megan
Please email the first three chapters to me for consideration. Best wishes, CJK
Thank you for your submission, but I don't feel it is right for me at this time.
Best of luck,
Katy
Dear Author,
Thank you for your submission. Unfortunately, this story is not one that I could represent at this time. I wish you all the best in your race car and writing endeavors.
Best wishes, Leslie
Thanks for the opportunity but I'm afraid I'll have to pass on representing this piece.
Best of luck with your writing.
~Eden
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query, but I'm afraid I'll have to pass on this.
I do like the concept of an against-the-odds team but you have to give us something to root for.
I hate to say this, but if your team comes out triumphant in the end as underdogs, the story would more marketable. But as your team doesn't win, you'll have to give the reader something else as a "reward".
Is this a story of unlikely friendships? Does tragedy happen but you keep going on? What is the emotional hook? You might want to think about this as you work on your pitch to other agents.
Good luck,
Soratian
Dear Author,
Thank you for your interest in The Only Literary Agency Insane Enough To Trust Me With Queries. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to pass.
Best of luck,
Merry
Dear Author,
Thank you for your submission. As your story didn't resonate with me, I'm going to have to pass.
--
Polenth
Dear Author,
Thank you for your interest in my agency. However, I will not be requesting any further materials from you at this time. Please note that submissions are a very subjective business and my comments are not a critique on your writing ability. I strongly encourage you to continue your search for an agent and wish you all the best.
Your sincerely,
Make-believe Agency
Thank you for your submission. Your manuscript does not fit what I am looking for at this time. Good luck on your quest for the perfect agent!
Patti K.
Dear Driving toward the Edge,
Thank you for your query. Unfortunately, the story does not seem quite right for me.
Best of luck,
Renee
Thank you for submitting to my agency, however I am not able to offer representation at this time.
Regards,
Vic K.
Reason; I've made the decision I'm not going to ask for pages on on-fiction projects. Rightly or wrongly, they don't appeal to me as 'Agent for a day'. See what I'm really learning here is that it is all about personal taste - the subjective unknown...
Dear Author,
Thanks for your submission. After careful consideration, I've decided this manuscript isn't for us at this time.
Good luck with your search.
Best,
Agent For a Day
Dear Author,
Thank you for your submission, but I am not the right agent for this book. Best of luck!
Robin
Dear DTtE,
This might have promise, but it's not my area of interest, so I'm afraid I'm not the right agent for you.
Thanks,
Sage
Dear Author,
Thank you for contacting Selene Literary. After careful consideration, we regret to inform you that this project is not right for us. We wish you the best of luck in finding an agent that is as enthusiastic about this book as it deserves.
Best regards,
Selene Da Agent
Selene Literary
Thanks for the query, but it's not quite right for me at this time, etc.
Another one I would have asked for more material on if I wasn't limited to five requests.
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query.
I will have to pass on this project, but best of luck to you.
-Nay
Dear Author,
There were interesting points in your submission, but I’m afraid I can’t offer representation. This is a subjective business, and what appeals to one reader doesn’t always appeal to another. With my current workload, I have to be very discriminating and take on only projects I am passionate about.
I urge you to continue your quest to be published and wish you the best of luck.
Sincerely,
J.M. Agent
(I think this has a lot of potential and I was going to request it. However, I don't like being given a deadline even if I try to respond before four weeks. Perhaps it was just unfortunate wording, but it smacks of someone who might be difficult to deal with.)
Dear Author,
Thank you for submitting your query letter. I appreciate the concise overview of your memoir as presented. I am interested in reading more of your work and am requesting a partial from you.
Please paste the first 30 pages of your manuscript in reply to this email message.
Kind regards,
Sol Nima
Dear Driving Toward the Edge,
Thank you for your submission, but unfortunately it’s not for me. Publishing is a very subjective business, though, and another agent may feel differently. Best of luck on your continued search.
