writing lessons – rejection

Hi Rachel,

Just to let you know that I loved listening to you last Saturday. And if it helps: another rejection has just hit my inbox. Yes, we knew this would happen and yes, it really does suck.

xx

I have to say that any sort of constructive criticism from an agent would be a massive cause for celebration in this house! Anyway your book is brilliant and you’ll get there very soon. But I do wonder why we put ourselves through it. Sometimes I think open heart surgery would be less painful.

Hey Rachel,

Sorry you got the rejection, but at least she bothered to read it. You’ve done well to get this far & I’m sure you’ll get there…

Virginia
Virginia Moffatt – most recent blog post – Blast from the Past fridayflash

My sister in law got a publishing deal for her book partly through the strength of the number of followers on her blog and twitter account. I think you should be letting publishers know that you are one of the wikio top blogs, if you aren’t doing that already. Toot Toot! (The sound of you blowing your own trumpet!)

Keep on keeping on hun, it happens to us all I must add. Good on you for getting back on the horse. That’s the spirit! Vxx

Hang in there. I had a non-fiction book published a number of years ago now. I sent the idea for the book to six publishers. Two said the idea would never work and it could never be published. They were wrong and it was. The book is now published in three languages. So don’t give up. Just because it isn’t one person’s cup of tea doesn’t mean it isn’t someone else’s. Keep going, you’re doing great. If you don’t put yourself out there you’ll never get anywhere. It’s a risk worth taking even though rejection hurts like hell. It’s all part of the course. x
Rosie Scribble – most recent blog post – Voucher giveaway- Money off your first Tesco online grocery shop

You write brilliantly and it will get published x

Hi Rachael

I had my first and last agent rejection in December. It was a standard email. I read it. I thought ‘pppffft’. Then I felt mildly pissed off and then I just laughed to myself and was grateful that they sent it quickly and didn’t keep me hanging. I only managed this last part as I was bracing myself for a rejection anyway.

I decided after that that the agent route wasn’t for me. As others have said there are other ways to get your book out there and it’s all about finding the right way for yourself.

Even getting an agent doesn’t guarantee you a publishing contract. Your book could sit with one for years and still get nowhere. I decided that personally I don’t have that sort of personality. Some would say I am an impatient so and so!

As well as self publishing there are those publishers that accept submissions directly without an agent, and also don’t forget the smaller Indies as well as the bigger publishers.

I am sure I have waffled on enough now. Try not to take the rejection to heart as they basically send them all the time. Also remember it is just one person’s opinion.

And if you need a laugh, have a look at this. It cracks me up every time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1yYnCDFIhs

Hugs and cake,

Rebecca xx
Rebecca Emin – most recent blog post – Submitting Writing- The Rollercoaster

I still want to read it!
kyooty – most recent blog post – Friday Fill-ins February Meltage

Like your fighting spirit! Don’t forget, though, that the conventional route is no longer the only viable option. If you have a platform (ie popular blog…) you can reach readers on your own. (If you need any tips on self-publishing…)
Danielle – most recent blog post – Wait for me! by Deborah Mitford- Duchess of Devonshire

Like your fighting spirit! But don’t forget, the conventional route is no longer the only viable option. If you have a platform (ie popular blog…) you can reach readers on your own. (If you need any tips on self-publishing…)
Danielle Raine – most recent blog post – BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour Interview

You are a strong woman and I know that this must have been devastating and hard, but you will get there, keep on keeping on. You are a fine writer, the right agent is out there for you.
The Mad House – most recent blog post – What a performance

I remember my first rejection by an agent. Sucked.

The easiest way to deal with it is to look a little more closely at what they’re going through. How secure do you think an agent’s job is at the moment? They’re just middlemen. Borders has just gone bankrupt, Waterstones’ sales are down, publishers are losing money… it may be the worst time ever to be an agent. They’re not the ones with the power any more. You are.

Don’t write for agents, write for readers. Your book WILL find a way to their hands, whether it gets to an agent first, or a publisher, or misses out the middlemen entirely. Spend some quality time with your book.

Don’t ever let an agent take the edge off your friendship with your novel. I’m sure it’s wonderful.
Rebecca Woodhead – most recent blog post – I Am a Columnist for Writing Magazine!

