Start your new novel
…And the replies trickled in… …rejection, rejection and more rejection. The anti-gray men’s hair TV commercial with the nasty buzzer kept playing over and over in my mind - REJECTED!
Then the next few emails asked for a partial. What? Are they serious? Yipeee!!!
Well, until I get a request for a full, I’m not so over it. And the waiting game goes on…
So that is pretty much what is happening in the land of writing. I’m used to hearing the word “rejected” considering my day job that deals with customers. In my early years in my handmade bag business, I came face to face with customers who see my beautiful handbags, touched them; slung them over their shoulders only to say right to my face, “This is easy. I can make this myself.” Next, “Eww, it’s not, that good,” and flung it back at me. My face turned red like a cooked shrimp. I wished I could be invisible and be like that other TV commercial that says, “Want to get away?…”
Years later, my skin thickened and there is nothing they can say that would crush my confidence anymore. Bring it on, I can take it.
And now this. I have experienced rejection once again in a different form—a letter from literary agents. At first, a half dozen rejection emails barely knocked me down, but when they started piling up, my self-defense started to wear out and I couldn’t take it anymore.
I stopped checking my email.
Lucky for me, I am already sailing my way into the next novel and never let the rejection letter prevent me from writing my WIP. I’m able to do it because I asked the DH to do the dirty job for me. He acts as my censor and doesn’t mind opening every single email and letter from agents because he’s also curious what all the fuss is about. He softens the rejection blow for me.
So here’s what you should do while waiting for the agent who will say, “Yes, I want to sell this book for you.”
1. Get the right attitude—an agent doesn’t reject you personally. They see your book as a product and have to make a business-like decision—whether they are willing to take the risk spending their own money, energy and time to sell it. If they say no, piss off about it for a second and then move on.
2. Start your new novel, short story or other project. Don’t wait. Hopefully when you get your literary agent, you already have a second manuscript ready to pitch.
3. Help other new writers in need. This is what I try to do—give feedback to their query letter or synopsis. I was there and did that and am happy to help as long as time permits me to do so.
4. Join a writer’s forum. The sense of belonging makes the waiting game less miserable because everyone is doing the same thing—talking about their muse while waiting the one lucky agent who will say, “Yes!”
5. Do something else. I am lucky to have my day job. When I come back to my writing, I can take a fresh look at my manuscript.
So, there you have it. Happy writing.
