Email Query: Nov. 3
Partial Request: Nov. 8
Full Request: Nov. 18
Rejection: Nov. 22

EQ: 11/07 (Sci-fi)

Noticed that I survived a round of rejects on 11/09 but I'm unsure what the no-response-to-date means? Perhaps it's been passed along to another agent for consideration?

Submitted 5 pages via email Sept. 25. Women's fiction.
He requested next few chapters Sept. 26
Received a formulaic rejection Oct. 7

@StellaMae - Trust me, I've been in your shoes. After ten years and countless rejections - two previous agents that didn't work out, I finally landed a keeper. Sorry if my comment discouraged you. I believe others may not have had the same reaction and I have every right to post a positive comment about my experience with an agent here.

@Pinarello, I’m not sure why you’re commenting here, especially when it’s to sell those of us querying on an agent that needs no selling. As an agented writer, your opinion about/for the query trenches isn’t useful. Maybe put yourself in our shoes before commenting in a forum for writers without representation?

CNR after 60 days, 90k thriller

Got the following response. Not very helpful but at least it was quick.

Rachel Ridout <rachel@harveyklinger.com>
12:30 PM (2 hours ago)
to Harvey, me

Dear Chris,

Thank you for your submission. Unfortunately, this does not seem like quite the right fit for Harvey. We wish you the best finding your perfect agent.

Sincerely,

Rachel



Harvey Klinger, Inc.
300 West 55th Street
New York, NY 10019
(212) 581-7068
Fax: (212) 315-3823
www.harveyklinger.com
Twitter: @HKLiterary

rejected with very helpful comment about structure of novel and replied when I ask a question about it.

Harvey has been my agent for a couple of years now, and I have nothing but good things to say about him. Like most agents, he's busy and doesn't have time to critique work and have a nice chat with everyone who contacts him. Most agents don't respond at all these days, so even a "not for me" is welcome. Remember, his first responsibility is to the writers he already represents—a full-time job in itself. Don't take the rejections personally and move on—that's the only way to get anywhere. BTW, Harvey sold my first novel and has been a steady partner from start to finish. Highly recommended!!

@godisjealous (please take this for the positive feedback I'm intending it as) I think he did say something helpful. He was intrigued enough by your query and opening chapters to request a full, which shows that you've probably got a pretty strong story. His remark about your writing not winning him over probably means you should go over your manuscript to look for opportunities to make your writing stronger. That might mean fixing passive voice, or creating more vivid scenes, or a whole slew of other things. Maybe put it in front of some beta readers with the objective of improving the prose. Sounds like you are *this* close. Hope this helps!

I'm confused by his response rate. The website indicates he responds when interested but the timeline on here shows that it's more haphazard than that. He responds with requests but also with rejections. However, he doesn't reject EVERY query that he doesn't request more from, just a smattering. Put me in the column of skipped. But should I resend? Did I get missed? Or was my query somehow so bad a fit that he (or his assistant) decided it wasn't worth the effort of a rejection, just a No response means No? Confusing.
I'm beyond what the website says is his response window so I guess I'll assume CNR at this point.
EQ 4/30/22
CNR 7/16/22
WF 98k

Andrea Somberg - 4/4/22

EQ 3/17/2022
93K literary fiction
PR 3/21/2022
ER 3/28/2022 "I’m afraid it’s a pass. The writing just wasn’t winning me over the way I’d hoped it might, but thanks for the look."

If every agent replied as much as Harvey Klinger, the whole agent-finding process would be much saner

EQ 1/13/22
97k Upmarket Domestic Suspense / Family Saga
ER 1/18/22 from his assistant "does not seem like quite the right fit for Harvey"

Took a dive. 97k word Literary Fiction - Email 1/11/22
ER: 01/14/22

From his assistant, doesn't seem like quite the right fit for Harvey.
Going to try another at this agency that might work better for me.