Let's face it: rejection hurts. While rejection letters are not meant to be personal, they certainly seem that way. No one wants to hear "your baby is ugly", but it sure feels like that's what an editor or agent is saying. And, all those "pep" talks about how many times someone was rejected before they were published, doesn't help either.
Here's a short list of ideas or ways to deal with rejection. Forget drowning your misery in chocolate or tears. Once that's done, it's time to get real with the problem.
1) If the letter is a flat, straight forward, "I can't get excited about the project" type-letter - move on to the next editor/agent.
2) If the letter offered reasons why they didn't like the manuscript, then take a long, hard look at the work and see if you can fix or strengthen that area. For instance, if the editor wrote: "I didn't like your heroine; too whiny." Then analyze your heroine closely. Is she a bit too whiny? complaining? Soft? Indecisive? Flighty? Weak? Where can you strengthen her?
3) If the editor says your writing is not strong enough, this means to pay closer attention to details. Are you careless with word choices? Are they strong enough? Exact? Historically incorrect or an anachronisim? Manuscript full of spelling or grammar mistakes? Awkward turns of phrase? Or clumsy dialogue?
4) If the editor's letter is vague or confusing, write or call her back. (You can do this!) Have her clarify what she means. What does she mean when she says the hero is "too transparent?" Or, "ambiguous?"
5) If you've been hammered with rejections on the same work, then let the work "go cold" for awhile. Set it aside for a month or two, then go back and re-read it. You'll be amazed at the number mistakes and problems you missed during your last edit.
6) Start a new work, or complete a manuscript you've been working on - get your mind active again with writing.
7) Give yourself permission to "quit" - temporarily. Re-think the work; is the editor/agent right? Does the manuscript need to go somewhere else? Different line or genre?
Dig deep. Hang on. Stay the course. Remember what Yoda said: "Do, or do not. There is no try."
Christine S
5 comments:
Great post, Christine. Reading rejection letters is like reading between the lines. It often seems like we have to have x-ray vision to figure out the meaning.
Well put, Christine. Rejection isn't the end of the world, though it feels like it when your reading the letter for the first time on a project that you know is a #1 best seller! LOL
You do have to read between the lines and grow a thick skin. Use what they say or don't say to your advantage and keep that "baby" circulating.
Great tipe, Christine. Thanks!
Excellent tips Christine. I never understood what a "good" rejection letter was until I watched a speaker analyze one of Genene's (Genene do you read the blog???) letters, and by the time she was done, we were all like DAMN that IS an excellent rejection letter (and a tribute to Genene's awesome writing)--after watching that exchange I decided that I could add a level in my goals--"the good rejection letter." Having goals for different types of rejection letters--moving beyond the form letter say, has helped me to be able to approach the whole process with a better attitude.
Nice, positive blog on rejection, Christine.
If an editor or agent takes the time to write a personal letter and critique the work (this has happened to me more than once) do you think that's an invitation to revise and send it again? Would you call first? What if the critique ended with the sentence, "although this work isn't right for our line. We wish you the best in placing it elsewhere"?
And I love Yoda. Such a wise little being.
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