Chronicles of an aspiring author - the empty envelope
- By Emily Kieson
- Published Thursday 8th 2007
Emily Kieson
Emily currently lives in Austin TX and spends most of her time writing and enjoying the weather. She loves to write stories and screenplays for all ages. When she's not writing, Emily is teaching horseback riding, working as a vet tech, or painting.
Let's recap: I've written a few novels and a few screenplays and am currently flooding the market with queries for both. Alright, that's not entirely true. I stopped trying to query agents and production companies a few weeks ago when I determined that the impending WGA strike was inevitable. But, prior to that, I sent off about 250 query letters for one of my screenplays and have probably queried a total of about 50 or 60 agents and editors for one of my novels.
I have since received about 35 rejections for my screenplay and over 20 for my novel. While these numbers can be a bit discouraging, they don't deter me from writing or submitting my work. In fact, out of the 20 or so actual responses I've received for my novel, five people have asked to read the entire book and most stated that, although they like my work, they don't think they can represent me. Although rejection is never easy, I find these types of rejections almost encouraging.
It's the empty envelopes I don't like.
When submitting a query I always, always, always send a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope (SASE) for their response. I completely understand that some companies and publishers simply don't have the time to respond at all, even if it means a simple note on my letter returned in the SASE I've conveniently provided. They are hounded with hundreds of similar letters every week and, although it may seem like a simple quick task to write a note, fold an existing general
rejection letter or card, and place it in my SASE, it adds up. Multiply two minutes times three hundred letters and...you get the picture. So I don't mind when they don't respond...at all.
But I occasionally get an empty SASE in the mail. This I don't understand. If someone took the time to open up my letter, take out the SASE, actually seal it shut and put it in the mail, why couldn't they write a simple "No Thanks" on my existing letter and stuff it inside? I've gotten plenty of return envelopes with a "This isn't for me" or "No Thanks" or "I'll Pass" written on my query and returned. Despite the fact that I'd rather get a form rejection, at least these people took the time to respond with something. And I can even handle the absence of an envelope since hundreds of companies simply discard unsolicited queries without even opening them.
But the empty envelope gives me no feedback at all. There is no indication of who sent it back and therefore no data for my spreadsheets. Honestly, I would have been happier if they stole my SASE and used the stamp for something else. These empty envelopes are a waste of postage.
I've decided, however, on my next query blast, to include a small note inside the SASE to let me know who received the envelope should it return empty. I'll write a little note to myself inside the flap to inform me where it was sent so that I can record it upon receipt.
I should also include a small note to myself hidden in these envelopes that says something like "You're doing great, Em, keep writing."
I have since received about 35 rejections for my screenplay and over 20 for my novel. While these numbers can be a bit discouraging, they don't deter me from writing or submitting my work. In fact, out of the 20 or so actual responses I've received for my novel, five people have asked to read the entire book and most stated that, although they like my work, they don't think they can represent me. Although rejection is never easy, I find these types of rejections almost encouraging.
It's the empty envelopes I don't like.
When submitting a query I always, always, always send a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope (SASE) for their response. I completely understand that some companies and publishers simply don't have the time to respond at all, even if it means a simple note on my letter returned in the SASE I've conveniently provided. They are hounded with hundreds of similar letters every week and, although it may seem like a simple quick task to write a note, fold an existing general
But I occasionally get an empty SASE in the mail. This I don't understand. If someone took the time to open up my letter, take out the SASE, actually seal it shut and put it in the mail, why couldn't they write a simple "No Thanks" on my existing letter and stuff it inside? I've gotten plenty of return envelopes with a "This isn't for me" or "No Thanks" or "I'll Pass" written on my query and returned. Despite the fact that I'd rather get a form rejection, at least these people took the time to respond with something. And I can even handle the absence of an envelope since hundreds of companies simply discard unsolicited queries without even opening them.
But the empty envelope gives me no feedback at all. There is no indication of who sent it back and therefore no data for my spreadsheets. Honestly, I would have been happier if they stole my SASE and used the stamp for something else. These empty envelopes are a waste of postage.
I've decided, however, on my next query blast, to include a small note inside the SASE to let me know who received the envelope should it return empty. I'll write a little note to myself inside the flap to inform me where it was sent so that I can record it upon receipt.
I should also include a small note to myself hidden in these envelopes that says something like "You're doing great, Em, keep writing."
