Nathan Bransford - The Forums

So, I sent out a query, took the effort to research the agent's client list, learned his likes and dislikes for submissions, and I took the time to research what kinds of authors he wanted to add to his client list. I think it's safe to assume I got his name right, though for some unfathomable reason many authors don't. I followed his guidelines, did everything he asked in a professional, polite manner. In return, he took the time to read everything I sent him, even crafted a polite, personal rejection. All very nice, and I would recommend this agent except for one small detail: he got my name wrong. A name that's in my email address, and more importantly a name that's properly spelled out in at the end of my letter (after I said "Sincerely").

Has this ever happened to you? How did you deal with it? Of course I'm not going to write back, that would be rude. But it's still weird. I mean, my name is kinda unique. It's Giles...not Glenn.

Yep, it's happened to me, twice.

Once on a personalized and very complimentary rejection on a partial----completely botched my last name (which was clearly written all over the previous emails and at the top of every page of my partial).

Other time was in a form rejection.

Still better to have the misspelled name than the "Dear Author" response. Everyone makes mistakes---but to just address someone as "author" and not even take the time to glance at their name and type it in when the person has spent hours personalizing a letter to you and following your exact submission guidelines just adds a little extra sting to an already painful process.

I would personally find this irritating, but I also completely understand how it can happen. Agents get hundreds of queries a week. For an agent to respond even by name is more than many of them do. They are completely swamped - it really is just a reality.

On the other hand, there is a silver lining. If you ever re-write this book and the query, you could probably safely submit to this agent again - they won't recognize your name. ;)

Honestly, until you become a client (or the agent has at least expressed interest in representing you), I don't think there's much to complain about. Yes, it's a little annoying, and would make anyone feel overlooked, but he did his job in responding to your query/manuscript -- and even with a personal rejection. I'd consider it a slip of a busy professional juggling all sorts of correspondence. Since the rejection was a good, personal one, I'd give him a pass and not think about it again.

As someone who is really horrible about mixing up names, I'd suggest patience and understanding! I've even messed up clients names in e-mails. It's not personal, I wouldn't take it as such.

Anyone who corresponds with many individuals a day, say in your paperful day job, will do this occasionally. It's nothing worth dwelling on, though when it happens to you on a rejection, it's just that little bit of unintentional insult added to the unfortunate injury.

It happens. No big deal.

Now, when they get the title of your manuscript wrong, that leads to some questions...