EQ 5/20/2019

YA Historical Fantasy, 77k

EQ 3/26
ER 5/4, form
Adult science fiction, 74k

EQ Dark Horses 4/28/19

Profile Update: Genres updated.

To Ktelle:

I was once told by an agent, at a writing conference, to read a couple of fantasy books to familiarize myself with the genre. Since the age of five, I've read possibly thousands of fantasy books, so that was off-putting. (I kept my mouth shut and didn't tell her that, though.)

EQ: 4/21/19 - adult fantasy

For @williamwhtjr - the "she/her" bit is just Naomi indicating her pronouns. With the greater visibility of transgender and non-binary gender folks, some people are opting to indicate which pronouns they use in order to eliminate ambiguity.

Queried: 2/25/2019
Form rejection: 3/25/2019

I am enclosing the form rejection here, in full. The only thing that confuses me is the (sheher) bit. O_O;; Other than that, it appears the same as many others have received. The query was for a 113k Dark Fantasy Vampire novel. it might be the vampire that's the problem, LOL

Dear William Calvert
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to consider your project BOOK NAME. I've gone over your query and sample pages and though I love certain elements, others aren't quite working for me. This is a subjective reaction based on my preferences and current wishlist, and as this is a subjective industry, I encourage you to keep querying looking for your agent match! I'm sorry I cannot be more specific at this time, but I encourage you to stay positive and keep at it - following major writing blogs and Twitter hashtags, or local critique groups and writing events can provide some excellent networking and direction.
I wish you the best with this project and hope you'll keep me in mind in the future - I welcome you to query me with other projects when they are ready!
Naomi Davis (she/her)
BookEnds Literary Agency
http://www.bookendsliterary.com
@naomislitpix

On form letters and personalizing rejections, etc -
It's funny how agents are so different in what form letter they send to people. This week, I had two rejections in a row (not from this agent). One was a form letter full of writing tips, like "find critique partners," "look up Writer's Digest," etc., and the second was (again, a form) saying the writer was a skilled writer (and YES, despite knowing it was a form, I high-fived myself) and they wanted to see their next MS (but didn't think they could sell this one). So. WOW, is writing subjective. LOL.

JessyKah87:

Naomi requested a full from me a few months back, which she ultimately passed on. The letter I received has some personalized comments at the beginning but the closing was similar to what you got. I think she uses a form for most but adds some personalization for requested material, which is nice. Still, I’m choosing to look at that closing -form or not- as a compliment :) she didn’t have to invite us to query her again. A lot of rejections I’ve received just say ‘good luck elsewhere’.

Is anyone getting a rejectionletter that has this on the bottom? I'm trying to decide if it is part of a form or not for future querying.

"I'm so thankful you queried me. I wish you the best with this project and hope you'll keep me in mind in the future - I welcome you to query me with other projects when they are ready!"

Form rejection. She seems like a really decent person and a great agent to work with, but I’m a bit peeved by the advice in the form letter to “follow major writing blogs and Twitter hashtags” and to attend “local writing groups” to “provide some direction”.

I queried as one professional looking for a partnership with another. I don’t appreciate being patronised.

EQ: 02/13/2019
ER: 02/28/209

Form rejection, likely the same as others below. Included advice to follow major writing blogs, which rubs me a little wrong, but ah well.

EQ - 2/11/2019
ER - 2/27/2019

Got same form letter as others have mentioned.

80K romantic suspense

EQ 2/7/19
ER 2/27/19
Same nice form letter "love certain elements/others aren't quite working for me" as noted by MR_Work. I appreciate the kindness in her letter, though I'm bummed by the rejection - seems like she would be a great agent to work with.