Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises should get an award for efficiency in the generally inefficient field of literary submissions.
Many agencies use a form letter (stuffed in the self-addressed stamped envelope provided by the author).
Ms. Amster, or, more likely, her assistant, did one better: she wrote “Thanks, but not for us. Best of luck.” at the top of my query letter and sent that back to me in my SASE. Am I alone in thinking that’s in poor taste?
In other news, I still haven’t heard back from the agent who requested the full MS. And that, I think, is a good thing. It means she’s reading it. And hopefully liking it.
Eww. Yes, that IS in poor taste. At least I’m warned — I’m going pitch her soon.