This query is part of the Be an Agent for a Day contest. Rules and Regulations here
Please post your rejection or manuscript request in the comment section!
Dear Agent for a Day:
I would like to submit a book proposal for your consideration. X-Agency represents authors whose books I read and has been well respected in the literary community for over thirty years. After speaking with , I feel my idea will be at home in your agency.
I am working on a non-fiction book entitled Transforming Feminisms. Its purpose is to broaden the traditional definition of what it means to be a ‘feminist activist’ and how feminist theory is derived. It will provide a how-to guide for engaging in unconventional methods of resistance that move beyond identity politics toward an intersectional movement. The project will include a collection of personal narratives
that represent a diverse group of women and men who are working for social change around the globe. These people will their share innovative strategies for changing the world along with the story of how they came to and are living their version of feminism.
A community organizer turned writer, my work has been published in online and print publications including AlterNet, Curve, In These Times, Marie Claire, Nerve, RH Reality Check, and Bitch Magazine. This will be my first book, though many of the contributors are published authors. I look forward to your reply.
Best,
Author
STATS: 6% request rate
Flemmily says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your submission. Unfortunately, I feel that your suggested compilation is not a fit for our agency.
Best of luck with your future endeavors,
Flemmily
Maria A says
Thank you for thinking of our agency, but not for us at this moment.
Best of luck,
Agent
Davien says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your submission, but this is not for me. I wish you luck in finding a home for your manuscript.
All the best,
Davien says
Dear Author,
This is one of those letters I loathe to write as an agent, because you have a great hook.
Subjectively, however, the material in THE CROWMAKER is not something I feel I could zealously represent as it would deserve.
I have no doubt, however, that you will be snatched up quickly, and I truly do wish you the best of luck.
Sincerely,
Jenn S. says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query. It’s not right for me, but please keep me in mind for future submissions.
Regards,
Jenn S.
(Reason: Nothing hooked me. The language was business/academic [e.g., “engaging in unconventional methods of resistance that move beyond identity politics toward an intersectional movement”]. Maybe retool the query to focus more on the people who are contributing their stories. )
Dana says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query. Unfortunately I am not interested in representing your book.
Regards,
Dana
Reasons: Not interested in the concept.
Loulou says
Thank you for your query. Although my main interest is fiction, I do see potential in your work. Please submit a non-fiction proposal, including outline and sample chapters at your earliest convince.
Janine says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query, but I am not the right agent for this. Best of luck.
Nora Coon says
Not right for us at this time. Best of luck.
***
Doesn’t grab me.
Alisa says
No, thank you.
Alisa.
Shannon says
Dear Author,
Thank you for submitting your query for TRANSFORMING FEMINISMS for review. Unfortunately, I am not the right person to represent this book. This is a subjective business so another agent may feel differently. Good luck.
Sincerely,
Shannon
Annie Reynolds says
Dear author
Thank you for taking the time to submit your query to the A.F. A.D. agency. Unfortunately I do not believe your novel is a good fit at this time, but please remember that this is a very subjective industry, so keep trying.
Good luck with your career.
Yours truly,
Annie Reynolds.
Anonymous says
Dear Author,
I’m sorry, but this story is not right for me. Thanks for sending me your request, I really appreciate it. Please continue writing.
Veronica Lovette
Anonymous says
I appreciate you letting me read this, but I’m going to pass.
S. Pancake
Anonymous says
Dear Pursuing Author,
After reviewing your query, I feel that what you have presented to us is just not going to fly in our market right now. Sorry but keep up the good work.
Sincerely,
Pepe Habanera
Aisling says
Dear Author,
I am sorry to inform you that I am not interested in your book. It does not fit with what I am looking for right now so I regret to tell you that, although I appreciated you sending me your query, I would not like to represent your work. I wish you the best of luck with your future writing!
Aisling
Anonymous says
Thank you for your query, though I don’t think I’m interested in taking your story idea. Keep on writing.
-Thanks,
Suzuki Volkeswagon
AgentforDay says
Dear Author,
I am very interested in exploring your proposal for TRANSFORMING FEMINISMS further.
Please forward your detailed proposal and several excerpts from your selected contributors.
Sincerely,
Agent for the Day
Anonymous says
Dear Author,
Your book is interesting and I feel it has some potential, but it’s not for me, thanks for the attempt though.
Sincerely,
Mitsubishi
Anonymous says
Dear writer,
I appreciate the query but your book is not what I am looking for at the moment. However, I wish you luck in getting this book published.
Best regards,
Nathaniel Orange
drat says
Dear Author,
Thank you for sending me your query. I gave it careful consideration, but ultimately I concluded I’m not the right agent for the book. As an agent, I am generally only strongly drawn towards fiction. However, I feel there is a place in the market for your manuscript, so keep trying!
Good luck, and query widely!
Thanks,
SDC
Anonymous says
Dear Author,
I appreciate your time and efforts, but I am sorry to say that I do not wish to represent your story. If you have another story idea, please send it to me in the future, and I would be happy to look at it.
Best Wishes,
Quintus Blackburn
Anonymous says
Dear writer,
I found your query intriguing and I’d like to represent you. Please send me the first fifty pages.
Gloria Valentine
Anonymous says
Dear Author,
I am not interested in your novel. Keep writing, your story had potential but was not for me. Feel free to Query me later with another piece of your work.
Anonymous says
Dear author,
I appreciate your query and found your concept interesting; however, it is just not what I am looking for. I look forward to future queries from you!
Thank you, Scarlett Cyrus
Anonymous says
Dear Author,
Thank you for the submission, but I regret to inform you that I will not be picking up your story.
Keep Writing,
Agent Jackie Moon
Anonymous says
Dear Author,
I have decided not to take up your offer on publishing this book. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to view your material.
