Same day response. No thanks, sounds interesting, but I have a pretty full list.

Submitted query on the 18th. Ms. Alvarez emailed me on the 19th saying it would not fit with her focus. She took the time to help me understand why in a followup email which has helped me change the direction of my agency search. I could not be more pleased with my interaction with her. She is truly someone who seeks to help authors as she can. Thank you!

EQ: 8/20/18
ER: 8/20/18, about 90 minutes later!

EQ: 08/02/18
ER: 08/03/18
82k Romantic Suspense. Form response.

Profile Update: Genres updated.

EQ: 7.10.18
ER: 7.11.18 (under 12 hours)
97k Thriller. Form response.

5/29/18 Received rejection, but very kind and respectful.

EQ: 4/16/18 narrative non-fiction
Online form
4/16/2018 - requested proposal
5/26/2018 - rejection - her client list is full and she was "not wowed by this". Suggested I query Jessica Faust at her agency.

For Professional Services/Gregory Betza,

I hope your letter is intended for this comments section only as a means of venting to other hopeful writers and that you did not actually send this to Ms. Alvarez.

It's one thing to thank an agent for responding to a query (briefly, and even this is questionable) and another to tell them a) what she already knows and b) tell them what should change.

The only reason I'm commenting on your letter is to strongly discourage others from doing so. If you're not a big time agent yourself, or an editor, the only reaction to your suggestions for them to change their methods will be to prove you are arrogant, and no agent wants to work with an arrogant author. Worse case, they will discard anything else you send them.

The only time I ever responded to a rejection was to an agent who gave thorough, thoughtful and kind comments on a full manuscript with an offer to submit my next manuscript. My thank you note was VERY brief.

Yes, we all know how frustrating it is to pour our hearts and endless hours into our work, only to be rejected with a form letter or black out silence. This is the business of being in the query trenches. If you were not invited to submit, you are not entitled to a response. I've seen writers comment on how cold or dismissive form rejections can be, if a response is received at all. Who cares, if the response is not an invitation to submit? If your ego is this fragile you're in the wrong business.

The best approach is to work on the writing, polish and perfect.

Don't send letters like this anymore. Please.

FQ 5/20/18 Lit Fic 77K
ER 5/21/18 Form

EQ: 5/15
ER: 5/16

Romance 70k

Next day form letter

EQ (thru online form): 5/6/2018
ER: 5/7/2018

Romance 95k

May 7, 2018

Dear Ms. Alvarez

I would like to “Thank You” for responding to my query letter. I take time and effort in attempting to select an agent who works at their profession as diligently as I do in applying myself as a writer. You have taken the time to read and evaluate my query proposal for my book and awarded me the respect of a reply that I sincerely appreciate. Even though you have rejected my book for further review, you have encouraged me to continue to retain my focus on my dedication to writing and eventually having my book published.

I do have some comments to contribute that I feel will help the literary industry. The agent web sites vary from submitting with your Query letter, together with either 10 pages; 30 pages; 50 pages; 1st three chapters; or sometimes a full manuscript. Some agents also want a proposal; a synopsis; and a biographical account of yourself; and any publication accomplishments. And yet, some agents want only the Query letter.

After that, comes the wait.......almost NEVER do you get the common courtesy of a reply. A good percentage merely send you a canned form letter reply that, I frankly cannot figure out why, since it says nothing to help you in getting your book even read, no less published. RARELY, do you ever get a critique on your submission! The most common terminology is “It is just something that is just not a fit for me at this time” …..

Then, most agents say that they are so overwhelmed with Queries that either they will only respond if interested; or if you haven't heard from them in anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months, you can assume that we are not interested but you can re-submit again after that period? There are a vast generation of form rejection letters that are utterly useless.

The real truth lies in the fact that Queries, in general, lack merit. The fact is that agents should request the writer's PLATFORM before anything else. This would dramatically reduce the “overwhelming” amount of e-mail, on-line forms and/or snail mail submissions. Now, you would be able to direct your expertise to writers who demonstrate potential instead of to those who have big ideas with little to no chance of success. Harsh but true!

So, why not attempt to try and change the system? I suggest: the Agent should request the author to submit, to the agency their PLATFORM FIRST and, if it has merit, then request the writer to submit what they feel is their BEST written chapter (not necessarily their first chapter) for review and evaluation. Then the agent could begin to do REAL work and critique the submission on a meaningful basis. What does the agent REALLY look for in a new submission? What is lacking by the author? What is good and what needs tweaking or even a complete re-write. Remember that no agent or publisher can or will build a platform for you. Unless you are a celebrity or Internet sensation, platform building is slow and tedious. Agents know that and the fact is without a meaningful platform, no publisher will ever entertain the publishing of your book. You may be hungry but without food on the plate, you will still remain hungry.

Now the agent has utter chaos and a complete discontent by the potential authors who waste their time sending in worthless queries where the majority are never even read. With this suggested new system of review, the agent, on the other hand, will be getting the potential of reviewing quality work and developing authors for eventual publishing. Your current system gives the illusion of hope but the reality is very discouraging. Queries clog up the agent's workload and doesn't allow for the flow of potentially great works of literature.

I am critiquing this observation hands on from the viewpoint of an aspiring author who often is frustrated. The rejection form letters become laughable. I don't care how many books the writer has read on how to get their book published; I don't care how many articles the writer has read about submissions to agents; and I don't care how many lectures or seminars the writer has attended from established agents, it doesn't mean anything unless the current system is changed to reflect the reality of today!

Be the agent to stop the Query madness and put yourself in the shoes of the potential author. The Query tells the agent absolutely nothing about the writer's potential. So why send in a completely worthless Query? Sitting back and doing the same thing over and over, day in and day out, is surely a mark of insanity. The agent, to start the makeover and be willing to take a chance to develop a new submission system in the literary world, will receive all of the accolades.

Thank you again for your time and may our paths cross sometime in the future.

Sincerely,


Gregory C. Betza

EQ: 5/2/2018
ER: 5/2/2018

lit fic, 92k