Be glad everyone is being positive because that’s what it takes. Rejections are going to happen and each one will get you one step closer to the right agent.
Patricia Beaudin – most recent blog post – Lost

You did great. You’ve finished the book, and thats more than half the battle.

xx
Scottish Mum – most recent blog post – This is me

Ah, that’s a shame, but you’ll get there!
If you can cope with any more books on writing, I’ve got Wannabe a writer by Jane Wenham-Jones – she relates the saga of being determined her first book would get published and how she kept sending it out (a lot)until it did.
Kath Parklover – most recent blog post – Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Rachael,
Glad you have taken this experience in the right form and learned from it. Things happen in their own time and this may not have been a good fit for you.

The awesome part of all this is you stepped out and put it on the line! That is definitely worth celebrating. Keep at it, the right opportunity will show up when the time is right!
Val
Val Wilcox – most recent blog post – Visualize Your Compelling Desire

Hi there

I hope the gin and the sleep helped.

I was on Linda Green’s website the other day (www.linda-green.com)and she said her first book was rejected by 100 agents – but the second one got a 2 book deal with Headline Review (and then another 2 book deal with them after that).

I thought that was v.encouraging to know!

(Not sure if you’ve seen the site but it has lots of v.g info re writing/getting published too.)
AJ – most recent blog post – Beethoven Lives Part 1

Sorry about your rejection mate – this is the beginning of a (long) journey for you and if the rejection has constructive criticism attached to it then move forwards with it. I always try to remember that one person’s view isn’t necessarily the right one – it’s why we always get three estimates for a job on the house

Hang in there Rachael and keep going. It’s better to get a response than hear nothing at all and you’re left wondering what they think. I know from working in TV that it’s rare to get a response and even rarer to get a personalised one.

Pick yourself up and keep going. You’ve got so many friends on here that love what you’re doing and will keep reading. So many of the people that make the decisions are not really in touch with the real world and what people want to see. Keep Smiling! x

Sorry to hear about the rejection but as you say it does appear to come with the territory, but one day you’ll get *the* email that makes everything worth it. Keep going, and good luck x
notSupermum – most recent blog post – Ive had a blog makeover- come and have a look around!

Commiserations on your rejection, but I think these things only serve to make one stronger and more determined. And sometimes they make one curl into a foetal ball before throwing the computer in the bin. But that isn’t you, so that’s okay!

How does that song go again… “Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again…” tum ti tum…etc.

PS you want me to confirm I’m not a spam thing?? But, but…
Him Up North – most recent blog post – Spare rooms spare cash with Bed &amp Fed

Always remember it’s one persons opinion – just because it wasn’t right for them doesn’t mean it won’t be right for someone else. If there is advice in there that you know in your heart might be correct then act on it, and keep on keeping on!

Keep on trucking! You’ll get there. I got a rejection once that said my story was too dark and depressing. So, not much changed then!!

The knockbacks are hard but if they spur you on, that can only be a good thing.

xx
Deer Baby – most recent blog post – Insulation

This must make you an official writer, no? Your first knock back from an agent. Nearly there, nearly there! xxx
Heather – most recent blog post – What Makes You Re-read A Book

Such a miserable lesson to learn! Good luck, & lots of applause for your courage in committing to your writing all over again.

http://1lovelife.blogspot.com/

I can empathise.

I too got my first official written rejection letter this week, on Valentine’s day (not the best day of the year) but I took it on the chin because it contained a compliment. I was told I had some good ideas just that my work needed more editing, which I can’t argue with in all honesty.

So both of us need to keep plugging away at writing and submitting our work – we will get there in the end.
Kay Beer – most recent blog post – Collaborative Lies

I’m thinking “I Will Survive” more than “Tubthumping” but you go with your gut. Love you, your writing, your spirit and your voice…keep on trucking mama! You’ll get there…we all know you will!

Karin

Very wise. I think that getting rejected is all part of the ‘Am I A Proper Writer Now?’ process – blah blah JK Rowling blah blah blah blah.

I once submitted to an agent and they said that I was ‘barely literate’ so there you go. I haven’t bothered since! However, the book I submitted is being published this year so er there’s a moral in there somewhere.

Anyway, your day will come too!

xxxx
Melanie – most recent blog post – Coming soon – The Crimson Petal and the White

That’s the spirit! As I said, this whole agenting/publishing malarkey is very subjective. If the comments were constructive and you can see a way forward, then you’ve got a good reason to bash on.