Thank You,
Happy Gilmore
Dorothy says
Dear Author:
Thank you for your query. I am not currently adding to my non fiction list. If you continue to work on this premise and have not secured representation by September, query me again with a detailed out line and chapter titles. Include the names and bona fides of the contributers.
I am sure you are aware segments of our educated elite are certain that we are in a post feminist age. I expect you deal with that up front. Your success with that critique shapes your credibility as an expert.
I wish you well in your writing. This could be an important book.
Sincerely,
Honesty Is the Best Policy
LateInTheGame says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query. Unfortunately, I am not the best representative for your work.
Good luck in your search for representation.
All the best,
Agent LateInTheGame
Gryph says
Dear Author,
Thank you very much for your query. While I appreciate the time and effort you’ve put into your work, I don’t believe this is a good fit for me.
Please remember that what doesn’t fit one agent may well fit another! I encourage you to not give up. In the future, if you have other manuscripts to query, I hope that you’ll think of me again.
Sincerely,
Agent Gryph
Reba says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query. Unfortunately, it is not the right fit for me.
Best,
Reba
(Note: I think this has promise, but the query makes it seem more an academic text than the engaging narratives on social change I suspect the book actually contains. That said, I would probably read it, but I’m not sure I could sell it, which is why I’m passing.)
Kate H says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query, but I do not represent nonfiction.
Kate H
s.koncilja says
Dear Author,
I received and read your query. Unfortunately it is not something that I’m looking for at the moment.
Keep me informed about your future work and good luck!
Agent S.K.
superwench83 says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your submission. Unfortunately, your manuscript isn’t right for me. Best wishes in your search for an agent.
Sincerely,
Agent for a Day
publishingcareer says
Dear Author
Thank you for your interest in our agency and submitting your query for your non-fiction book Transforming Feminisms.
I read it with interest but unfortunately it is not what I am looking for.
Best of luck and kind regards.
Yours faithfully
Robert Sullivan AFAD
Melissa says
Form rejection:
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query. Unfortunately it doesn’t meet my needs at this time.
Thank you and best of luck,
Melissa (Ximera)
PCB says
Dear Author,
Thank you for submitting your query. We are not in a position to represent you at this time, but wish you all the very best in your writing endeavors.
Sincerely,
PCB
Dave says
Sorry, but I’m going to have to pass. Don’t give up though!
Nikki Hensley says
Dear Author:
Thank you for your submission. Unfortunately, I don’t think I am the right agent for this novel. Best of luck in your search!
Agent Nikki
Kendra says
Dear Author,
Thank you for submitting your work. Unfortunately, this is not a project I feel I can sucessfully represent. Good luck in your writing.
Kendra
vicariousrising says
Thank you for your submission. Please send me your book proposal and sample chapters. I look forward to having the opportunity to review your work.
Hildegarde512 says
Thank you for submitting however [If I were a real agent, a GENTLE FORM REJECTION would exist here].
Agent FaD Jen says
Dear Author,
Thank you for the query. Unfortunately, I am going to have to pass. Good luck,
Agent FaD Jen
Intersting premise, but the query could use some tightening.
Hallie says
Dear Author,
Thank you for submitting your query to My Imaginary Yet Successful Literary Agency. I receive many queries each day, and I request only a small percentage of manuscripts that I’m interested in representing. I have decided not to request one for your book because I don’t feel that I’m intrigued enough to be its best representative.
Should you need resources for querying, finding writing resources and groups, or if you’d like to know more about how I choose manuscripts, please visit (this section of my agency’s website) for more information. I wish you the best of luck in finding a home for your writing. Thank you again for giving me the opportunity to consider your work.
Warm regards,
Hallie
__________________________________
And if I were fortunate enough to be able to give some feedback to each and every author I declined, I’d note the following:
This was on my short list because I can see a variety of markets, including college classrooms, where this book would find a home alongside some of the field’s classics. In the end, I thought that it would be a harder sell than some of the other queries, and didn’t choose this one. (I know that the info would have been removed, but name-dropping some of the other authors here would have helped, since it can be hard to get non-fiction works published unless you’re really well-known in your field. I didn’t know from your query whether this was your field or just an interest.) Best of luck in finding representation.
Heather says
Dear Author,
Thank you very much for taking the time to query our agency. I have given your project thoughtful consideration; unfortunately, it is not a good fit for us at this time because, although the project is well conceived and well written, I do not typically represent this type of work and do not possess the necessary industry contacts to make a successful sale for you.
Sincerely,
Heather
abouttothunder says
Dear Author,
Thank you for the opportunity to represent your work. Unfortunately, it isn’t a good fit for me. Since you deserve an agent who will fully support you project, I will have to pass.
I wish you the best of luck in finding representation.
Sincerely,
Agent-for-a-day Sara
P.S. The query is too abstract. It needs specifics to hook a reader or an agent. Think about back cover blurbs. What would make a casual reader pick this up. In other words, how would it apply to me as a modern woman? Make it connect, and I believe there is potential. If it is meant as a more academic and scientific text, it’s necessary to make that clear. Such a book would have a much smaller, niche market.
Rik says
Thank you for submitting your book proposal – Transforming Feminisms – for my consideration. Regrettably, I do not feel that I am able to represent this work for you. Best wishes for your future endeavours. Agent Rik.
Anonymous says
Dear Author,
Please forward your completed manuscript for further consideration.
Thank you, PLJ
Rachel says
Dear Author,
I would be interested in seeing a proposal and sample chapters. Please forward them to me at your earliest convenience.
Thank you!
SuzieQ Agent4U says
Dear Author,
Thank you for your query. Unfortunately, I do not feel this book is right for me. Good luck with your search.
Best,
S