Sometimes We Lose Too
Today's blog post is what I call an extra-special inside peek into an agent's head. I know we spend a lot of time prepping authors for rejection, trying to help you beat the odds, giving you tips and tricks to navigate our slush piles. It probably seems like we're looking for reasons to send rejection letters, and it's probably true from a sheer volume angle.
That said, we really are looking for projects that we love. And when we find one, it's a really special feeling.
But sometimes (hopefully) we're not the only one who thinks that project is special and an author gets several offers. As an author, this is a fabulous position to be in, albeit stressful. It's not only validating, but puts you well on your way to long-term success. Just think, if you struck a chord with those several agents, then you're doing something right and your odds of a wider audience loving your work have just improved.
I always tell authors to make the right decision for them. Not every agent offers the same benefits or works the same way. Authors should never feel pressured to go with the very first offer out of desperation, plain gratitude, or naivete. Though of course we always hope that if we offer representation that author will pick us.
But sometimes they don't. I've won the competitions and lost the competitions. And losing definitely hurts. Finding that book that made us keep reading, that might have made us cry, that hopefully made us laugh, and kept us thinking about it after we finished reading.
This happens so rarely that it's just kind of a bummer when you're not chosen to work on it. In this case, the best I can do is hope the author really did make the right choice for them and that I get to see that book on shelves even if I wasn't the one to put it there.
And so it goes...
Elana Roth queries, rejection, representation 
Reader Comments (7)
Thank you for the insightful post. Too often authors (myself included) see agents and publishers as these mighty beings who hold our careers in their hands. It is important that we know you are people too and even more important that we treat you as such.
Congrats to the author who wrote such a fine story. Surely, there must be others out there- here's hoping you will find one.
Thanks for the post! It made me realize that as an author, I don't have to go with the first offer, which would be my first reaction. Writing a book worthy of yourself is one thing - having it worthy of several agents is a great and stressful gift, for both the writer and the agents involved. Like Michelle said, agents have thoughts and feelings too. I'll keep you in mind when I start querying!
Thanks for this. Very interesting..
Thank you so much for the great advice. Sometimes we need to be reminded that we don't always have to go with the first offer and what we really need to do is look deep into the different agents and make sure we choose the right one.
What a great reminder of the "other side."
sigh.
I'm in the final stages of trying to ready my book for sending out.
I really would love to make someone cry.
I just don't think it's there yet. It makes me cry. I'll soon find out, when I send it to several readers, if others love my character as much as I do.
Thanks for the reminder that if we want to have multiple agents hankering for our work, we have to give them a powerful experience. I'm determined not to send this one out before it's ready.