Rejection #3

[EMMAXIS]

This is cut and pasted from my blog, "The Writer's Disease" which you can find by clicking where it says "see my website". I think it's good for a laugh.


Rejection #3: Thank You, Richard Henshaw
You know, it's strange, because getting these is a lot like a roller-coaster, in a bad way, because I am not too fond of sudden ups and downs. It's remarkable to think with how little ceremony it sits there, with all the other garbage from your mailbox, a plain white envelope on the kitchen counter in a pile of bills and coupons and advertisements for Chinese buffet. The sudden feeling of hope rises in your throat, despite your better judgment, despite knowing it's better to "never get your hopes up," and then, just as suddenly, there is a dull throb in your heart as you open it and realize it's just another rejection. You can just feel the hope drop out of you. Just like a roller-coaster ride.

But I can't blame Richard Henshaw. These agents/publishers have got this rejection letter writing business down to a science---it's like they really know what it feels like to be me (maybe they were writers once). Honestly, if people like Richard Henshaw ever need to find work, I think they could get into the business of helping people break up with their girlfriends/boyfriends/wives/husbands. Think of it:

"Thank you very much for considering a continued relationship with me. Unfortunately, you're not meeting with my current needs, so with regret I must pass on the chance to marry/settle down/keep dating/etc."

 

[Palfrey]

Honestly, if people like Richard Henshaw ever need to find work, I think they could get into the business of helping people break up with their girlfriends/boyfriends/wives/husbands. Think of it:

I remember hearing somewhere that someone actually did start that business - not in written form, but in person.

 

[N. E. White]

Ah, rejections. What's the worst rejection letter you ever got? (You meaning anyone out there. Come on, there's got to be some good ones out there.)

 

[MrBF1V3]

I saved a Peanuts comic where Snoopy got a rejection note: "Thank you for submitting your story to our magazine. To save time we are enclosing two rejection slips. One for this story and one for the next story you send us."

I've received a rejection letter that told me my story was not really a story at all.

I find it annoying when the rejection letter doesn't really say anything. "We are simply not excited about this project..."

It might be a little scary if they were.

B5

 

[EMMAXIS]

Ah, rejections. What's the worst rejection letter you ever got? (You meaning anyone out there. Come on, there's got to be some good ones out there.)

My worst rejection was for a contest, if that makes any sense. It was a contest for self-published novels. I sent them $100.00 and I expected to either win or lose. I had no idea they were going to send me a critique of the work! It basically stated that while they admired the hard work I put in, and some poetic usage of the language, that the prologue was too cliche. It was my first real rejection so I wept like a baby. Ah, good times. ;-)

Nick Alimonos

PS: I am doing what Stephen King did and taping my letters to my office wall, since, you know, all good writers are masochists.

 

[James Barclay]

I got loads of rejections on my way to being published. They're in a file, not on the wall but kept to remind me how long it took to actually become publishable.

Most are formula letters and a couple had a few words of advice - the latter are the ones to treasure because it means the editor was interested if only briefly.

Remember not to take any rejection personally (hard though that is, I know). There is a great deal of luck in getting published in addition to all the talent and originality stuff. Your book needs to land on the right desk on the right day. Not every editor will see your vision or appreciuate your style.

JK Rowling, Stephen Donaldson, Joe Abercrombie, Stephen King, me. What links us all is a bunch of rejection notes.

At least if you're getting rejection letters you've achieved the goal of making submissions. Most people don't even get that far.

 

[HellsGuardian]

PS: I am doing what Stephen King did and taping my letters to my office wall, since, you know, all good writers are masochists.

This! So badly it's true!

That and I can then look up at them and become determined to prove them wrong.

 

[N. E. White]

Hey James!

Thanks for stopping by. I saw your books at the local Borders this past weekend and thought...I need to start reading those...

You are on my list of authors to read. Which would you suggest I start with?

Thanks for the reminder that even folks like you got rejected, too.

I got loads of rejections on my way to being published. They're in a file, not on the wall but kept to remind me how long it took to actually become publishable.

I post mine on my blog.

 

[Jennifer P]

I have received some awful rejections over the years, but I would caution people NOT to post rejection letters anywhere. Any rejection letters. First of all, it actually violates the editor's copyright, esp. if it's a personal rejection. Second of all, it can make you look nothing but bad to that editor and any others. Even if you think you're educating others, or reminding yourself how long it took, it LOOKS like whining no matter how it's done.

 

[N. E. White]

Even if you think you're educating others, or reminding yourself how long it took, it LOOKS like whining no matter how it's done.

Hmmmm, hadn't really thought about that. Well, I had, but I figured who, honestly, actually reads them?

The copyright thing I hadn't thought about at all, and I suppose you are right. Bummer.

I got a distinct form of satisfaction from posting them. Not sure why. A sort of self-indulgence I should purge, no doubt.

 

[Jennifer P]

Editors routinely google people. They WILL find these things. Not even just novel editors, either. I've had magazine editors friend me on Facebook and LiveJournal before now, if nothing else.

