Today I received a rejection letter for my picture book manuscript. They liked the story, but can only take on a few books at this time and don't think it's commercial enough. It's one thing to not like the topic or the writing, but the fact that they don't think it's commercial enough actually worries me more....Don't know if it's even worth submitting elsewhere. Has anyone had this experience and what would you recommend?
Picture book rejection
- Thread starter jak77
- Start date
It could mean just about anything.
Have some other writers read it, preferably ones who also write children's book.
It's not my main focus, but I've written and submitted a few children's stories (with little success, but then I haven't tried very hard). If you'd like, I'd be happy to read your story and offer an honest and somewhat informed opinion. I'm assuming it's very short.
Have some other writers read it, preferably ones who also write children's book.
It's not my main focus, but I've written and submitted a few children's stories (with little success, but then I haven't tried very hard). If you'd like, I'd be happy to read your story and offer an honest and somewhat informed opinion. I'm assuming it's very short.
Would really appreciate your opinion. I'm not totally invested in this like some authors so I can handle your honesty. How best to send to you? It's only a bit over 700 words.
That's a bit on the long side for a straight picture book, more in line with what is sometimes called a "picture storybook".
I'll send you my e-mail address. You can either put it in the body of the e-mail, or send it as an attachment. Don't worry about formatting problems if you put it in the body. I can deal with that.
Edited to add: I've send you my address by private message. Let me know when you send it just in case something goes wrong. I don't get an alert if my spam filter throws something in the Spam folder.
I'll send you my e-mail address. You can either put it in the body of the e-mail, or send it as an attachment. Don't worry about formatting problems if you put it in the body. I can deal with that.
Edited to add: I've send you my address by private message. Let me know when you send it just in case something goes wrong. I don't get an alert if my spam filter throws something in the Spam folder.
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Right.I'd send it out again. One editor's opinion isn't all editors.
And I had one rejection from a small publisher with a note that they only published four or five titles a year, so they didn't need any more submissions at the time (but they hadn't closed their submission process). You just never know for sure why something is rejected if it's well written unless they clearly spell out why. Someone could have written a "boy and dog" story and the publisher has already published two other boy and dog stories that year. They might get the standard "not right for us" reply.