I’ve been away from this blog for a while, and happy to be back. You can read about “When Life Happens” on my website blog.
I also wanted to pass the word that today, June 1st, is International Children’s Day, which I found out about on my friend Silvia Villalobos’ blog where she wrote a lovely poem commemorating the day.
Recently, though, since I started submitting to agents, I’ve been thinking about—and bracing myself for—rejection letters. I haven’t received any yet, and don’t want to think or talk negatively, but it’s a reality of this business that must be faced and dealt with.
I’ve received plenty of rejections over the years, and I’ve learned to take them in stride. Yes, I still feel major disappointment, a real deflation of the hope that had built up in my mind and my body. (It’s not just a mental reaction, but a physical one, too, isn’t it?) But I also try to learn from the rejection. You should, too!
When (that is, if!) the rejection comes, and you’re lucky, the letter will include some feedback as to why the agent didn’t want to take on your project. This is invaluable information and should be taken seriously. You may not agree with the suggestions the agent has for “improving” your story, but don’t ignore the advice right off the bat.
As you do with your writing, read the advice, and then set it aside for a day or two. Give yourself a chance to work through your disappointment so it doesn’t cloud your judgment. Then think about the suggestions. How would you incorporate them into your story? Try to be objective when deciding if they would improve your plot, characterization, setting, pacing, etc. Pass the suggestions by your critique partners and get their opinions.
The fact that the agent took the time to offer the feedback most likely means he or she saw something worthwhile in your submission.
This can be the bright spot on an otherwise disappointing process.
You’ve heard the stories of writers who plaster their walls with rejection slips (though these days it would be with printed-out emails). Or they find some other way to deal with the rejections.
However you decide to handle them, try to learn from them. Revise. Rewrite. Even if you don’t follow the agent’s advice, something else that needs fixing might pop out at you. You might want to revisit your query letter, as well.
And then move on. There are lots of agents, and the perfect match for you might be sitting at her desk this very minute waiting for your story to show up in her inbox.
How do you handle rejection of your submissions, or other disappointments in your life?
