“I’m Sorry This Wasn’t a Match…” 

When it comes to rejecting a manuscript, it’s not personal—it’s business. 

As an author, I have always wondered how agents could reject manuscripts so readily without even an apology letter that says, “I love your effort, please keep trying (ha ha).” Now I get it. In a day, I received over a dozen manuscripts to read and review, and they continue to roll in. 

I’m new to this gig, so I can’t even imagine what the seasoned top-tier literary agents receive each day—a gazillion? That said, I can’t represent all these manuscripts because they aren’t all a good fit for me. So, I’m forced to say “No, thank you, I’m sorry this wasn’t a match.” 

I’m fortunate to work with a team of professionals who care deeply about their author clients.

Our fearless leader is a model of kindness in supporting all authors, client or not. That said, the kind and caring culture at The Purcell Agency makes it a challenge when we have to say “no” to a project.

And as an agent, I’ve learned a lot in the last twenty-four hours, including how it feels personal to have to say “no.” Trust me when I say this stings as much for the agent as it does the author. I’ve been on both sides of this fence and have total empathy for the author because I have my own stack of rejections. 

You can easily see from Books Uplift that I’m rooting for all authors’ success. But when I put on my agent hat, I’ve quickly learned that to do justice to the manuscripts I love, I must say “no” to others. 

But I also know the right agent is out there who will fall in love with the manuscript. Good luck, keep writing, and keep submitting. 

I’m doing the very same, my friend! 

I hope this article gave you a few useful ideas. I would be honored if you shared it on social media. Speaking of sharing, please share your ideas and experiences below. Together, we can build an uplifting community that uplifts each other’s happiness, well-being, creativity, and success.