Let’s face it, with the exception of physical violence nothing sucks more than being rejected.
Matters of the heart are the worst, of course, but rejection can take many forms. Say, for example, an e-mail from a publisher who feels your work is “not what we’re looking for at this time.”
If it isn’t obvious by now I’ll spell it out for you: The Hook recently received his first “cyber-thrashing” from a publisher. And it was glorious! There is nothing I enjoy more than coming home after a long day of serving ungrateful douchebags only to find a message from an acquisitions editor waiting in my junk folder.
Why do middle-management drones all utilize the same language? I refuse to believe this… let’s be generous and use the term “person” was ignorant of the mental sting their “form e-mail” would inflict upon me. The blame falls on my shoulders, I suppose; I was foolish enough to submit my work to a publisher who feels the world needs more novels about supernatural romance.
This is a dark age for non-fiction writers, my friends. If your work doesn’t contain a young, nubile female who longs to offer up her virginity to a creature of the night, you’ll find yourself spit upon, through the magic of the Internet, of course.
Publishers don’t want human-interest stories anymore. They want a series about heroine who finds herself torn between a hunky vampire who will violate her nine ways to Sunday and eventually rip her throat out and a werewolf who will hump her leg before violating her nine ways to Sunday and ripping her throat out.
You know, good old-fashioned romance.
But wait, I forgot the best part! My cyber beating ended with an oldie but a goodie: “I wish you all the best!”
No one, and I mean no one, in the history of that phrase has genuinely wished the other person well! You’re rejecting them! Why on Earth would you wish them well?
If you cared for their well being you wouldn’t have beat them down in the first place!
This entire debacle was not without merit though; it has served to remind me just why I chose to self-publish in the first place. And so I say to my fellow authors who have yet to achieve their dream, don’t let rejection get you down! Don’t be sad – get mad! I mean really mad!
Your anger will give way to ambition; you’ll be motivated to do whatever it takes to prove the bastard who sent you that rejection “letter” wrong and from that blind ambition will come success.
Then again, what do I know? Apparently I suck.
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Not liking that you were rejected.
Me too, Drew!
I really really hate that expression “I wish you the best”…and absolutely agree with you when you say that its a phrase that equals lie because how can one be wishing someone else the best while at the same time rejecting that person? Huh?!
Great minds think alike, right?
You do not suck! I have to toughen up as I plan to finish my WIP and send it out…..My hide is currently very porous.
I guess we both need to prepare ourselves for war, Susie! Good luck to us both!
It is my understanding that Dr. Suess was rejected when he tried to have his first books published, so he did it himself. I’ll bet the publisher’s that rejected his work are still kicking themselves for their lack of foresight. Chin up. I keep that in mind when I’m working. I hope you’ll find that little tid-bit encouraging to. With that thought in mind, I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors in the world of publication.
Thanks! Your good wishes actually count for something!
What? If you don’t have a wall – no make that a room – papered with “rejection notices / letters” – you are either not trying or a famous (no talent) celebrity that they signed immediately. At least they sent you an email (even with the stiff odd language) so you don’t sit and wonder….Count yourself lucky – they could have kept it and indicated interest – only to have it languish for months and months – until the editor appreciating your book leaves the company – and your book gets tossed. Seriously, read your next to last paragraph again – and believe it….time to find out just how dedicated and tough you are….anyone who deals with the constant circus of humanity you see every day is able to gut it up and battle on…OK Hook, enough sad face sad face. You can do this. Onward! (Pep talk enough? We know you can do it). Write on. (we’ll poke you with a stick if necessary). Seriously
Oh don’t worry, I’m not throwing in the towel just yet! I’m just making blogging lemonade from acquisition editor lemons!
More annoying pep talk if you don’t
Anything but that!
worse than sticking glass in your eye…Are they letting you near sharp objects at this time? (hint: stalking editors doesn’t help)
Not to worry, I refuse to stalk anyone!
What ^^^^^ said!
This is just all out of sequence. Sorry
All the great works were rejected a bunch of times, so that is not a negative sign at all Hook
.
