Encouragement Means So Much

In all of my years interacting with authors, I can honestly say I have never felt more inspired than I did at a recent online chat. The event was a scheduled chat for the promotion of my new book. I left that chat feeling more encouraged and proud of my career choice than ever before.

So many times in the publishing business, work loads and shortness of hours in the day prohibit us from taking time to show courtesy, to inspire, and to share with those who come to us for guidance. Prohibit? In all honesty, can we really say that? No, not really. My inbox holds no less than a couple dozen queries a day and double that on my desk. Still, the senders deserve something more than a generic “Thanks, but no thanks.”

In the middle of the chat, writers asked me questions. But I had one of my own. I needed to know their genuine thoughts on form rejections. All (every-one-of-them) said a short hand written note meant so much. I do try to write a quick note, but sometimes—I have to admit—I have send form letters.

Editors utilize form letters every day. It is part of the business. It is not likely to cease. But that doesn’t mean that I have to follow suit, does it? Of course not!

Just as I want encouragement and tangible feedback from my pitches, writers who pitch to me want the same. It is important that agents set a standard and a good place to start is in the way we conduct ourselves in the replies we send. Our words have the power to shape or shatter. I, for one, will be an agent that shows courtesy, even when replying to something that is totally off the mark for what I generally represent.

Encouragement goes a long way. Let us all engage in the practice. Who knows? It may be our time for rejection, soon. Do we want anything less than professional and inspiring advice? I think not. So what about those queries that are nothing less than awful? Honesty is important. Focus on one positive point in the query and draw from that. Use that point to encourage the write in a way that will help strengthen his or her writing.