Rejecting rejection

Do you want to be thought of in the same category as great writers like Rudyard Kipling, H.G. Wells, Dr. Seuss, Jacqueline Susann, and William Faulkner? If your writing has ever been rejected by an editor or publisher, you are in the same league. Well known classics like Lord of the Flies and Animal Farm were turned down by potential publishers. The novel M.A.S.H. (the one that the hit movie and long running TV show were based on) was rejected more than a dozen times before being picked up.

Simple fact – all writers have received rejection slips at some time or another.

What do you do if you receive a rejection on that great novel you poured your heart and soul into? It’s okay to allow yourself a moment to groan, after all it is frustrating when your “baby” is unwanted. Keep it “just to a moment” though, you have work to do.

First of all, do NOT take it personally. There are many reasons why a piece is rejected, only SOME have anything to do with the quality of writing. See if you can put any reasoning to the decision – sometimes the standard form letter has a personalized sentence or two which explains. Maybe someone took the time to let you know that the writing/subject matter etc does NOT fit their needs, maybe your story doesn’t follow an accepted formula – or any myriad of other excuses. Take a quick look at the books that the publisher produces. Examine your story for adherence or neglect of an accepted formula. See if there is any obvious way to improve your work. Remember, it is NOT personal.

Working a bit of relaxation time into your day where you can just sit and read for pure pleasure is a terrific way to keep those creative juices flowing.

Once you come to the conclusion that your work is the best it can be, start looking around for publishers who produce that specific type of story and start sending out more queries. No matter how good your story telling is, there are people who just don’t like to read books in the genre you write. Send out queries, multiple and frequent and you might just come across a publisher who is interested. In the meanwhile, many successful authors wallpaper a room with rejection letters as a way of reminding them that you have to keep working at it.

Perseverance, according to the Merriam Webster dictionary, is the act of steadfastness, getting the job done and basically never giving up. Perseverance is the reason why Richard Hooker submitted his novel M.A.S.H. more than a dozen times. Never give up on your dreams and never, ever let someone try to talk you out of them. More importantly, keep writing – work on other projects and then start sending out queries again.


Writing exercise: You’ve been chosen to receive an award for your writing – write your acceptance speech and remember that you only have three minutes to thank everyone for their concern.

Writing prompt: Pick any photo from a magazine where there are two or more people in the picture. What do you think the introductions between the “photograph people”? Think of a few good opening lines.