dropped by my literary agent

[theotherfossilsister]

because my work 'just won't sell in this climate.'

I fought so hard to get an agent, and I am floored. Struggling with infertility too, and now this.

I feel like I have been hit.

What a shame. I did see Louise Buckley at Zeno is currently open for submissions if your genre fits with what she's looking for?

Thank you @LouisaMayAlcott - I will have a look at what she's wanting.

Hi, that’s rubbish, I feel your pain to some extent as I also had an agent but my novel didn’t sell - I’ve not been dumped officially but feel I probably have as had no communication for months (feels like being dumped by ghosting!) I’m getting on with my second novel but feels like an uphill battle!

What stage did you get to with your agent? Had she just taken you on or had she submitted and wasn’t getting offers from publishers? It’s a strange comment - is there something particular about your theme that won’t sell or are publishers just not really moving at moment? People are certainly reading!!

It does suck, especially when you think you’ve made it when you get an agent - and hardly anyone in real life actually gets it, so it is quite a lonely kind of rejection.

On the positive side you have been freed to submit to other agents - and if you can get signed once it can happen again. Fingers crossed!

Sorry to hear that. It seems a tiny bit odd - a good agent is taking you on for the long-term though I know some authors do get dropped if the first book doesn't sell to publishers, if the working relationship doesn't work or the author doesn't take on feedback from the agent.

That said, publishing has been affected, publishers and agents have furloughed employees and advances are reduced for work that does sell. Publishers have put launches on hold and agents are keeping back some books from auction until the new normal when think the advances would be better.

Try to be positive, OP, and use the endorsement from having secured an agent to get a better one and carry on working on your next bestseller.

Good luck.

thank you @Zilla1

I was really shocked and devastated. Getting an agent felt like the dream, and I worked so hard on my little book making the edits.

The pain, and shock, comes in waves. She is with a reputable agency, and represents several authors I admire. I had didn't know she'd drop me just like this. I wrote a blog about it last night, just on my own Medium site, and feel better.

Are you guys writers too? Has anyone else been through this?

@Howtotrainyourhamster sorry just saw your response above Zilla's. That is dreadful. Ghosting is even worse, it's so cowardly, and while I know they are busy, I really think it isn't terribly professional.

It's fantastic you've started novel 2. At the moment I just feel so sad about novel 1 and all the work I put into it. I shortlisted for several competitions with it, so feel it must have something and I cannot let it go, but maybe it's a bit of an albatross (it feels like such a betrayal saying that about my own book, though, my travelling companion for these past five years.)

I'm writing commercial/women's fiction, and I did change tack after our initial agreement, but she said it was OK. She didn't take the novel to anyone, just said 'it will no longer work.'

We met on an industry scheme to introduce under represented groups to agents, and it was great.

I would post my blog about it, but don't want to identify myself.

What are you guys all writing?

Maybe we could swap manuscripts? My novel went to lots of my friends who all said it was wonderful, etc, but I think I need some harsher feedback than that.

Oh so sorry @theotherfossilsister. Your writing clearly has something, if you got an agent, and you have been shortlisted for competitions, so hang on to this. How far and wide did you send the MS out initially? Could you start submitting again?

Fwiw, amongst the writers I know even getting an agent is no guarantee of publication. I know a few others who have parted with their agents, and others whose books haven't sold. So take strength from the fact you're not alone, and if her heart wasn't in it, she was the wrong agent for you.

Thank you @thereplycamefromanchorage

I did send it out to about six agents initially. Not to this one, though. Two came back and said no, but we'd like you to consider us if you write anything else, and you've not got an agent. Four came back as standard rejections.

I then met this agent at a scheme for under-represented writers (BAME/LGBT/Working Class/Disabled) and showed her some of my writing. This was in 2017 and I guess I very much pinned everything on her. We originally agreed I would write an entirely different book, but I had the novel and it was calling to me, and when the other book (non fiction) started making me ill (it was about a very personal topic, although exploring the scientific side of it, combined with memoir) she told me she would look at the novel. A year ago she described it as exciting and asked for a full rewrite, which I did.

On Tuesday she dropped me.

The positive things are, the rewrite has made the novel far stronger, her email included a lot of (quite harsh) feedback, explaining why it won't work in this climate. Some of it I disagree with. Some of it I can use, though.

I guess there were other indicators she was the wrong agent along the way, but I clung to her as my agent. I loved saying 'My Agent.'

Happy to send the blog with the full story of what happened to anyone as a pm, but not happy to share a blog with my name on here.

It's been a horrible few days. I'm scared of redundancy because of Covid and kept thinking of the novel as a life line. (If I sell this I will be OK for a bit if made redundant, etc, lots of silly grand day dreams.)

Has anyone else on here been through this?

I’m really sorry OP

I do creative writing too and had applied to a free scheme

I actually withdrew my application because even if I get accepted, I can’t afford the extra travel and if there’s any way to work extra hours, I will be doing that with any free time.

My impression is that publishers are on freeze, even though they might not say it. I presume they will make more profit from their backlists and possibly celeb stuff.

The only business writer I know has lost most of her work and the only current piece she has, she’s been asked to rewrite in the context of covid 19.

I wonder if you’d be better considering self publishing.

I know publishers work a long game but even then, it will be a long time before they accept a newbie, I think.

I’d be interested in reading your blog btw.

