The velvet hammer

I recently got a very nice–and prompt–rejection from a literary agent in response to one of the partials I had sent out. It was still a rejection, of course, but it was a heck of lot more palatable than getting one saying Don’t quit your day job. It was, essentially, a velvet hammer rebuff.

Here’s what it said:

“I read some of this [meaning my manuscript]. You write well and deserve an agent with the time to properly represent you and your work.

“That just isn’t me at this juncture; I can’t make that time available.

“I do wish you well with another agent and hope I come to regret the decision.”

Well, me, too.

But I bet if I were Steve Berry, the agent would have found the time.

For Buzz Bernard, it’s back to the query-letter factory.