Do literary agents actually read query letters or do they all use the same auto-reject system to weed out the?

Question

newbies who haven't established a track record?

I took the time to craft a very professional and polite 'textbook style' query and sent it to 3 different agencies and they all sent back the same exactly worded, coldly impolite mechanical reply. I think they should/could at least send back a personal rejection note with my name on it, at least. Is that asking too much?

I know that everyone says how busy these 'pros' are, but in my busy profession, I'm still expected to be courteous and polite. Why can't they? I can understand and respect that they want spend their time on the authors that they know will sell. But how about a little of that courtesy that they expect from us in the query letter?

Answer 1

They have unpaid interns read them. The interns read roughly 100 of them a day and perhaps pass one a day up the food chain.



Because they aren't making any money (and are young) they just send out a pre approved rejection letter, because writing hundreds of personal notes a week without pay would suck.

Answer 2

I was reading an agent blog recently and learned that agents (and publishing houses) recieve somewhere between 4000 to 10,000 queries a month. Most agencies have approximately 3 to 6 working agents (for smaller companies) and 6 to 25 agents (for a large company) with only a few people working support postions. Now that the economy is poor, they are even cutting back on those positions.

It may mean that more 'form' letters are sent out and less 'personal' letters.

Check out the websites below. Blogs by agents who are currently working in the field. Compare your letter to what they post as 'worst' and 'preferred'. If you find your letter stands up to the 'preffered' samples then keep sending it out. Eventually it will get a bite, unless it is the work itself that no one is interested in.

Answer 3

My first day on the job as a public relations writer I had to write 15 rejection letters to the other candidates who were called in for an interview but failed to land the job because I did. It was time consuming and a very unpleasant task. By the way, Jesse above is correct.

Answer 4

The fact that they send you any reply, whether it is the answer you want or not, is courteous and polite.



Form rejection letters are used because if literary agents didn't have them they would spend all their time writing rejection letters and little time actually working. Be glad they have form letters, at least they respond.



Just keep querying agents and working on your letter. I am sure you have worked very hard on it, but there is always room for improvement. Check out http://www.writersdigest.com They have articles on what agents REALLY want to see in a query letter and articles and tips on how to craft the perfect query letter.



Good luck.

Answer 5

No, I think you're just over rating yourself.



With an unsolicited manuscript, you should just be happy they send you a form letter, the equivalent of voice mail or an unhelpful receptionist. You're somewhere barely above the sketchy, cold-call toner salesmen that plague every business with a phone.