Dealing With Rejection

by Maris Soule

You've created fantastic characters, put them into a fantastic plot, researched your material, created sexual tension, put together a wonderful synopsis, researched your market and sent your manuscript to just the right editor. And you know they'll buy it. After all, it's fantastic. It's your baby, isn't it? And they'll offer you top dollar. Make it a lead title. Give it a great cover. Maybe even send you out on a book tour. And, of course, your book will hit the best sellers lists and be made into a movie.

But what's this? Your manuscript has been returned? And they didn't even tell you why?

What can you do?

You could cry, scream, swear, stomp your feet, get drunk, write a nasty letter to that editor and give up on writing forever...

Or you could (1) give yourself time to grieve, then (2) consider your options.

Grieving:
You do need to feel sorry for yourself. After all someone did reject your "child". But don't wallow in self-pity. And remember, you're not alone. Dr. Seuss was rejected 23 times before luck brought him into contact with an old friend who just happened to now be an editor of children's books for Vanguard Press. The rest is history. M.A.S.H. was rejected 21 times. Jonathan Livingston Seagul was rejected 18 times, and so was Gone With The Wind. So grieve, but don't give up.

If you believe in the story you've written, then keep on trying. What you've gotten is one editor's opinion, or one publishing house's reaction. That's all. It doesn't mean your story is bad. The examples above should prove that editors and publishing houses are not all knowing.

Once the grieving process is over, and don't let it take too long–a day at the most–REACT.

Resubmit:
You've done your research. You know which publishers publish the type of story you've written and which lines to submit to. If not, you should know. Go to the next publisher on your list and send that story back out. And keep sending it out until you've exhausted your list of potential publishers.

Rewrite:
If there are no more publishing houses that you can submit to, or if this story is geared specifically for one line or genre, try rewriting it with a new slant so it fits another line or genre. Or maybe, by now, you've grown as a writer and you see flaws in the writing. Then correct those flaws. Make that story the best you can write at the moment.

Rethink:
Have you exhausted your potential markets but you still like the story? Then, would this be better in another form? Instead of a novel, could it be condensed into a short story?

Retire:
Creative people have many ideas. Not all of them are great. Some stories are a learning processes for the creator. And some are too advanced for the market. This story may simply need to go into the closet for a while. Give the story a rest. When you bring it out again, the time might be better and editors might be more accepting of the premise. You may have created a line before its time. Or, when you bring the story back out, you may find you've matured as a writer and can do a better job with the idea.

Just remember this, nothing is ever lost in the process of writing. We are always learning–about the craft of writing and about ourselves. Simply keep on writing and you will have succeeded.

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