Yours,
Kat Brauer
I'd pass.
Reason: I find the language in the query really dry. Also, I have no idea what SAE means.
Dear Author
Thank you for sending me your query. I regret to inform you that it does not suit the needs of my list at this time.
Regards, Jessumby
I'd be interested in reading your book. Please send me the full manuscript as a Word attachment.
Best,
Agent for a Day
(Additional comment: this query reminds me of 21, that book/movie about the college kids who figure out how to win big in Vegas. Totally different subjects, of course, but something feels similar.)
Dear Author,
While it seems like an interesting premise for a book, I'm sorry to say that I cannot take on the project. Thank you for considering me, and best of luck in the future.
Sincerely,
Thin
Dear Author:
Thank you very much for your query. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to consider your work for representation. As you know, it’s a competitive market these days, and I don’t believe I have the right relationships to sell this project successfully. I do wish you luck in finding an agent and thank you for considering me.
Yours truly,
RW
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query. I am afraid I must pass on 'Driving...' at this time.
Best of Luck
The Wickerman
Head Landscaper, Bransford Lit
Dear Author,
Thank you for your submission. I am afraid that your work is not right for me at this time, however I would urge you to continue to submit to other agents: this is a subjective business.
Agent
Dear Author,
Thank your for your query. Unfortunately, I don't think your project sounds right for me. While I am an avid Formula One fan, I am not a fan of memoirs. If you ever turn this into a novel instead of a memoir, please resubmit.
Sincerely,
Agent K.D.
Thank you for your query, but I wouldn't be the right agent in this instance.
I wish you luck finding the right home for your work.
Sincerely,
Ms Agent Agency
Thank you for your query. Unfortunately, I do not believe I am the best agent to represent your manuscript. Best of luck in your quest for publication.
Form rejection.
This seems like a very niche book. The writing in the query also has me wondering if the novel is written like this. If so, it wouldn't pull me in.
Dear Author,
Thanks for your query, but Driving is not the right project for me due to the subject matter.
Best,
Agent for a Day, Kats
Dear Author,
Thank you for submitting your work, unfortunately, it's not right for me. I really only try to represent the sort of genre I enjoy reading.
And while your form letter was well written, it's not something I'd personally be interested in. I do have a collegue however, who may be interested in your work.
Please query them at agentfriend@literaryplace.com
good luck!
Please sne the first fifty pages of your mss.
Thank you.
Dear Author,
Thank you for thinking of me, but I'm going to have to pass. Best of luck finding another agent!
Sincerely, Agent Faux
Dear Author,
Thank you for your submission. After careful consideration, I regret that I’m unable to request your manuscript at this time.
Best,
Agent for a day
Thank you for your query. It sounds like an interesting story but I do not handle memoirs.
Thank you for the opportunity to look at you work. Unfortunately, I don't feel this is the right project for me.
Thank you for your submission, but your book is not for me. Good luck in the future.
Dear Author:
I want to thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to consider your work. Unfortunately, I did not connect well enough with your project to pursue it further. As I'm sure you know, agenting is a very subjective business. Although your project didn't fit with my particular list, another agent may respond very differently.
Please accept my best wishes for success in your writing career and finding the perfect advocate for your work.
Sincerely,
Tree
Dear Author,
Thanks for the chance to look at your work. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’m the right agent for this project.
Best of luck,
Lizzie
Thank you for your submission. I'm going to have to pass.
Thank you for sending in your query for consideration. We have looked it over carefully, but do not feel it meets our agency needs at this time.
I'm sure you'll be able to find a capable agent who is more familiar and enthusiastic about the sport of racing.
Thank you for offering the opportunity and best of luck,
Fawn
Dear Author
Thanks for querying us. I regret I have to pass on this one, but wish you every success in finding representation.
Cordially Yours,
Agent
Dear Author,
Thank you for your submission and your interest in using me as an agent. After taking some time to consider your material, I have decided that this isn't right for me.
