Agent response - standard response or positive feedback?

[kingh84]

Hi,

I received a rejection email from an agent and I was wondering if it was a particularly friendly, standard response or a little bit of personalised, positive feedback that I can see as encouragement going forward. Basically the agent began by saying that they were intrigued by my concept so they had been looking into it and enjoyed reading it. But then they went on to say that they didn't absolutely fall in love with it etc etc.

As I'm new to this I can't really tell if saying that they were intrigued and enjoyed reading it, is something an agent might have in a standard response and say to everyone, or if it's something personal I can feel good about?

TIA

[mike m.]

[quote="kingh84"]Hi,

I received a rejection email from an agent and I was wondering if it was a particularly friendly, standard response or a little bit of personalised, positive feedback that I can see as encouragement going forward. Basically the agent began by saying that they were intrigued by my concept so they had been looking into it and enjoyed reading it. But then they went on to say that they didn't absolutely fall in love with it etc etc.

As I'm new to this I can't really tell if saying that they were intrigued and enjoyed reading it, is something an agent might have in a standard response and say to everyone, or if it's something personal I can feel good about?

TIA[/quote]
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If they wrote by hand on the stock letter than they liked it but not enough.
You should try sending other material to that agent.

If it was just a typed letter they were not encouraging you.

[kingh84]

Hi, thanks for your reply. It was an email.

[mike m.]

[quote="kingh84"]Hi, thanks for your reply. It was an email.[/quote]

I would have to see it and the context.
Probably not encouraging.
But not a don't ever write me again message either.

If it looks personally written then mildly encouraging.
But if it was send them paragraphs 1 5 and 8 canned reply then at best neutral to discouraging.

[miketom]

A standard response is usually to thank you for your submission, but not what is needed at this time or not a fit for the publisher. In other words, typed and impersonal. If they said they liked it but not enough, take that as encouragement and not a Xeroxed answer.