While I was working on the MS, I got another e-mail from an agent asking for the full MS. I freaked out! I'm in the middle of revising and she wants a full MS! I e-mailed her back, telling her about my revisions and that I was only prepared to send her a partial. I didn't want to scare the agent away by not having a full MS because you shouldn't query without it being done (very unproffesinoal). I explained what had happened and that I hope she saw my honesty as to why I didn't have a full MS ready for her as a good thing. It meant that I was prepared to work hard and take my MS seriously. Two hours after e-mailing her, I got a reply. It was a rejection...but a hopeful one! A hopeful one? How can that be? Well, here's the e-mail I got:
This is really lovely and really painful to read. And I'm really torn. I'm glad you have two other agents expressing interest because I don't think I'm the right agent at this moment. I have a dear friend and a family member with both eating disorders you portray and I don't think I have the wherewithal to separate my emotions from my profession in this regard. But I am assured you will find, if you have not already, representation that could far exceed anything I could offer you at this time.
Wishing you nothing but success. With gratitude for the chance to have worked with you,
Agent J
She didn't sign it Agent J, I just don't want to put her name out there for everyone to see. I like this rejection because of a few things. First, she said it was both lovely and painful to read. That means it didn't suck!! It means that my writing brought feelings out in her. She didn't say this isn't publishable or that the voice just isn't there (one of the harder things to master). Second, she could relate to the story. It's sad that she has family and friends who are going through this. They might want to read my story when it finally gets published. It might help them! Third, she assures me that I will find representation! That's very hopeful. Some of you will probably think that all agents say something like that, but I don't care. It still makes me hopeful that I can make it all the way to publishing.
So in the end, it's a rejection...but I'm still shaking inside that someone would say those nice things to me and take the time to reply like that. I'm happy and even more pumped to continue with my revisions.