Rejection Letters

Having applied to my fair share of publishers, I have many rejections to show for it. (I also have non-answers, which are simply just spaces in the excel spreadsheet that I keep for that purpose.)While I was accepted by one traditional publisher, that relationship ultimately faltered.

My point is that I have learned so much from the rejections that I have received. They have been at times encouraging, complimentary and some with invitations to resubmit. Although it is difficult to understand that they don't want to publish the brilliant novel I have written, when I slow down to read their wording, even form letters contain clues to help make me a better writer and literary business person. The two are not the same thing. Something that I continue to learn.

In terms of the literary business, one of the things that I have learned is the meaning of "Simultaneous Submission". I understood this term to mean "don't send us more than one thing". What it actually means is that the publisher doesn't want you sending your submissions to anyone else until they've had an opportunity to decide if they will publish it. WHOOPS!

Actually, I sent out about 25 submissions with single click of my mouse. Those that listed "No Simultaneous Submissions" are the ones from which I did not hear. Having learned the hard way that the industry is miniscule, I now know how to put my rejection letters and non-responses into a more appropriate context. This helps me look at the situation and strategize about how to make my next approach better. My response is no longer rooted in my own fear of the "No Talent" judgment I used to hear rustling under the words of the latest rejection letter.

I encourage everyone to view their rejections (if you have any :) as a learning experience and as part of the literary business of getting published. Comments?