Examples of Novel Rejection Letters

Jan 30, 2011
Toby Welch

Rejection Letters Come in Many Forms - Frank C. Müller

When you query a literary agent with a pitch for your novel, you risk getting a rejection letter. Read on if you've ever wondered what they look like.

Getting a rejection letter is never a pleasant experience but they are a reality when you query literary agents. Here are some examples of real query rejection letters received from agents. For the privacy of the query submitters, the real names have been replaced with John Smith but the way the letters were addressed have stayed the same. Only the first names of the agents who replied have been shown.

Novel Query Rejection Letters

Thank you for your query. Unfortunately, this is not something that seems right for me and so I will step aside. I wish you the best.

Sincerely, Bill

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Dear Author:

Thank you so much for sending the N Literary Agency your query. We’d like to apologize for the impersonal nature of this standard rejection letter. Rest assured that we do read every query letter carefully and, unfortunately, this project is not right for us. Because this business is so subjective and opinions vary widely, we recommend that you pursue other agents. After all, it just takes one "yes" to find the right match.

Good luck with all your publishing endeavors.

Sincerely, Kristin

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Not for me-thanks anyway.

(This was the complete response, not even an automated signature.)

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Dear John,

Thank you for considering the K Agency with your recent query. We enjoyed learning about your manuscript, but unfortunately we did not feel it was the right fit for our agency at this time. As you undoubtedly know this is a business based on personal taste and we wish you the best in all of your future publishing endeavors. Thanks again for thinking of the K Agency.

Sincerely, Elaine

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Dear Mr. Smith,

Thank you for your recent query regarding representation, which we have now had an opportunity to consider. Unfortunately, I don't think our agency is going to be the right fit for your manuscript.

Tastes and areas of specialization vary widely from agent to agent. If you haven't already done so, you may wish to consult a directory such as Literary Marketplace for the names of agents whose interests are more compatible with your work. We wish you the best of luck in finding representation.

Sincerely, Olivia

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Dear John Smith:

Thanks for your query.

As to your material I'm afraid I must pass – I'm just not enthusiastic enough about the premise of your story to feel that I'd be the right agent for the project. Our agency represents a very full list of fiction writers and we must be highly selective in adding to it. I realize it is difficult to judge your potential from a query; nevertheless please know that I give serious attention to every letter, outline, and writing sample I receive.

Sorry I couldn't give you a more positive reply. Thanks for thinking of me, though, and best of luck in your search for representation elsewhere.

Sincerely, Jennifer

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Dear Author,

Thank you for your query.

The project you have offered is not suitable for our Agency at this point. We apologize for responding with a form e-mail, but doing so enables us to respond quickly so that your work may be submitted elsewhere without delay.

Yours sincerely, Submissions Coordinator

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Thank you so much for giving us a chance to consider your work. While I found your query intriguing I’m afraid I wasn’t sufficiently enthusiastic to ask for more at this time.

As I’m sure you know, publishing is a subjective business and I’m sure there’s another agent out there better suited to your work.

I wish you the best of luck and the greatest success.

Sincerely, Jessica

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Dear John Smith,

Thank you for sharing your work with us. Unfortunately, it is not a good match for us and we will not be able to offer you representation.

I hope you excuse this form letter, but it is really only representative of our lack of time and not a lack of respect for your work. Please understand that there are many reasons why we must turn down potential clients. We look for material that immediately grabs our attentions and emotions, and that we believe will do well in the current publishing and bookselling market. But sometimes we even pass on well written, marketable projects simply because it is out of our realm of expertise and would be better represented by another agent with different taste or experience.

Thank you again for sharing your submission with us and we wish you the best of luck in your search for the right agent.

Sincerely, Fred

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Thank you for thinking of me, John, but the novel you describe doesn't sound like what I'm currently looking for so unfortunately I've decided to pass.

Best of luck elsewhere. Ann

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Hi, John,

Thank you for your query. While your project certainly has merit, I'm just not wild enough about the concept to ask to see more. As I'm sure you know, it's important that your agent be totally excited by/committed to /passionate about your material, and I'm sorry to say that didn't happen here. But, opinions vary considerably in this business, and mine is just one. I'm sure you'll find others who feel differently. I hope so!

I wish you the very best in your search for representation.

Warm regards, Laney

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Dear Author,

Please forgive this impersonal note. We receive a tremendous number of query letters and are forced to focus our attention on a limited number of projects. We regret that we must decline the offer to review your work. We encourage you to keep writing and we wish you every success.

Sincerely, Victoria

Encouraging Query Reply

Please do mail the first 10 pp. and 2 p. synopsis, with SASE & phone #.

Thanks.

Elizabeth

Onward!

Thoughts on Rejection Letters

Most 'no thank you' rejection letters, as you can see, are not nasty. Keep in mind that when they are saying no to your work, it is not a personal attack. They are saying no to your book idea, not to you as a writer or a person. Persevere and never give up. Keep those query letters going out!