Thank you @LilacTree1

It is hard. I'd like to fight for the traditional route a little longer.

It sucks about the free scheme, which one was it?

Maybe there are some publishers who will fight for new voices? Maybe...I hope.

Will PM you now. x

I don’t want to give out personal info

I should add, I had a feeling they would try to run the scheme online maybe and I’d need a new computer etc which I can’t afford

But I just cannot treat writing as a priority

Tbh I don’t know if it would just be a lot of people sharing ideas, which wouldn’t be worth the travel costs.

Sorry, bit of a tangent!

Small presses are probably the best bet for new work?

Sorry to hear that OP, it must suck. I got ghosted myself - had somewhat astonishingly blagged myself quite a high-powered 'name' who with hindsight probably wasn't the best fit and it certainly worked out that way. Just stopped responding to emails (even the one with the manuscript of the next book) and didn't return phone calls. My only consolation is that clearly that wasn't a relationship that was going to work long-term... Never have found another agent since (and it's been several years now) which stings a bit. I'm still plugging away though... If it helps, think of it as a VERY nice rejection - they say anything more than a standard rejection should be sent as encouraging, right?!

@Lilactree1

Can you contact Spread the Word, or The Good Literary Agency? I have been looking at them, and they seem to offer opportunities to writers from all backgrounds?

Thank you @QueenRefusenik - It is horrible, but yes, I guess good we both got this far? I still can't see it as nice. It was harsh, and it wasn't like a rejection (have learnt how to deal with these) it was a loss, but I will get over it.

I think agents who ghost are incredibly unprofessional. I am glad she told me. I guess. Or I will be glad, soon.

Sorry, I probably shouldn’t have posted

Knee jerk reaction

I’m not in a position to devote time to something that doesn’t pay

I pulled out of a scheme because of this, as I said in my first post

Sorry, really was stupid to post. I’m sorry for adding to confusion or muddle. I should lie down for a bit before resuming the job hunting!

I'd love to see your blog, please. I've not got as far as an agent so you're ahead of me. I've been ghosted after revise and resubmits in the past which was harsh enough, can only imagine how disappointing this must be for you. I've had a shortlisting and a long listing so far with my current book but getting it into print seems about as feasible as going to the moon. Also identify with the income uncertainty - I've had so many jobs over the last few years, if this one goes I have no clue what I will do next!

Oh sorry @Lilactree1 I thought you meant you weren't in a position to commute/spend money on courses, etc. I hope you're OK. It wasn't stupid at all. Life is so bloody hard at the moment for all of us.

@TrafalgarSquare thank you, I will PM you. Happy to do a manuscript swap?

I think I would rather have been told (and yes I reckon ghosting is pretty unprofessional!) but it obviously sucks either way. And I don't know about you but my resilience to rejection is a lot lower right now! To be fair to mine, he had tried to sell the manuscript but wasn't getting anywhere as it fell a bit between two stools - the feedback I was getting before being ghosted was that no one quite knew how to market it (character-driven cyber thriller). This was years ago tho, maybe in this post-Killing Eve era it's worth dusting off again?! Anyway, the point is hang on in there. You're good enough to have gotten an agent once even if it was only temporary and while the rejection stings, try and see it as a vote of confidence in the long run!

Wow thanks! Love the memoir idea as well. A nervous yes to swapping but I should warn you my material isn't v cheerful. Will email!

Thank you @QueenRefusenik - I thought we might have had the same agent, but I guess not if yours is a man. I get they are busy but ghosting is unkind and dishonourable.

As for resilience, mine was really low at the moment. I am furloughed and scared this will lead to redundancy (I cannot see a way it won't lead to some redundancies where I work if it goes on for any longer) and struggling with infertility stuff, and kept thinking, at least I have this. Then I didn't. I guess there's a lesson there somehow, and I do feel better today.

Thank you @TrafalgarSquare yes, please email. My material is light and dark, I guess? x

First of all, OP, you got an agent and you had interest from other agents even if your novel wasn’t right for them. You clearly have potential but your work hasn’t got in front of the right person yet.

Now is a good time to submit to agents; I know that a lot are actively looking right now. It must be gutting to be dropped and I really feel for you. Absolutely lick your wounds and allow yourself to grieve. Rejection is hard and this is a cruel one BUT it means that this agent was the wrong person to represent you. Another agent will be right.

Get the Writers & Artist’s Yearbook and make a list of potential agents who represent your genre and have authors you admire and feel your work is comparable with. Use the feedback to polish your manuscript and write a killer cover letter. Send it out again in a batch of 8-10 agents. Keep trying. Rejection is so common in this business. But you have already got further than most. Don’t give up.

(For reference, I’m an author so I hope I have an idea what I’m talking about)

Thank you @CaptainBrickbeard

One of my colleagues actually left a print out of my manuscript outside my door on Tuesday, all covered in suggested edits, but it was the same hour I got the rejection, and I barely glanced at it.

Getting it out today and having a look through.

I also promised to do a piece of very personal writing as a gift for a friend, and have not yet done it, so may throw myself into that.

Do you think if I give it four weeks while I am furloughed and treat it as a nine - five job, it will still be a good time to send it off? I am hoping only to be furloughed four more weeks...

Thank you so much for your reply, for everyone's reply. I am finding this thread and the suggestion, ideas and shared experiences, healing.

Definitely, use the time now, it's a gift!