Hmm, I wonder if the "invitation to submit more writing" refers to those times when an agent wants to see more work before signing you, i.e. when you query with one picture book and they ask to see any others right away before they'll sign you? As opposed to meaning "don't submit to us ever again?" I suspect it's the former.

That said, I hate the "don't reply with a thank you" thing. I don't send thank you on form passes anyway, but I don't like the idea of being told not to because my being polite is some terrible inconvenience.

Incredibly passive/aggressive form letter rejection. I don't mind a form rejection because I get the time suck. But I do mind an agent telling me to tell my parent/guardian they raised me well because I want to send a thank you. Also, I know better than to clog an agent's inbox with that. This whole letter is insulting to my professionalism.

EQ: 1/18/18 - #IWSGpit request
ER: 2/6/18 - same long form letter dmaroulis mentions that specifically asks me NOT to respond with a thank you because it clogs the inbox

11/21 PB sent
12/29 FR and worst one I've seen yet...
Thank you for your recent query letter to Flannery Literary and please accept our apologies for this form letter, a response method we resort to in the interest of timeliness. Please be assured that the time we did not spend customizing a personal response was, instead, used to carefully consider your submission to determine if we could be helpful to you.

Our current workload prohibits us from taking on all but a select few new projects at the moment and we are, therefore, unable to extend an offer of representation or an invitation to submit more writing. We offer representation based solely upon the current needs and interests of this agency and we simply didn't see a perfect match. Given that the publishing industry is admittedly subjective, no doubt another agency/editor will feel differently and will be the perfect publishing connection for you and your work. We are a small agency and must keep our client list limited, so please know that we are not passing judgment on the worth or merit of your work--we pass up far more than we are able to take on.

Again, thank you for thinking of Flannery Literary. We appreciate your time and attention. We wish you the best of luck in all your future marketing efforts.

@StoryMan -- Sorry to hear. Thank you for letting us know.

submitted picture book manuscript via email: 11/1/2017
received form letter rejection via email: 12/27/2017

@StroryMan -- Waiting with bated breath.

Thanks @storyman, please do!

@ktwills79 & npholland--Well, I just looked back through my files, because I know I had submitted a different manuscript to Ms. Flannery about a year ago. It turns out that in February she had sent me what sounds like the exact same form letter that you received. That is, my February rejection also said that she was "unable to extend . . . an invitation to submit more writing." Oops! I certainly hadn't remembered that part when I submitted my newest manuscript to her in November. The only thing that I recalled from my previous query efforts was that she was one of the few agents who had bothered to respond at all. I wonder if she is tracking that I've sent her manuscripts in the past. At any rate, I'll let you know if I hear anything back from her this time around.

@StoryMan -- I think you will be the next in line to hear anything. Please let us know how it goes. We are rooting for you.

@ktwills79--Thanks for sharing that snippet from Ms. Flannery's form letter. It's certainly not one of the more courteous one's that I've read.

Thank you for the words of encouragement @npholland. And yes, @StoryMan, the form letter actually said (and I quote): "Our current workload prohibits us from taking on all but a select few new projects at the moment and we are, therefore, unable to extend an offer of representation or an invitation to submit more writing."

I can laugh about it now, but it was pretty sad a few days ago ; )

@ktwills79--It is the silver lining in a rejection-to actually get something, even a ER, rather than a CNR. It is hard to say you gain experience when there is no critique, but you will learn patience and the ability to handle the darker side of writing. Keep querying. Keep writing. Anything worth having is worth struggling for.

@ktwills79--Your form letter actually said not to send any other ms's? Wow! That sounds harsh. Maybe she's just flooded with queries.

EQ: 10/31
ER: 12/8

PB, Form rejection stating they were passing and to not send any other ms's either. That part disappointed me, but I was ecstatic to actually get a real response from someone finally!