Though the words from the famous Kelly Clarkson song are about the loss of a
jerk boyfriend and not for a first time writer trying to cope with the pain of
opening up one rejection letter after another, the words still help. In all
honesty, I'm taking the rejection letters rather calmly. Of course the first
one, which wasn't a letter, but an actual horrifying face to face rejection
after a pitch, was the hardest. The others have just only stung a little.
I try to remember that it only takes one agent or small publisher to say
"yes", and just because others say no it doesn't mean they are the end all be
all, and the book will never be published. Some of the most successful authors
and books were rejected countless times before they were on millions of
bookshelves across the world. J.K. Rowling was rejected twelve times with Harry
Potter book one, Stephanie Meyer received nine rejections and five no answers
for Twilight, and Kathryn Stockett was rejected a wopping total of sixty times
for The Help.
In total I have submitted my manuscript to twelve agents and one small
publisher and I’ve received six rejections. As I said, each one brings a sting
of disappointment, but none of them have made me want to quit or give up.
I understand why the letters sent are form letters as I can only imagine how
many queries agents get every day, but I do wish they were a little more
personal, or even have maybe a reason or two. I have to laugh, though, when I
read "This industry is incredibly subjective..." or "Because this industry is so
subjective..." Really? I wonder how many of those responses J.K. Rowling
received. Wouldn't it be embarrassing to have said that to J.K. Rowling about
her young Mr. Potter and a franchise that is now worth $15 billion
dollars. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying agents are idiots or anything.
Believe me, I know their job must be difficult and they certainly have every
right to have their own tastes in books and what they want to represent. I am
just merely stating how funny and confusing I think the whole endeavor is at
times.
With any luck I will get an acceptance from one of the other six agents I'm
waiting on or the small publisher. If not, then I'm going to just send out more
queries and keep writing my next book. While away for a work conference this
past weekend I started my next manuscript. After two and a half years it was
weird writing new characters in a new world, but it was also exciting too and I
can't wait to write more of this new adventure while I wait as patiently as I
can for the rest of the responses.
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