Rejection sucks.
You think you're prepared for it. Going in to querying, you know you're obviously going to get rejected - everyone does - because writing is subjective. Heck, even C. S. Lewis got hundreds of rejections before publishing his first piece. Every writer, every creative, goes through rejection. So it's safe to say your first queries will be rejected too. But it's still shocking how much that first one hurts. And the second one. And the third one that you had your hopes pinned on. And the fourth one that comes not even 24 hours after submission. Rejection will hurt. Come on, this is your baby! Your thousands-of-words novel that you've poured hours of work, buckets of tears, and several clumps of hair into. Someone not liking it? How can that be? But just like lemon meringue pie isn't for everyone, neither is your story. Even if you get an agent and get published, your story still won't be for everyone. Which is... somewhat comforting? The rejection letters are (understandably since agents receive hundreds a day) all the same form letters - "thanks but I'm not the agent for your story". Which is frustrating. Was it my plot you didn't like? My writing style? My characters? Point me in some direction here! After a while, it's quite dismaying. Especially after receiving such great feedback from critique partners and mentors and agents (through paid meetings on Manuscript Academy - you should look into it), which gets your hopes up. Thus far, my book has received seven rejections and no requests for a manuscript. In the meantime, I've found that working on a new project keeps my mind focused on the future (when I'll have another manuscript to query and face rejections with). It'll be an endless cycle until one agent bites, until one agent believes in my stories and ideas. So what can we writers do when faced with such dismal rejections? Keep querying. Keep creating. Keep hoping.
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AuthorM. M. Kastanek Archives
June 2022
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