Wednesday, May 11, 2011

REJECTED: please send chocolate

Get out the red ink pad and stamp that manuscript: REJECTED! REJECTED! REJECTED!

(Can you tell I've gone two whole days with NO chocolate of any kind?)

Does one kind of rejection feel differently than another kind?

Yes.

I know, rejection is rejection. But, frankly, while receiving a rejection based solely off a query letter is disappointing ... it is no big deal compared to receiving a rejection based off a full manuscript request.

And, I promised myself from day one, that if I ever had a full ms rejected, I would pay attention to the feedback of the agent and make appropriate changes. And, I have done this. But, how do I know what to do with a response that says:

"...while I enjoyed what I read, in today's highly competitive marketplace I can only take on projects I am passionate about--and unfortunately, I just didn’t feel the level of engagement here that I would need in order to represent you..."

I know, I *should* think, "YAY! I'm getting so much closer to getting an agent!" But no. Instead I think (and understand this entire rant could possibly be due to lack of freaking chocolate), "I suck. This is taking forever. I'm so frustrated."

But, I will tell you ... the only thing more frustrating than this type of rejection is receiving NO RESPONSE at all. I would chose the disappointment of a rejection any day over no response at all.

So, a big thank you to all of the agents who take the time to actually respond to writers.

I will not quit. I will keep sending query letters. I will find the right agent for me.
I will. I will. I will.

Please send chocolate as soon as possible.


16 comments:

  1. *sends chocolate*

    I'm so sorry to hear about the rejection. It may not help, but from reading it it sounds like there's nothing wrong with your manuscript, it just needs a different agent.

    Make sure to treat yourself to something decedent and rich. You're only getting closer at this point ^_^

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  2. Hang in there! That agent wasn't right for you. There's one out there that will be. Until you find that agent, use any feedback you get and just move on from the rest!

    Sending chocolate your way. (Or at least sending you to the store so you can buy some chocolate, which is indeed called for today!)

    Erin @ Quitting My Day Job

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  3. Sends chocolate**

    Hey it sounds like your MS is okay from what that says, but agents are people to and they feel towards a book just like you know if you prefer one over another. Best of luck finding the right agent for you!

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  4. Sending LOTS of chocolate!

    Look at it this way... You're getting closer to the one million word mark!

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  5. You can do it! Here's lots of virtual chocolate for you *makes it rain virtual chocolate*

    At least you have the right mind-set going into this. You are getting closer to the "Yes"!

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  6. Such a true honest post. Rejection totally sucks, but you absolutely do NOT. You are right to react by increasing chocolate and queries. Keep at it, you will make it!

    Sarah Allen
    (my creative writing blog)

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  7. Sending chocolate: gooey, smooth, happiness-inducing chocolate :):):) Congrats on the full MS request - your patience and determination will pay off!

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  8. I had something exactly like that happen to me. Then I pitched in person at a conference and the lady said, "So why aren't you published yet?" And continued to interrupt me with that phrase. All I can say is that being self pubbed is liberating.
    Nancy
    N. R. Williams, The Treasures of Carmelidrium

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  9. You are getting closer! That's just one person's opinion. Besides, there's still many more agents and publishers out there you can query.

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  10. Oh I know just how you feel. I want to curl up like a hedgehog and it takes me ages to straight up and crawl to the next challenge after a rejection. The positive comments do help though.
    BTW Check out my Monday post on 16th because I'll have tagged you. :O)x

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  11. I agree, Margo on both fronts. I think some type of response is warranted. It's professional to do so. Courteous, even. I want both of those qualities in an agent and I think that sometimes both sides of this struggle can forget that we need each other to make this crazy machine work.
    I also agree 110% that you will find your right agent. Knowing what you want is half the battle!

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  12. A response, even negative is better than nothing. As Winston Churchill said: "never give up". Your day will come.

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  13. You need chocolate, Margo!!

    Sorry about your rejection, but you are so right - it's better to hear some kind of feedback than none at all!

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  14. So sorry, Margo. We've all been there and chocolate does help, strangely enough. Hope you've found some chocolate. The best way to get over a rejection is to send out another query right away!

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  15. Sending hugs and *virtual* choccies! So sorry about the R but, as others say, a response is way better than nothing at all....still a poo, though.

    As Jason Nesmith says in 'Galaxy Quest'
    Never give up. Never surrender.

    Truffles ok?

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  16. Sorry about the rejection. Hope you found some really good chocolate! Keep trying!

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