Yikes. Was that the story or the agent query?

Remember, when rejections are really quick, it sometimes means they're simply over-inventoried.

That was the agent query. I'd be surprised if I have any success, I don't have any credentials, it's a pretty tepid subgenre, and I don't think the story pitches especially well. But still a better chance than not trying.

"Pursue any goal, seek any job, ask anyone out...there are thousands of people to tell you you are not good enough, but do not do their work for them...if they say no, they may not be smart enough to say yes." --Keith Olbermann (One day I'll live this, instead of typing it.)

You've earned your first merit badge, Gud. Hold onto it. And keep sending.

Better a fast rejection than the policy that some agents have adopted of "no answer is the same as a rejection," especially when it comes to email queries. Unless they have an autoresponse in place that lets the sender know the query was received, then you have no way of knowing whether it's a rejection or they never got the query in the first place.

I still have some non-responses from when I was querying agents two years ago. It's bad practice, IMO.

But still.... a R sucks, but you did something most people don't have the guts to do, Gud, so keep going. Like Amy said, you've earned your first merit badge.

that stinks Gud - boomerang that baby back out!

I'll join you on the R bench, Gud. Just heard from my editor that she's passing on my ghost YA proposal. It's too ethereal for her. I know, I know... ghost story, but she likes more grounded in reality stories and this one, while fairly straightforward as ghost stories go, is a bit much for her.

It's disappointing on the one hand, but on the other, it's kind of exciting because now it's going to go out on a wider submission and my agent knows of at least 5-6 editors who are looking for ghost YA. So... once more unto the breach, my friends.

Aw, I'm sorry, Barb. But I'm glad it's going out to some other editors.

we need to get some acceptance~ma going! Gud, for your short story submission, acceptance~ma! Barb, acceptance~ma aimed at any one of your new 5-6 editor prospects.

eta: pompoms, fizzy drinks, and a kick-line of better outcomes

I'm sorry to hear that, Gud and Barb.

(gives the YA proposal she's supposed to be working on the side-eye)