I'm back and ready for more posts. Was a little under the weather and pretty much just not functioning in general. Caught up with work, so now back to my blog.
This one's going to be quick, since it's Sunday. But rest assured my goal is to throw up a new, informative post every day this week. Also thinking of hosting a contest of some sort by November 1st, so I'll have to hunt down some new followers between now and then...
Rejection.
It sucks. Really, it does.
But it's one of those things you have to take with a grain of salt. I understand that your story is like your child - you created it. You shaped and molded it into what it is now. And the fact that someone rejects it just completely pisses you off. I get it. I do. But it's sort of like college. Thousands and hundreds of thousands of people apply to Ivy-league schools every year. Yet those schools can accept only so many students. They look for the best of the best. It's nothing personal. They just go based on the facts in front of them. They don't care how long you've been trying to get into school. They just care about how well of a student you can be and what you offer to them.
Same with writers/agents. Agents care about what type of manuscript you offer them, how well it's written, and whether or not they can help you become a published author. It's not that they get some type of sick thrill from rejecting you. It's just the business. They don't have the time/energy/resources to represent hundreds and thousands of writers, so they look for the best of the best. The ones that stand out.
Here's my point, for today: how to deal with rejection.
Just because one agent turns you down doesn't mean it's not right for another agent. And if an agent DOES reject you, be nice about it. Don't write them back with some insulting, asinine message about how they turned down a potential New York Times bestseller and throw in several, colorful adjectives about their mom/pet/family (oh trust me, it's happened). Would you do that to a college if they rejected your application? I really hope not.
And once you DO acquire representation, be respectful to the agent. Because we DO network and we DO talk. But that's another post...
I hope that if you really, truly enjoy writing, that you never give up.
And if you need something to curb your anger in the meantime, just focus it on wiping your arse with the rejections, literally. :)
SJ
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I received my first pass (because rejection is such a sad, sad word) last week. The agent said there was much to like, but that he did not fall in love with the manuscript. I never had the desire to reply with harsh comments, but did wonder what he liked/did not like. I understand why agents do not provide detailed feedback when they pass, but it does make it more challenging to know how to improve your work. I wish agents could fill out a list when they send a reply - a checklist on what was good/not so good. Dialog, check. Setting, needs work - that sort of thing. Of course, that would only add more work to agents who seem to be incredibly overworked as it is.
ReplyDeleteI do hope you have a contest. I've entered a couple on queries and first paragraphs and found them helpful!
Catherine
Catherine I think the point is, what works for one agent, may not work for another - you could have 10 different checklists about the same book - best way to learn is to read, review, join a crit group, sign up for further study and write and write and write and write :O)
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