So, I had to send a couple of rejections to authors whose manuscripts weren't quite right for Carina for various reasons. One author was amazingly gracious about it and I wouldn't hesitate to read future submissions from her. The other well, mentioned our name in a blog post and made snippy comments about us passing on the story. What's funny is, the ONLY reason that latter manuscript was rejected was because we aren't publishing that genre anymore. No commentary at all on the quality of the writing (which was amazing and totally moved me). Just a matter of the publisher changing scope.
Things like this happen ALL. THE. TIME. And it sucks--oh GOD, do I know how much it sucks. A couple of years ago I'd written a proposal for the Simon Pulse romantic comedy line. They loved it (naturally, because it was utterly brilliant, haha)...except they decided to put that line on hold and not publish anything for a while. So my proposal was rejected.
No fault of mine. No commentary on my writing. I nursed my wounds for a day or two, ate copious amounts of chocolate and moved on to the next idea.
It happens to all of us. ALL of us. I know a number of authors, myself included, who have been rejected post-publication. And from our own publishers, even.
Rejection isn't just the badge of the unpublished.
There are a number of reasons why manuscripts get rejected when being considering for acquisition:
--your manuscript is good, but needs too much work. This one's a judgment call the editor has to make. How much editing time do we put into helping the author craft this story into what it needs to be? Do we even HAVE that time to spare? Is this something we'll run into with every manuscript by this author, where it needs to be heavily massaged into salable condition?
--your manuscript isn't marketable. Editors can love a manuscript--LOVE--but not be able to acquire it. Publishing is a business. Yes, we want to share with the world all those manuscripts we fall for, but we need to know they're going to sell too. A lot of money gets spent on editorial, covers, marketing, etc. Manuscripts that are a little too niche (like superheroes *sob*), that don't have a strong hook, that are in a sluggish genre can get rejected.
--not everyone in the acquisitions team meeting loves the manuscript. The editor obviously loves it, but that doesn't mean everyone else will. In this case, it's hard for the editor not to feel like he/she's been rejected too. I've been there. It sucks. *reaches for candy bar*
--marketing issues regarding the author. For example, the author has no website/facebook/twitter/blog, no notable desire to self-promote, etc (and NO, this won't make or break an acquisition, but it is a factor, let's be honest). Or another example: the author wants to write too many various genres with us, so we can't market that person effectively. Do we "brand" you as an urban fantasy author if your first novel is urban fantasy but your follow-up is historical, and your third is erotic romance?
There are other reasons, of course. But note that none of the reasons above said you suck. Or that we hate you. Or that you should quit writing and go drink cheap vodka in the back of a van and spend the rest of your days making tacos or hemming pants or whatever.
When you're publicly rude about rejection, you're possibly making that editor feel like he/she just dodged a bullet with you and maaaaaaybe it was better t
6 Comments on Rejections from publishers--it's not personal!, last added: 10/13/2011
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This is great advice. When handling edits, critiques and rejections - NEVER respond directly after reading the words.
Fellow Writers- Remember publishing is subjective. You will never please everyone. Use your best judgment, keep learning, continue writing and believe in yourself.
Is it bad I immediately looked for a +1 button? I'm spending too much time on social media, I think.
Anyway... Speaking as a person who has been rejected an ungodly amount of times this year because my manuscript just wasn't "quite there" for the publishers I submitted to (I got two R&Rs from it), there's a lot of good advice here.
Very well said, Rhonda. I know that most editors HATE sending out rejections. Unless you're a known and persistent douchebag.
But it's good for authors to know that editors pass on golden opportunities all the time. I think that's the secret to surviving rejectionitis--remember JK (and almost every famous author ever) felt exactly as you do now, several times, before lightning hit.
Great post and great advice, Rhonda! I love getting an editors pov on things--helps to keep it all in perspective. =)
Anara
www.AnaraBella.com
This is wonderful advice, I know this in the back of my head of course - but that doesn't stop me from feeling rejected (and reaching from a candy bar). Writing is like any other career path - there are going to be times where you are qualified but just won't fit for other reasons like you stated. In between tears and chocolate bars we need to remember that when one door closes, there still may be a window open!
Sometimes I think writers forget that a blog or tweet isn't a private journal. Hopefully that writer can come back stronger!