Queried March 6, 2023
Rejection March 10, 2023

Surprised she didn’t pass it along. This agent says she enjoys epic sci-fi with big ideas. She’s probably looking for more generic stuff already done before, or she would have requested. Here’s a copy of the standard response. I found the same one pasted below.

Thank you for sending me your query.

I'm sorry not to request the full manuscript or offer to represent you, but it isn't a good fit for my current list. Many things go into a decision to offer representation, and some have nothing to do with the quality of the manuscript. Publishing is very subjective, and other agents may well feel differently. You deserve an unequivocally enthusiastic agent as your advocate.

I wish you success finding it a home.

Best regards,

Anjanette Barr
Dunham Literary, Inc.

This one hurt a bit. Her bio said that she wanted something about STEM (and heavy on the M). That's exactly what my sci-fi book offers. It's a sci-fi tech adventure with tons of real science and math. I was hoping that she would understand my book better than most, but instead I got a very generic "isn't a good fit for my current list" response.

I do appreciate that the response took only two days.

Q: 2023-02-26
FR: 2023-02-28
50k Sci-Fi

Query sent: 02/25/2023
Form rejection: 02/28/2023
Adult horror, 57k words.

1/27/23: Query submitted to Anajanette Barr after pitch like for #KidLitPit 2023

2/22/23: Rejection with helpful advice and invitation to resubmit upon revision

WQ: 2/15/23
ER: 2/22/23
Form letter

Queried 1/31
Form Rejection 2/10

Didn't use a salutation/even say my name- just copied and pasted the same things as everyone below.

Pitch like for #KidLitPit: 1/26/23
EQ: 1/28/23
Rejection: 2/9/23
MG Hist. Fic. <50,000 words
I received a polite and helpful rejection letter. I felt her assessment of my work was fair. I appreciate the feedback so I can make my manuscript better.

Passed my query and pages on to Jennie Dunham who requested a full.
02/08/23
Sci-Fi
86,000 Words

Pitch like for #KidLitPit: 1/26/23
EQ: 1/26/23
Full request: 2/7/23
Sent ms w/requested docs: 2/7/23

MG Fantasy 64K

10/25/22 EQ to another agent at this agency
10/26/22 FR from that agent
11/21/22 Referred to A Barr
11/28/22 Offer of Representation!
12/20/22 Signed!

48K MG NF

Received a polite and helpful rejection. My novel was previously self-published and I can understand why that would be seen as a negative, even if she points out that my premise and voice are interesting. Going to take this as a lesson and keep working at it.

"I'm sorry not to request the full manuscript or offer to represent you, but this isn't a good fit for my list. The premise and your voice are both interesting, and I'm glad you've received positive feedback from readers. However, it's very unusual for publishers to pick up a book that has already gone out into the world in one way or another. It's not impossible to get an offer for a self-published book, but when that happens it's usually because the book has sold so well that the publisher is happy to print the second run to an even wider audience. Without being able to demonstrate a large sales volume, I think it would be too difficult for us to garner interest in this manuscript. In my opinion, it's best to start writing your next novel and try going traditional with that one. Publishing is very subjective, and other agents may well feel differently.

I wish you all success in your career."

12/13 EQ
1/9 Full Request

65K YA Fantasy
1/11 Offer of Representation! :D

EQ 1/3
FR 1/9

Date Submitted: 12/04/22

Date Rejected: 01/06/23
SFF

EQ - 11/19/22
Nudge - 1/4/23
Form Rejection 1/5/23
MG Sci-fi Adv. - Last query for this manuscript.

Queried: 11/16/22 (Fantasy, 85k)
Request for full manuscript, including a "marketing statement": 11/23/22
Submitted: 11/24/22
Rejected: 1/2/23

Short, generic rejection letter saying this is "not the right manuscript for me". I'm fine with that as a response to a query letter, but when the agent requests I jump through additional hoops and prepare specialized material (that no other agency to my knowledge is looking for) AFTER reading my summary and opening chapter and still can't deign to do more than copy-and-paste a form statement in response, that's just an insulting waste of time.

EQ: 12/2/22
ER: 1/4/22 form rejection

romantic SFF @100,047k

Email Query: 11/19/22
Form Rejection: 1/2/23

"Thank you for sending me your query.

I'm sorry not to request the full manuscript or offer to represent you, but it isn't a good fit for my current list. Many things go into a decision to offer representation, and some have nothing to do with the quality of the manuscript. Publishing is very subjective, and other agents may well feel differently. You deserve an unequivocally enthusiastic agent as your advocate.

I wish you success finding it a home."

99k Fantasy Romance