Rejection is Inevitable

Whether you are pitching articles, fiction, or complete manuscripts, some degree of rejection is inevitable. Don’t get discouraged. You have something to say. It takes time to find the right market, agent, or publisher.  Rejections are an indicator that you are producing and submitting work. That’s a good thing.

Submit

Three months ago, I climbed aboard the submission merry-go-round. My manuscript was ready. I researched agents who would be a good fit, crafted a query letter and synopsis. I submitted to five agents the first week. Four the second. Five the third, and so on. Rejections trickled in.

Waiting for an agent’s response is kind of like that Christmas Eve feeling as a five-year-old. You’re lying in bed, imagining you hear sleigh bells on the roof, picturing your stocking filled with goodies, not coal.  In the publishing world the goodies are an offer of representation, an article accepted for publication online or in print. A stocking full of coal is the ultimate rejection. Or so it seems at first.

Rejections

Rejections come in a variety of flavors. First, there’s the vanilla “this isn’t right for me” form rejection. Next, there’s the marble fudge “Thanks for the opportunity to read your work. There’s a lot to like about it, but unfortunately it isn’t a perfect fit for me. I wish you all the best with your writing.” Which includes a bit of encouragement. And then there’s the jamocha almond fudge,

“Dear Mary,

Thanks so much for thinking of me for BALANCING ACT. I have had a chance to take a look, and this manuscript is a lot of fun, but ultimately it’s not something I feel strongly enough about to take on. I really need that ride-or-die passion in order to represent a project well. I appreciate you sending this my way and hope you will keep me in mind for future submissions.

My Best,

Literary Agent”

Repeat

She wants me to keep her in mind for future submissions! With a rejection like that, I’m eager to send out the next batch of queries. So, here’s my advice to fellow writers, rejections are stepping stones on the path to publication. Follow this pattern: submit, reject, repeat and eventually, the right person will fall in love with your project. Happy writing!

In the comments below share your submission journey.