I've sent out more query letters than I can count at this point, all of which have, of course, been rejected. I've received some extremely pompous, self important responses from agents, and I've received many standard, form letter rejections that leave you wondering if they even read the query. The worst of which was sent just fifteen minutes after I sent the query.
For the first time since I started, I actually recurved a somewhat hopeful rejection. The agent explained that while my nice is the kind of work he's interested in, it didn't fully get his attention, so he decided to pass. But he reminded me that he's just one opinion in a highly subjective market, and wished me luck in my continuing search for representation.
It's still a rejection, of course. But for the first time in a long time, I don't feel absolutely crushed by it.
It's been so long, that it feels weird to feel hopeful for a change. But somehow, I actually do. Anyone out there reading this know any literary agents?