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I subscribe to many newsletters and blogs. One blog is Perspectives On Writing by Linda Jo Martin. She gave permission to reprint her entry about rejections for this newsletter.
After I use her blog entry, I'll sum up my feeling about rejections.
Please visit her web site at http://www.lindajomartin.com.
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Rejecting Rejection
Rejection: It's Not Personal by Linda Jo Martin
Remember this always: when you get a rejection from an editor - it isn't personal. It isn't about you. Manuscripts get rejected, not people, and there are dozens of reasons why that happens. Here are a few of the most common:
1. A rejected manuscript is most likely wrong for that editor or agent. They have preferences. They are looking for that one gem of a manuscript that will jump out of the slush pile right into their hearts, and say, "Take me, I'm yours!" Every other manuscript gets rejected no matter how skillfully done, fascinating, or amazing. Sorry!
2. Some manuscripts get rejected because they are formatted wrong, or because something an editor or agent expects isn't included in the submission. For example an editor may have writers guidelines saying she wants three novel chapters, a query letter, and a synopsis. If she gets the wrong number of chapters or no synopsis do you think she would reject a manuscript regardless of its other merits? Of course, she probably will. She wants to work with an author who can follow directions. Sorry! Try again!
3. Suppose a manuscript really is pure nonsense submitted by a person who hasn't developed his writing talents yet. The only cure for this is to keep practicing. I will serve as your example here. I've been writing novels for seven years, but haven't submitted one yet because I wanted to improve my writing and editing skills. All this time I've been learning about what makes novels great, and what publishers need. I don't want to submit junk novels - I want mine to be excellent in every respect, so I've been revising one for the last six years as I struggled to learn all about the editing process. I'm getting ready to submit my first novel manuscript which was originally written way back in 2001. So now I'm writing this blog post to remind myself (and you) that if the manuscript gets rejected, it's not personal! If you believe your lack of writing skill is a reason for rejection, take time to keep practicing - there's no dishonor in that. Sorry! Write some more!
At one time back in the 1980's I planned to publish a poetry journal. Before long I was swamped with submissions. I was flooded with them. I was unprepared for the onslaught. I couldn't manage the workload, and none of those poets got published by me because I gave up on the project before it got started. It wasn't their fault they didn't get published - it was mine. It wasn't personal! I didn't even know poetry writing was all that popular at the time. That was back in the dark ages before the internet came into being.
More recently I worked as editor of Happy Camp News. I established the news site in 2001 and sold it recently after seven years as editor, news writer and owner. I would have loved to get more submissions, but those few I did get sometimes didn't get printed. The problem was the editor's lack of organization, time, or money. It wasn't personal! In a perfect world, I would have published them all.
So please, when you submit your work, follow instructions carefully and try hard to target the right editors and agents. But if the answer is ‘no', don't take it as a judgment against you.
It isn't personal!
Linda covered the possible causes of rejection very well. Each of her points can help each of us be better prepared not to be rejected. In fact with work and polish, we can indeed reject rejection.
Remember to visit Linda's web site: http://www.lindajomartin.com. |
Writing from W.Com
Finding material about having writing rejected or how to publish manuscripts are few and far between. I'm surprised how little I found since many of us here want to be published. However, some members wrote about trying to get published.
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Words from Our Readers
SantaBee 
Viv, thanks so much for addressing attitude in this newsletter. I find it really makes a big difference. I honestly try to be humble in my contacts with agents and other interested parties in my works. I might also suggest a good dose of flexibly helps as well.
Good advice, Steph.
emerin-liseli 
OH MY. This is so true! I am always shocked by some writers' attitudes toward their writing, too. I believe that there isn't a single piece of literature that is absolutely perfect and that there is always room for improvement. Constructive criticism is always a great way to improve your writing. I know I've learned so much from WDC comments. Smile
Hugs,
Em
DRSmith 
Good "reminder" VZ, on a sensitive matter in WDC... ratings and reviews... two items that deserve more commentary as such. For now, ur points compelled a hello.
1. Look at an editor's suggestions... then revise and improve your work. Suggestions given may not work, but...
IF one can find a worthy editor, not only will red-lining serve as a great fixit tool for normal oversights, BUT, edits may also expose consistent flaws that TEACH... apply to all works. As to "don't work" suggestions, they can INSPIRE compromise or even an entirely new approach for major impact, and so on.
2. Get feedback from people who critique honestly and know what they are doing.
TRUST, is the key word. IF one finds a Trusted Editor, they will "know what they're doing" by default, and thus, edits can be used verbatim, modified, or ignored in comfort... but virtualy NOTHING the editor can say will be in distaste or w/o merit somehow... 'cause it is what it is. Value it AND them.
I would also add to pay attention to people who know what they are talking about. Taking bad advice from someone who wants to be helpful but aren't really knowledgeable is as bad as ignoring good advice.
Raine
There are two things I try to always keep in mind. One is that writing is a craft. You work at it, refine it and never stop learning or trying to improve. If you're not willing to do the work, you don't deserve the prize. Two, to be a published author, you have to treat it like any job. Punctuality, dependability and being willing to accept correction and rejection with professional, courteous manners are all not only expected, they are mandatory.
Very true, thanks for adding your thoughts.
Lady Jaela
Great tips! But I think my problem will be that I'm too much of a scaredy cat. Any advice on that?
Hey, I'm still afraid when I send something out. The best thing you can do, once you have a well-written manuscript, is find a good publisher/agent/editor and submit.
A thinker never sleeps
I'm please to say a dedicated one. Are there really people who think like that? "Well, my kids, husband/wife, friends all think my work is great. That should count." They can't be living in the real world!
We all need that affirmation from loved ones, helps boost our egos so that we can face the idea of rejection, but, as you said, we need to live in the real world.
bazilbob
That is a very important point. However, I would also like to bring up the opposite danger: editing in whatever way is suggested to you. I recently wrote a creative writing dissertation, a 7000 ish word short story, for which I had three meetings with my advisor. At first I did everything he told me to do. He suggested a plot adaptation, I did it exactly as he said. Next meeting, he didn't like my new plot. I respected him too much (or perhaps too little) to point out the fact that it had been his idea, and resolved from that day on to always trust my instincts above others'. It is important to consider criticism, especially from publishers, they know what readers want, but it is also important to remember that the decision is ultimately yours.
Louise
Remember, the editorial dealt with advice from an editor with a publisher or agent the author wants to buy his/her work. Yes, the decision is ultimately the writer's, but the decision may mean not being published. I turned down a contract for one of my novels because I wouldn't, couldn't change the ending for the book. But I did listen to what the editors suggested, and as a result, my work improved. Also, I didn't sit around crying because I didn't get the contract.
Fyn-elf 
Awesome newsletter, Viv! Very true and right on the mark!!!!
Thank you.
Thank you for joining me this week. See you again next month.
Vivian |
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For Authors: April 16, 2008 Issue [#2331]
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