re-jec-tion n. 1. The act or process of rejecting. 2. The condition of being rejected. 3. Something rejected.
I think I am number three - I'm something rejected. I feel like something rejected or even ejected, expelled or thrown away. Oh, don't rush to soothe me. I'll get over it by lunch. But I need this little time of gnashing my teeth and renting my clothes first. Then I'll put the rejection slip up on the wall. I'll open my file on The Rock Walker and have a look at my query letter - see if I can spruce it up. I'll go on my list of possible publishers and I'll cast my line again. I'll get up on the old cayuse another time.
I know that each rejection makes me that much closer to being accepted and all those other bits of mathematics that make no real sense in the harsh light of day.
It's just that...well...it's July when therapists don't have many clients especially in the new economy. And it is a long time between sending something out and hearing something back.
There the whine is over. Gwen will be here in about ten minutes - I'll make us some espresso. She'll pat my knee and say 'there there' (why those words I wonder?) and I'll go to work on True. I'll remember that writers write and waiters wait and whiners whine. There done!
13 comments:
Even therapists ave to whine sometimes, I guess. Seems like you have it under control.
I let myself have time, a couple hours, to rant, rave and even cry. Then I move on to being productive.
Mary
Giggles and Guns
If only I could be this calm when ranting. You have a firm grip on everything so it goes without saying, it will get better. Just have an extra cup of espresso.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
Oh those pesky reject letters! I found it helped to think of them as people who would one day regret missing the opportunity to represent a successful book and its author.
You have the perfect attitude, Jan. Read the rejection, feel a bit of hurt, whine about it, then move forward.
Straight From Hel
Rejection sucks. But you've got the right attitude - I think I'll borrow it once I start querying!
You keep goin' sista! You're going to be just fine.
I think it's great that you can let yourself feel the sadness and frustration, but it's like you've put a time limit on yourself. After that, time to move on, keep writing, and do what you love.
When I start querying, and subsequently ranting, I might need you to remind me on ways to keep going.
I hope I am as strong as you when I start to query. I admire your ability to admit the need of rant and that you'll get on when that's done. An agent once said writers need to Get Fierce. I've put that in front of me as a reminder.
Mary - yep, whine and pony up!
Mason - oh I got well over it soon. And then I started rewriting my synopsis. argghh.
Jane - you got it! Exactly right...
I hope!
Helen - I'm in the moving forward part now but man oh man that feeling bad part sucks!
Jemi - thanks! I think I've got a handle but then I've had some experience.
Elspeth - I do believe you are correct, my friend.
Rosie - Thanks and I promise to be here for you as I'm sure all your blog pals will be!
Tricia - I love that! Get Fierce. I'm going to embroider it on something...
The majority of writers don't do research to find what the publisher is looking for. Whatever you write it must fit somewhere and it takes a lot of time finding the right publisher.
The toughest rejections for me were the close call, "I like what you do, but I have a two-year backlog." But when they write back you are getting close.
Don't stop trying. Increase your odds with research for the right fit.
Best
thanks John - I think that is one of the reasons I was so disappointed - there are only a couple of imprints in Canada dedicated to mysteries - this was one of them. I have read a good selection of the books they publish. One problem that I can see is that they are a very western outfit and this is a very eastern story! The literary fiction I'm working on now is set in both Alberta and Nova Scotia so maybe it'll have more play...
Jan, come over to my other blog. The one you visited has not been activated yet. Tag below.
Best,
John
http://www.atkinsontimekeeper.com/
Ugh. Sorry to hear that. You do sound like you've got the disappointment under control, though.
(And I've wondered about "there, there" too! Why not "here, here"?)
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