Best of luck in your writing endeavors,
Joy
Reasoning: the plot seems a little predictable based on the query. Perhaps if you pulled out more from what sets this story apart from other college students who slack on studies to do something fun it would stand out more. Best of luck.
Dear Author,
Thank you for your submission, but I'm afraid your story isn't right for me.
Take heart, however--another agent may feel differently. Good luck on your continued search for representation.
Best wishes,
L.C. Gant (Agent for a Day)
(Reasoning: I'm not a fan of memoirs, and I don't read all that much nonfiction in general. Plus, like a lot of other "agents" said, I can't relate to the story.)
Dear Author,
I've reviewed your query but am afraid your project isn't a good fit with the works I represent. I hope you won't let this discourage you, however, as every agent has different tastes and you're sure to find representation that will better suit your needs.
Thank you for considering me.
Amethyst Adams
Form Rejection.
Agent DC
Dear Author,
Thank you for taking the time to submit your query. Unfortunately I am unable to offer you representation at this time. However, all writing is of value and I wish you the best in your endeavours.
Best wishes
Agent for a Day
Note: I don’t think this would appeal to a wide enough audience to be commercially viable. Perhaps there is a better forum/niche market for this writer.
Dear Author,
Thank you for your submission. While the premise of your story shows great potential, I'm afraid it is not right for me at this time. Your audience is too narrow for what I am used to representing. Best of luck finding other representation though.
Keep writing!
Reesha
Sorry, form rejection.
This just isn't anything that interests me, but I think the query is well-written.
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query, your project doesn't meet my needs at this time.
Best of luck to you in your writing career.
~Venus Vaughn
Dear Author: Thank you for the query. While your project sounds interesting, it is not right for my agency. Best wishes. Savannah Pens Agent
Hi!
Thanks for submitting. Your work shows a lot of promise, however, I do not feel qualified to represent it.
Thanks and best of luck.
Agent for the day
Dear Author,
Thank you for your interest in The Only Literary Agency Insane Enough To Trust Me With Queries. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to pass.
Best of luck,
Merry
Driving Toward The Edge
Sorry, not for me.
Best of luck,
Sheryl
Dear Author --
While my car crazed teenage son would snap this up, unfortunately, I am not the right agent for this work.
Best Regards,
Agent Elizabeth
Dear Author: Thank you for contacting us. Unfortunately, we do not feel that we are a suitable agency to represent your work. We wish you every success in your search for an agent. Sincerely, L. C.
Thank you for your submission. Unfortunately, this project is not a good fit for me. I appreciate your time and consideration, and wish you luck in finding representation.
Best,
Agent M
Dear Author,
Thank you for your submisson, but unfortunately this project is not right for me. Best wishes in all your future endeavors.
Sincerely,
Bekkoni
Thanks for your query, but I'm afraid this isn't right for me.
Dear Author,
Thank you for querying "Agent for a Day" Agency. Unfortunately, we do not feel this story is a good fit for our list at this time. We encourage you to continue querying other agents.
Best of luck,
Raven56
Dear Author,
Thank you for submitting your query to Moth's Literary Agency. While your story sounds interesting, I'm afraid it's just not right for us. Best of luck in your writing career.
Sincerely,
Moth
Dear Author:
Thanks for querying me with DRIVING TOWARD THE EDGE. Unfortunately, this work is not of a type I'm looking for at present. But, publishing being the subjective business that it is, what isn't right for me might be right for someone else...so I wish you the best in your writing endeavors, and good luck in finding representation!
Sincerely,
Janny
Dear Author,
Race that MS right to my inbox.
(No, really, I want to read it now please.)
Dear Author
Thank you for your query.
Unfortunately, I know nothing about Formula SAE and would therefore be unable to do your work justice.
I am sorry we are not able to help and wish you luck in finding the right agent for your work.
Sincerely,
The Fake Agency
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