I received my first rejection letter today! It seems I am now a real writer. I think I am going to create a wall/bulletin board in our office with the rejection letters/notes.
It actually is a stretch to call it a letter. Apparently, even a rejection letter is too much work for publishers today. It is a slip of paper measuring about 2 x 4" - thrust into my self-addressed, stamped envelope and sent on its way back home. This particular slip of paper thanks me for submitting my manuscript. Whoa Nelly! Manuscript? A mere 3 poems? Why thank you, but you really DO go on!
I'm ready to submit to the next one. Perhaps I'll get a real letter next time. All I know is that if I hadn't submitted my poems for consideration I wouldn't have gotten the rejection letter. And it feels damn good. I'm actually taking my writing seriously and flailing in the wind, but at least I'm flailing!
Onward!
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That is definitely the right attititude. I know you'll keep on keepin' on.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Your poetry is amazing.
Keep plugging...
ReplyDeleteit will happen.
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Oh my gosh, JCK! Could you please help me adopt your attitude? I cringed when I saw the title of your post, thinking about the rejection letters I have received. What gets me is how ridiculously hard they make submitting stuff! Each place has its own set of rules. I just want to send out a mass mailing!
ReplyDeleteGone with the Wind was rejected 11 times--don't give up :)
ReplyDeletekeep at it! we are all proud of you. it's HUGE to be taking yourself seriously as a writer with those two sweeties running all over.
ReplyDeleteyou inspire.
you are such a wise and wonderful woman! Your attitude is the one that I am working so hard to teach the kids ... yet, it is so hard to remember when my "ideas" are being rejected by the outside world! Best of luck as you pursue this wonderful talent!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great attitude! I am impressed with your diligence.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
I think you may be related to my dear hubby, Brian. He has a similar resilience and attitude - regarding everything in life.
ReplyDeleteIf you get more than one, you can make a little collage out of them and glue it to a SMALL (because it won't be that many!) piece of wood, shellac the hell out of it and use it for a hot plate.
ReplyDeleteAnd it seems like I recall JK Rowling getting a bunch of rejections before someone finally jumped on Harry Potter. So You're in good company!
You were, of course, a real writer before the letter but now you are a brave writer. Keep submitting!
ReplyDeleteWhen life hands you lemons, boy do you ever make lemonade! Good job! Keep going.
ReplyDeleteOh, I've gotten SO many of those. I think almost all writers have. Keep workin' at it! Rejection is part of the process of being a writer.
ReplyDeleteOh rejections are never nice. I had one last week too - for a piece of work I submitted to a journal. It never feels good but yes, you seem to have a good attitude. Anyone who writes will get rejections along the way. I'm not sure they get any easier to bear with experience - if they did I think it would mean we'd lost the way we were to start with, become desensitised and no-one wants that.
ReplyDeleteYou go girl!
ReplyDeleteI am totally excited for you. Each rejection letter is just one more to cross off on your way to being published. Yippee!
ReplyDeleteAnd I do adore your poetry.
Hooray! Right? :)
ReplyDeleteMy man kept a shoebox (yes; and it got filled) for his "Thanks but no thanks" notices from engineering jobs he applied for just out of college.
I have an unused bulletin board in my office - maybe I should start trying to get published so I can cover it with rejections. I wanna play!
Keep trying - you can do it - you are a gifted writer!!!
ReplyDeleteTake care - Kellan
Just keep on keeping on. I have a rejection letter collage in the laundry room. It's a mark of pride-because its a symbol of perseverance and risk.
ReplyDeleteALL the good ones started out with rejection letters. Keep on keeping on JCK.
ReplyDeleteCongrats! I know it's a bit of a sting, but my goodness, you are officially a real writer!
ReplyDeleteAnd, also if you haven't read it, I recommend About the Author...it's a satire on the industry. And, wonderful.
A rejection letter is the first sign that an acceptance letter will soon be on its way. Frame it! :)
ReplyDeleteDon't worry . . . after about the 20th, I stopped caring!
ReplyDeleteWay to keep forging ahead! Its the only way. You might (or not) enjoy the novel, "Mail"
ReplyDeleteby Mameve Medwed, novel about a woman who writes, submits, and waits for the mail each day - humorous look at rejection letters.
I love your attitude, and I think I will consider it a badge of honor, too.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt here that someone will publish your writing. Keep going!
Collect all letters and use them for decoupage...I like the hot pad idea. There IS an audience out there...WE know that. You have a great attitude.
ReplyDeleteBlessing, EJT
I love your attitude - onwards and UPWARDS!
ReplyDeleteI read somewhere that Dr. Seuss was rejected like 400 times before his first book was published. Anytime I get rejected for ANYTHING I think about that. Persistence, JCK!!!
ReplyDeleteNow that you've received your first one, I think you should institute a new response...for every rejection letter your receive, send out five more queries or poems. I bet you'll be published in no time at all!
ReplyDeleteGreat attitude! Just keep plugging away. When I started as a journalist I tried to freelance some articles to magazines and received tons of rejections letters.
ReplyDeleteCONGRATULATIONS!!! My husband has drawers and drawers of "rejection notices" from when he was trying to publish two children's books (nope, he never got published), but they are such great reminders for him to try everying and expect to only be happy!
ReplyDeleteI am envious of your passion and obvious gift ... keep going!!!