My muse locked herself in her room.
I persuaded her to come out for one blog post with a bribe
of mini ravioli and Diet Coke with lime.
Even though we are in a heat wave, only the sweet taste of comfort food
can lessen the pain of a fresh rejection letter.
I was extremely excited about my first rejection letter, even though it was a photocopied form letter. The
second rejection letter included my name and my manuscript title and said they
really enjoyed reading my manuscript. The third rejection letter said they saw the manuscript's potential and included my name and my manuscript title and
an actual ink signature!
Querying was like high speed sailing! I had a serious rush with each new
letter. And I was moving up the
rejection letter ladder.
Today's letter was different. It left me afloat in the middle of the lake;
no wind in my sails.
 |
| (by pale via sxc.hu) |
When I researched this editor, I wanted to write something
for her. I just learned so much from her site as a novice writer. This manuscript had the benefit
of a critique group. This manuscript was
tailored to the editor's wants. Or
perhaps it wasn't. Ahh, unrequited
love.
My muse looked at me groggily with belly full of ravioli and
burping sweet carbonated goodness.
"You know we can't quit, right?" I know,
muse. "Ice cream wouldn't hurt
either." Anything for you muse.
The only way to stop drifting is to get some breeze in those sails. How about a challenge of sending 10 queries in the month of July? I think
I can. Will you join me?
){kind=link}
14 Comments
I love the story in Stephen King's book "On Writing" where he put a nail in the wall a above the desk where he wrote and put all the rejection letters on it so he could see them and keep writing anyway. I think he had upwards of 60 before he had something accepted. Keep writing, Lauri and your muse! And may I recommend some chocolate as well? :)
ReplyDeleteChocolate is a lovely idea, Muddy. I did have some peanut butter and nutella crust my kids left lying around, but I could really use a chocolate bunny hiding from Easter!
DeleteI just got a rejection letter (e-mail actually) also. The person even apologized (rather obliquely, but still...). I'm with Stephen King, let's nail 'em up on the wall. Actually I remember reading about Madelyn L'Engles rejections (author of the classic, A Wrinkle in Time). NO ONE wanted her manuscripts. So she 'wallpapered' her writing room with the rejection letters.
ReplyDeleteGlad we can share email rejection day together! My muse can be such a whiner sometimes...
DeleteI was just reading that L'Engles story in How to Write a Children's Book and Get it Published. I loved A Wrinkle in Time. Add that to my "read again" list.
Boy, do I have a post that will put a little more wind in your sails.
ReplyDeletehttp://mikeallegra.com/2012/03/17/my-rejection-collection/
Ah man, I really suck. I need 110 more rejection letters to be as good as you? My skin will be so thick and gnarly by then! I'm coming for you Mike.
DeleteEvery "real" writer gets rejection letters. If you did not receive one, you would be like a pro baseball player claiming never to have missed a pitched ball. Wear the rejections with pride!
ReplyDeleteOkay I like your analogy here. So if I count the middle two as "balls" then I have an even count. That's not too bad! And even if the next 20 are strikes, I just need to keep getting up to bat.
DeleteWelcome to the club! I like what JJ said too. But comfort food is always good after a rejection. That's why I run too. Otherwise, I'd be over weight by now. After a while the rejections don't hurt as much. You move on. Just tell yourself, every "no" response is that much closer to a YES!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the Rejection Club has so many great members!
DeleteI can't take rejection . . . so I self-published. Now, instead of editor's rejections, I just have people look at my book and say, "Oh, that's nice . . . " as they walk away. :)
ReplyDeleteYou are a lovely writer and things will work out just fine.
Oh, don't start me worrying about reading my doesn't-even-exist-yet-book's reviews on Goodreads. I'm going to start sewing a super hero costume to provide protection for my delicate skin.
DeleteI hear you!! I've gotten a few rejections this month too! But you should at least pat yourself on the back, because it sounds like you dind't get form rejections. So that's something.
ReplyDeleteAnd Ben and Jerry's and frozen pizza help. :)
Maybe editors get in a summer funk because they would rather be outside playing?
DeleteI have been riding the crazy train to la vida loca with the 10 query goal, but I feel so much better. Manuscripts should be out there on adventure, not sitting in my laptop. Even if they come back, I know they will have grown from the experience.
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