March 2, 2009

Rejection is no fun for anyone, but it’s even harder when we don’t know why we got rejected. It doesn’t matter if it’s your boyfriend who dumps you in high school or the agent (or editor) who rejects your manuscript with no reason.

We want reasons! We want to know why so we can “fix” the problem. (Or we want to argue them out of their decision.)

From the Horse’s Mouth.

I read several articles lately by an agent (Rachelle Gardner) on why agents and editors don’t tell you why your manuscript, query, or proposal is being rejected. The blog posts are good food for thought. I think you’ll find the information helpful, both in understanding the form rejection and seeing what NOT to do if you get a personal rejection with an explanation.

Here’s the view from the other side of the desk:

• “Why It’s Hard to Tell the Whole Truth”
• “Frustrated with Your Rejections?”
• “Rejection Without a Reason”

I think Rachelle’s advice about finding a critique group or partner, or a paid critique editor, is an excellent idea. I’ve found both very valuable–and I get honest feedback that way.

Where do YOU find honest feedback for stories and queries?

8 Comments »

1. 

   Would I be goofy if I said that rejection doesn’t bother me much? I study to get my writing the best it can be, run things through my writer’s critique group to help work out bugs I might be blind to, and send out the best work I can do. But even then, people have different tastes and editors are just people. There are plenty of published books out there that I don’t personally care for, so I don’t expect every editor to either like or have a need for my stories. I just try to pick the editors that I think are most likely to need or want them. I’ve worked with several very nice editors. They are always encouraging, but have specific publishing needs.

   Comment by Beth Mac — March 2, 2009 @ 2:10 pm

2. 

   Beth, your post is full of words of wisdom. You have a very healthy “take” on rejection and not taking it personally. While I don’t either anymore, it took many years to get to that point. Until I read THE WRITER’S BOOK OF HOPE, I didn’t know other established writers got rejected regularly. I honestly thought it was just me. I didn’t have the healthy perspective you have. If a writer has shaky self-esteem already, rejections are pretty rough. (I remember the tears!) But the sooner we can get to the perspective you wrote about, the better off we’ll be.

   Comment by Kristi Holl — March 2, 2009 @ 4:37 pm

3. 

   It’s only late at night when I’m so tired I don’t know which way is up that I have terrible self-doubt! The rest of the time I figure I’m having fun writing, so if I’m not another Laura Wilder, it’s no big deal. I’ll just be me!

   Comment by Beth Mac — March 2, 2009 @ 6:15 pm

4. 

   Its good to see that I’m not the only one not bothered by rejection. I wasn’t always this way. It took me time to learn that each rejection is just one step closer to an aceptance. As you say Beth, every editor/agent has their own taste and maybe I qualify this time, maybe not. So far I haven’t had any rejections but I haven’t had any acceptances either… that’s because I am still learning and want to give myself a bit of time to “perfect” my craft before I submit so that I am submitting my best work – whether it is accepted or rejected. Once I complete my course I feel I will better understand the mechanics of writing and will be better equiped to actually send out my work rather than just hoarding it.
   PS – Thanks for the blog Kristi. I find it very helpful. I look forward to reading more about writing.

   Comment by Ally M — March 3, 2009 @ 9:01 am

5. 

   Ally, I think you’re very wise to wait and be sure you’re submitting your best writing. I know that some writers use that as an excuse to never submit anything for years and years, but far too many writers these days submit before they’ve had time to learn their craft or work to improve or read what’s been published. Thinking about the issue ahead of time will help you when the time comes though–you’ll start off with a better attitude, I expect.

   Comment by Kristi Holl — March 3, 2009 @ 9:53 am

6. 

   I awarded this blog the YOUR BLOG IS FABULOUS award, because I love your fearlessness is showing the underside of writing and being honest about how things like fear, rejection, etc. hit you while helping the rest of us to consider and deal with these issues.

   Comment by PatriciaW — March 3, 2009 @ 10:08 am

7. 

   Patricia, thanks so much for the award–and for alerting me to some other great writing blogs. I appreciate your kind words. I firmly believe if we deal with the “underside of writing,” as you put it, that we can keep from having our dreams derailed nearly so often. Facing the fears and writing anyway–it works!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — March 3, 2009 @ 12:57 pm

8. 

   Thanks for linking those! I love Rachelle’s blog!

   Comment by Avily Jerome — March 3, 2009 @ 4:21 pm

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