The Value of Publisher's Rejections

Receiving rejection slips aren't life threatening; it's part of life's lessons. We all receive rejections whether we want them or not. Instead of allowing them to vanquish us, learn to see tham as part of your 'writer's curriculum.'

Horror lines I have read:
I have enough rejection slips to paper my walls, Rejection slips and I go hand-in-hand; It's a measure of my failure level."

When receiving rejections writers feel they have lost inches to their stature. It hurts. The rejection notices can range from the sublime to the ridiculous. When receiving rejection slips, the following my occur: tears, frustration, I've lost my best friend, throw the baby out with the bath water. Whatever kind of rejection a writer/author receives, there are better ways of handling them than eating a gallon of ice cream, hitting the bars, screaming or throttling the first person who approaches you.

There are two methods that a writer/author can use when dealing with rejection slips. The first line of defense is Emotional. The second method is turn your writing around and submit something better. Let's discuss the first one.

First LIne of Defense: Emotional Help

1) Exercise: walk, tread the mill, lift weights, jog, skate, whatever gets you off your duff and moving. As a last resort punch your pillow.

2) Talk to the mirror. Take a good look at yourself. What do you see? An author/writer trying to compete with several other trillion writers/authors. Know what? It takes GUTS submitting your writing to publishers/agents.

3) Don't take it personally! Publishers are doing their jobs the same way the author/writers are doing their jobs.

4) Just because the publisher/agent rejects your project doesn't mean that you can't write. Like most people, publishers/agents have limited time these days. The editor may have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed and that day he/she rejects your project on an emotional level.

5) Remember that publishers/editors/agents are under seige. They receive enormous amounts of submissions from authors/writers every day. They tend to read the submissions from authors/writers they have worked with before, with agented authors/writers, and then the unagented author/writer. In today's world, there's too much snail and/or emal for them to plough through.

I've been told by publishing companies/editors/agents that having your project accepted by them is comparable to a 'crap shoot.' If you're lucky, the editor/agent may comment on your project and tell you what's wrong with your submission/writing, and how to improve your submission. I have even receive initialled notes asking me to make changes and resubmit. If you receive a request like that from a publisher/editor/agent, take advantage and make those changes and then resubmit. Leave no stone unturned if one of them takes a personal interest in you and your writing.

The second method: Turn your writing around and submit it again and again. It won't published if it remains hidden in your hall closet, a bathroom drawer or in the garbage pail.

1) When you receive a rejection, your 'gut' emotions kick in. you react in anger, frustration and desperation. Your thinking becomes irrational and in consequence, you might even submit your projects to publishers/agents/editors that aren't appropriate for your project. ALWAYS do your homework first. Check out the different associations or organizations: Science Fiction Writers of America: http://www.sfwa.org. On their site, they have a url for Preditor and Editor Section. Check out what these folk have to say. REMEMBER, they're not the last word in what's appropriate, but they can give you a feel for what is out there. Check out http://www.agentresearch.com before picking an agent. Different agents have different agendas. Find out if they represent the genre you're writing in. Find out whether they charge first. Some do book doctoring under disguise of being an agent. Find all of this out BEFORE you sign any contract with them.

2) Keep a journal. Write down all the entries of who, where, and legnth of time when you'll hear back from them. If you do your homework first, many publishing/agents now tell you if they accept you, they'll contact you, otherwise don't hold your breath after three months. Some publishing/agents will accept multiple submissions. Again, find out which ones. These companies/agents like to be told what other publishers/agents you have your material with and they request that you notify them the minute someone picks you and your manuscript for their company. It's called 'writer's curtesy."

Write down any comments, suggestions or advice that a publishing company/editor/agent might write on your submission. Keep them close and start revising your work. These people spent time on your material, and therefore might be interested when you resubmit your work to them at a later date. I have had some editors reject my work, but request that I send them another submission at a future date. Note these down as well. You have someone in your corner. Take advantage of it and make sure you write it down and star it.

Read! Read! Read!, Study other authors/writers/poets/playwrights. Read how other authors learn from their own rejection curves. Turn your rejections into a learning experience that you can use repetitively in your writing. Make your rejections work for you. There's something improvable with everyone's writing.