You have to assume they will find what you post. The only time I publicly say something bad is if a publisher is an obvious scam or the like.

 

[N. E. White]

Editors routinely google people. They WILL find these things. Not even just novel editors, either. I've had magazine editors friend me on Facebook and LiveJournal before now, if nothing else.

You have to assume they will find what you post. The only time I publicly say something bad is if a publisher is an obvious scam or the like.

Well, I don't say anything bad about them. On the contrary, I often say horrible things about me, and nice things about them. Or, at least, neutral.

And, yes, I'm sure an editor or two has visited my blog. Okay, I'll remove them. (sigh)

 

[James Barclay]

tmso - glad I'm on your list. I think the best starting book is probably the first in my Elves trilogy. It's called 'Once Walked With Gods'. The trilogy charts elven history before The Raven. But if you want to start with The Raven (and why woldn't you because they are so loveable), try 'Dawnthief'.

On the other hand if you want big epic rather than action fantasy, then read, 'Cry of the Newborn' which is the first of the two Ascendants of Estorea books.

Back on topic now:

I would take those letters down too. However innocently you posted them, it might queer your pitch going forward. No harm done I suspect but best not to take chances. Keep em though cos one day you'll be able to look back and smile.

Take it easy and let me know what you choose to read.

 

[EMMAXIS]

Editors routinely google people. They WILL find these things. Not even just novel editors, either. I've had magazine editors friend me on Facebook and LiveJournal before now, if nothing else.

You have to assume they will find what you post. The only time I publicly say something bad is if a publisher is an obvious scam or the like.

But if it's just a standard rejection letter, simply stating that they're not interested, how exactly does that make me look bad? Editors should know that this is the norm for all writers, good or bad.

 

[EMMAXIS]

tmso - glad I'm on your list. I think the best starting book is probably the first in my Elves trilogy. It's called 'Once Walked With Gods'. The trilogy charts elven history before The Raven. But if you want to start with The Raven (and why woldn't you because they are so loveable), try 'Dawnthief'.

On the other hand if you want big epic rather than action fantasy, then read, 'Cry of the Newborn' which is the first of the two Ascendants of Estorea books.

Back on topic now:

I would take those letters down too. However innocently you posted them, it might queer your pitch going forward. No harm done I suspect but best not to take chances. Keep em though cos one day you'll be able to look back and smile.

Take it easy and let me know what you choose to read.

I find there is a consensus regarding posting rejection letters on a blog, and who am I to argue? The problem, however, is that my blog exists as the story of my journey toward publication. If editors Google me, they'll learn all kinds of things about me and my past failures; there is really no way to avoid it unless I submit queries under a pen name. And why should that hurt me anyway, when we've all had similar journeys? I have to believe what really matters is the quality of the writing.

Come to think of it, there is A LOT of dirt on me on the Internet. If editors base their decisions on Google, I'm screwed.

N. Alimonos

 

[KatG]

But if it's just a standard rejection letter, simply stating that they're not interested, how exactly does that make me look bad? Editors should know that this is the norm for all writers, good or bad.

It's not going to make you look bad, but they would prefer that you take them down. The reason being, not every writer is as sane about these things as you. Even though it's just a form letter, I've had people explain to me many conspiracies from the language in the form letter -- they read this stuff wrong. So I'd suggest that you just say in your blog that you got a rejection from such and such place, rather than post the actual letters. And there is a faint possibility that an editor might think you have big gripes from posting those letters, which could be a mild factor if they're on the fence about your work.

An editor isn't going to Google you unless they're interested in your stuff, though. They don't have time.

 

[EMMAXIS]

It's not going to make you look bad, but they would prefer that you take them down. The reason being, not every writer is as sane about these things as you. Even though it's just a form letter, I've had people explain to me many conspiracies from the language in the form letter -- they read this stuff wrong. So I'd suggest that you just say in your blog that you got a rejection from such and such place, rather than post the actual letters. And there is a faint possibility that an editor might think you have big gripes from posting those letters, which could be a mild factor if they're on the fence about your work.

An editor isn't going to Google you unless they're interested in your stuff, though. They don't have time.

Well, that's good to know. And thanks for the advice, KatG, and a thanks to you as well, James Barclay. Every bit helps. I have already taken down the rejection letters themselves from my blog, kept the humorous anecdotes.

 

[poser765]

Well, this isn't a publisher rejection but pretty gnarly all the same. I applied for an airline and waited about a month to hear anything back from them. Other people were getting calls within days. I finally get a thanks, but no thanks email right in the middle of passing a kidney stone. I was to drugged up to be upset but as soon as I came down I was devastated. Silly part is a month later they called me to interview and now I start on the 1st.

 

[PeteMC]

Only number three? Nick, mate, and I hate to say it, but get used to them - a lot of us have way more rejections than that on file!

 

[Jennifer P]

Yeah.

I can't count that high. On rejections, that is.