I got my first rejection

Jeff C. Stevenson · Jan 25, 2016

Remember that the reason projects are rejected are like noses: Everyone has one and most are full of holes!

A rejection is simply one person's opinion and everyone has one and most are full of holes!

So maybe instead of calling it a rejection, think of it as that person's opinion is that it's not right for him/her. Then find someone who agrees with your opinion that your writing is dynamic and your still must be told--and it will be!
In my opinion, that is! :hooray:

odubhthaigh2207 · Jan 25, 2016

ghilie said:
This is the truth right here. Over the summer I decided to inoculate myself and sent my stories out to about 20 places each. I have something like 50 rejections in my inbox. Now rejection letters are meh.

Isn't that dangerous? I mean, I've heard that if you submit to multiple places at the same time, and two or more accept, you'll have to turn a couple down. That's suicide in the writing community!

CharlyT · Jan 25, 2016

odubhthaigh2207 said:
Isn't that dangerous? I mean, I've heard that if you submit to multiple places at the same time, and two or more accept, you'll have to turn a couple down. That's suicide in the writing community!

Depends on the market - most literary magazines accept simultaneous submissions as long as you inform them that it is one. The SF and F pro markets don't, but many non-paying markets do. I don't know about other genre markets because I haven't written outside those markets yet.

I would hazard a guess that agents expect you to be querying several agents at a time, but I haven't started subbing my novel manuscript anywhere yet, so I could be out to lunch on that.

slackercruster · Jan 28, 2016

CharlyT said:
Depends on the market - most literary magazines accept simultaneous submissions as long as you inform them that it is one. The SF and F pro markets don't, but many non-paying markets do. I don't know about other genre markets because I haven't written outside those markets yet.

I would hazard a guess that agents expect you to be querying several agents at a time, but I haven't started subbing my novel manuscript anywhere yet, so I could be out to lunch on that.

If one is worried you can put a disclaimer in the letter.

odubhthaigh2207 · Feb 21, 2016

That sounds reasonable. I do hope I hear from Analog soon. It's almost been four months - time to query.

Fullon_v4.0 · Mar 4, 2016

Yeah buddy! Now you're one of us!

Print out that rejection email and frame it! It's the start of a new adventure!

Earthling · Mar 4, 2016

Congratulations - you've got further than 95% of wannabe writers will ever get! Actually, the percentage of writers who never show their work to a professional is probably higher than 95%. I'm just guesstimating. Point is, you're a real, bona fide writer. Go you.

Fantomas · Mar 16, 2016

Same here. I just got rejected by two imprints of the Big Five. I know it's just the beginning but you can only feel disappointed that they passed on your work after being so enthusiastic. My main concern now is where my agent will submit next and if I should help research potential publishers to pitch to.

tuesday · Mar 16, 2016

This is my favorite post about rejection:

Hi. I'm Devil and I'm a reject. It has been 11 hours since my last rejection.

I am learning to live with rejection because rejection means I'm querying, and querying is something I avoided for a very long time. I've managed to double my number of rejections in just two weeks. I did that by increasing the number of queries I'd sent by six times.

Absolute Wisdom.

I got my first rejection

Jeff C. Stevenson

Author of FORTNEY ROAD

odubhthaigh2207

CharlyT

slackercruster

odubhthaigh2207

Fullon_v4.0

Shard Knight

Earthling

I come in peace

Fantomas

tuesday