Thread by @writingwkay

today, on the day i was hopeful about sharing exciting news, i feel foolish.

i was offered publication from sage & sparrow to now be told that they don’t have the capacity to take me on. i was given a deadline to respond within — which i did, to be met with this.

a 🧵

— honestly, there have been so many red flags throughout this process that i should’ve suspected things were bound to go wrong. but i feel especially wronged considering i had given myself 2 weeks to consider (industry standard) and responded within that timeline to get rejected?

— not only this, but i was made to ensure prior to the call (which wasn’t preficed as an offer call so i actually had to clarify that that’s what it was) that i was 100% sure about working with them. they monitored my tweets and DMed my to make sure. what was the point ????????

this was my email after the call, which during i was told they had to look over the manuscript again before offering (???) and then i got this response same day — still no contract in sight. sage and sparrow aren’t agents, they’re publishers. i shouldn’t have to exhaust —

— all my other options without even seeing anything in writing. but, i did. because i trusted them and trusted in their interest and intent. as agented writers themselves, both nick and elle should know that offering a contract for consideration is industry standard.

— honestly, i should’ve been wary of somewhere that signs authors consecutively within a period of a month? also, out of all those signed authors, there seems to be a reoccurring pattern in whiteness. i was wary, but trusted that they were only new. championing diversity ?

i feel wronged and left with little to no options for the story of my heart because i trusted in people who send offer emails from their iphone and emojis in a rejection email. i feel the fool for taking part in this and wish to prevent my friends from going through the same.

to add a final note, this was my response to their deplorable email. the difference in cadence and tone overall is actually insane. i’ve done my best to be kind, patient and open minded during this entire process — writers, please don’t make the same mistake. please be wary

i’ve been querying THOSE WHO BURN THE BRIGHTEST since january year with little to no luck — and sage & sparrow knew this, knew my hopelessness and gave me an inkling of hope. dream agent rejections, one on after the other, for what? this was their request from june. i feel played

if retweeting this helps any querying hopefuls, please do. i should’ve been more cautious with a publishing place that makes their personal into their official account to look like they have a larger following hhh. so so many 🚩
be careful with your books and your hearts, writers

i’m so happy for those signed with them, and wish them no ill-will — i just can only hope they’re getting the fair treatment they deserve. i want transparency around this because it’s never okay to treat writers like this, especially as writers themselves who KNOW what it’s like

i know some people may not understand the capacity to which this has affected me, or think me dramatic or stupid for speaking out. but i’m TIRED and i’m hurt and feel really stupid for losing agents who could’ve been so good for my story. i don’t want anyone to feel this hopeless

keep in mind that i’ve gone through the worst of the worst prior to sage&sparrow — attached is a screenshot of a tweet i made and deleted previously because the petty in me subsisted but nah i’m feeling it all today 😭😭😭😭 a little research about people goes a long way

YALL😭😭😭

just so y'all know — they don't follow me, nor have they ever followed me. everytime sage & sparrow bumped me or DMed me, it was regarding tweets they actively sought out from my account. they be keeping an eye out for selener and clearly, that hasn't changed.

blocked by one of the co-owners now! i can guarantee there will be no accountability for this. no apologies nor aim to do better. as they told me this was their full time job, after getting into my call late and eating food on camera, i suspect their business model is not so good

also, another note — as of this morning, i've received no response to my email nor any accountability. before, i was just wanting to warn writers to be wary, but now, i recommend you stay far away from sage and sparrow if you value transparency and genuine intentions

please 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

there are so many people in my DMs sharing their experience with me, it’s actually insane. we’re not alone in this and i’m not going quietly

do you not see??? the irony??? in this?????

oh wait because it doesn’t stop

another writer hurt by sage & sparrow