Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Rejection.


Every great writer's past is littered with rejection letters.
At least that's what I've been telling myself this month,
as I sent my first query letter off to two agents and received two very quick rejections
and zero requests to see the manuscript itself.
I can't honestly say that I expected the result to be much different,
but of course there was a little part of me holding on to the hope that this
would be an easy process...that all of the teachers and novelists I've
heard preaching persistence and perseverance and tough-skinned optimism would
be wrong, about me at least, and that my query letter would be so compelling
that agents would be flooding my email inbox with requests to read what
they knew had to be the next New York Times best-seller.
Yeah, not so much.
I was bummed, but not surprised.
And after the first time putting myself out there, 
I have to say the rejections almost felt a little good.
They seem a bit like battle wounds I should be proud to sport,
proof that I can call myself a real writer now.
But I'm sure ten and twenty and fifty rejections from now,
that feeling of solidarity with my fellow writers will be long past
and those many rejections are going to begin to sting and pile up on top of me
like an enormous pile of "you'll never be good enough".
And then I'll just have to toughen up, dig myself out and keep writing.
I sent query letters to two more agents last week
and I'm patiently waiting for the "no" to arrive. 
Someone get me a shovel. 

14 comments:

  1. Stay strong Andrea. You can do this. Best wishes.

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  2. :-( stick with it!

    Carly
    www.lipglossandcrayons.com

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  3. I've heard many stories of many famous writers who were rejected many, many times before publishing that hit & then they became famous! Don't give up :)

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  4. rejection as a writer sucks so bad, mainly I think because what you write is so near and dear to your heart. I haven't yet experienced rejection for a novel (read: I've never sent one out or pitched one), but I'm not looking forward to that day (because, let's be honest, it's coming)...

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  5. Like other girls have said above- I have heard of SO MANY famous authors that got rejected numerous times before someone gave them a chance. I'm sure it doesn't make it any easier, but at least know you're not the only one who's had to deal with this! One of my college professors kept every single rejection letter in a binder, she said it motivated her even more!

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  6. What a bummer :( I'm sure you're super frustrated but it also sounds like you have such a great attitude and this will only make you stronger. Keep at it.. you are a beautiful writer and those stories will be picked up in due time!

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  7. I graduated from a great law school and passed the bar the first time. It took me over a year to find a job. I applied to HUNDREDS. No joke. I wanted to give up SOO often. It was awful. Then I got a great job that I love. Long story short- your faith will see you through. Keep working and you will make it :)

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  8. Have you seen THIS - http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2012/08/the-publishing-process-in-gif-form.html?m=1? Should make you smile through all rejections and I'm sure - you'll make it in the end!

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  9. I have been there. I can be paralyzing. Actually, I allowed it to be paralyzing and just recently pulled myself out of that funk. Here's to letting No's be "Keep working on it! YOU CAN DO IT!" :)

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  10. Every no gets you closer to a yes. Keep it up!

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  11. Hi Andrea
    Hang in there! I have been there, so I can empathise with you. The important thing is to just continue to do what you love, and have faith that eventually, at the right time, you will be expecting the next rejection and instead it will be a "Heck yes! Send that bestseller through to me now!"
    Here's hoping we both get that letter soon :)

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  12. People's rejection is God's protection! Hang in there!! What is meant to be will happen, and you'll look back and think, "Oh! Well, no wonder! Thanks, God!" :)

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  13. They are definitely battle scars! The fact that you have a novel, have found who to contact, wrote the actual letters, and still have the gumption is awesome! You already are good enough, you just have to find the publisher that will take the time to figure that out.

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  14. I heard that Mary Higgins Clark did burnt a whole cardboard box full of rejections. Look at where she's now ;)

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