Thank you for rejecting me...

For the first time in my life, I am thankful for a rejection. Seriously. Here’s how the story goes...near the beginning of the year I got a rejection letter from an editor. A few days ago (six months after the first) I got another rejection from the same editor for the same manuscript. (No, I hadn’t resubmitted it. But she still had the manuscript because I’d asked her not to bother returning it. I figured she’d shred it.) The second rejection is much nicer. It compliments my writing and asks me to submit future projects. Yay!! Is rejection better the second time around? Has anyone else had a similar experience?

6 comments:

Randy said...

Welcome to blogland, Vonda! We're happy to have you here :)

Your rejection story lends weight to my theory that you just never know what mood you're gonna catch an editor in when she finally picks up your manuscript. Did she just have a fight with her SO? Does she have a headache? Did she read something with a similar premise just before reading yours? Hence, you can get two different reactions from the same editor on the same manuscript.
Sigh...doesn't make it any easier to get them, does it?

Vonda Sinclair said...

Hey Randy! Thanks! Blogland is pretty cool so far. :-) And yes, I believe your theory is right. Different moods, different reactions. I know I would probably be the same way. It makes a tough situation even more difficult.

Ms. Mika said...

Welcome, Vonda!

I'm a beginner blogger and a fellow writer (Ms Mika's the Writer 4 U!) I don't know how to make it a link--yet!

Anywho, I'm proud of your rejection letter--before your thoughts turn negative allow me to elaborate. I'm proud because you've taken the next step towards your success. Unlike some people I know (Me...I'm talkin' 'bout me). I’m too afraid to receive that dreaded rejection letter...too afraid to take that next step...too afraid—just too afraid. Perhaps you will give me the courage to do so...then again maybe not--I'm such a chicken!

Vonda Sinclair said...

Ms. Mika, thank you for visiting my new blog and also for your kind words! Very cool that you're a writer too. I know that next step is hard--submitting your work. But if you want to be published, you must go for it. Once you've researched your market and polished your manuscript, the next step is to believe in yourself ... and send your baby (er, your manuscript) out into the world. :-) I won't tell you that you'll never get a rejection letter. It is a rare and extremely lucky writer who never gets rejected. My philosophy is that I'm destined to get a certain number of rejections before I get published, so I may as well go ahead and get them out of the way as quickly as possible. :-) I don't know how many rejections I've had--several. Some are more painful than others but I don't let that stop me. The important thing to remember is we can't get published if we don't submit. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you. You go, girl! And best of luck! :-)

Ms. Mika said...

Vonda,

Thank you so much for your encouraging words! Although I'm not quite ready to take that next step as far as submission, but recently I've thought of taking some creative and/or technical writing courses. What do you think? Got any suggestions?

Vonda Sinclair said...

Hi, Ms. Mika, I think writing classes or workshops are a great idea. I've taken workshops or online classes. Some are really specific and that helps if you have a problem in one area. For instance, a couple years ago I took an online synopsis writing class. It was fantastic and helped me a lot. I don't know what kind of fiction (nonfiction?) you're writing. If you were writing romance, I would have a lot more suggestions since I'm a member of RWA. Some of the chapters have online classes. And the RWA national conference workshop recordings are wonderful. Are you a member of any writing groups or critique groups?