I know; it just made for great blog fodder!
You’ve the courage my friend! This is just one little bump in the road.
Ha … blogging lemonade, brilliant, just brilliant.
Thanks, Jennifer!
It does suck, but every writer goes through it, or at least it’s far more rare not to go through it than to go through it. In my experience the best writing is peppered with some angst.
Well said!
JK Rowling got over 100 rejections before she was published, and I bet those other publishers are kicking themselves now in anguish that they weren’t the ones to snag the gold mine that is the Harry Potter franchise. Don’t feel too bad about it, no writer gets published on their very first try. Every single writer gets tons and tons of rejections before they will even be considered by anyone. And Steven King got over 30 rejections before he was published. He was even about to throw his manuscript into the trash can when his wife stopped him and made him send it out again, and now look at him. He is a huge success, and he owes it all to his wife who made him try again just that one more time. Don’t let yourself get too down, Hook. The publishers are not interested in literary merit, they only care about which book can make them the most money. And they are often wrong, and then end up kicking themselves later for passing up such a golden opportunity. That’s how it happens every time. I just don’t think that I would have the fortitude to keep trying myself. Keep at it Hook! I am sure that someday soon I will be seeing your book on the shelves of my local bookstore and saying, “Wow, I knew him when…” You WILL be successful, Mr. Hook. I just know it. If anyone will be, its you. I’m sure of it.
PS: By the way, are you publishing under your pseudonym of The Hook, or are you using your real name? I suspect “The Hook”, right?
That very question has been the subject of much debate around these parts of late! I’ll be sticking with The Hook, as far as I know!
I’m tired of the whole Vampire, Werewolf, Zombie phase also. Good for you for self-publishing !!
I just hope it pays off!
If you suck…. you’d be published!!!!
Try it from my angle. I have no real interest in writing vampire stories, but I love writing erotica with a strong female character. I get rejected all the time because of it, and get this, women want to feel like they are prized and cheerished by a man.
Keep trying other publishing houses Mister The Hook! There are thousands of them!!! Your work is fun to read, and interesting. Don’t let one yahoo spoil your thunder!
I’ll keep up the good fight, Woman! Don’t you worry!
by the time I write a vampire novel they will be on to well-endowed robots.
I love the way you look at things and how you write. Keep up the good fight Hook! Don’t let a douche bag rain on your parade.
Never! Thanks, my conflicted friend!
Dystopia is the new vampire. Angle your cover letter so you emphasize the disease, war and human decline that you chronicle in your book.
Nice tip! Thanks!
Ditto to what they said ^^. You’ll be published in no time!
Let’s hope so, Jen!
You don’t suck. It’s the publishers who suck. You’re right. They don’t want the human interest non-fiction real life stories about life as it is which is infinitely more interesting than the supernatural romance novel that is turned out by the thousands. But that’s what apparently sells. I don’t understand why. It’s not what I buy. It’s not what’s all on the best-seller list,but people buy this dribble. But never say you suck. You rock.
And so do you! Thank you for the stirring words of encouragement.
Just remember Harry Potter got like 30 + rejections…so you are in good company
Very true!
Fuck ‘em – keep going!
I intend to, my crimson friend!
Good
Did you mean “good post”!
Or did you mean, “It’s a good thung you were rejected!”?
The former!
Thanks!
Welcome to the world of professional writing, where rejection is the norm prior to finding a publisher. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance was rejected 120 times. Twilight had like 12 rejections or something like that.
Stay strong and shake it off. I’ve got a binder full of rejection letters for various short stories. It’s par for the course.
I know; the rejection even inspired me to write this post!
“When the Force closes a hatch, somewhere it opens a viewport.” You don’t suck, Mr. the Hook; you’re hilarious and awesome.
I trust your judgement, my friend!
Being rejected is also an expected phenomenon when you are able to develop something unexpectedly original and beyond the average capacity of comprehension…
That is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me that I didn’t understand!
You rock, good sir!