I used to work at a high tech firm in the Silicon Valley. I had 8 direct reports and some of my direct reports had direct reports. The thing about hiring people is that black and white qualifications might get you in the door, but it doesn't get you hired. I used to get a stack of resumes and I had less than a minute to spend on each of them. At this point, I'm looking for the qualifications on paper. But after an interview, I'm looking for that spark, that chemistry, that indefinable quality I can't put down on paper to justify why I'm hiring this person over another person who was just as qualified. It's the gut feeling that tells me that this person will make a good team member.
I recently received a rejection letter from an agent who wrote that she didn't feel the spark, the indefinable quality with my manuscript. I wrote back, asking if there was anything I could do differently to improve my synopsis (which I absolutely hate writing) or my manuscript. She replied that there wasn't. If she thinks of something later, she said she would let me know.
Of course, I was frustrated. I wish she had told me my grammar sucked or plot was weak or something. Something concrete that I could work on. But there was nothing. Nothing for me to work on to make myself feel I'm actually doing something constructive to better my chances next time.
Well, after a day of fussing over it, it finally occurred to me that I know exactly what this agent is talking about. She's not being difficult or vague. She just didn't feel the Chemistry. So, since that revelation, I've redoubled my efforts to send out more query letter to different agents who might see a spark or feel some chemistry with my book.
