If you go through my trash, you might think I’m the world’s worst person. Why? Because my discarded mail might lead a casual observer to think that I don’t care about:
The paralyzed.
The blind.
Amputees.
Orphans.
Israelites.
Health needs overseas.
Impoverished people living overseas.
People suffering with:
- Lupus
- Muscular Dystrophy
- AIDS
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Emphysema
- Diabetes
- Heart disease.
- Cancer
The homeless (who apparently only need two meals a year: Thanksgiving and Christmas Day).
Abortion.
Lawsuits defending Christianity.
Veterans.
This is only a sample of the pleas I receive asking for donations. My discarded mail makes me seem heartless. Who doesn’t care about these people and causes? Who doesn’t want to eradicate terrible diseases? In fact, one of my favorite in-laws suffers from MD and another is stricken with MS. People I love have been stricken with, (And often defeated!) cancer. Diabetes runs in my family, as does heart disease. As for veterans? I can name at least ten in my family without thinking.
But no matter how compassionate I am and how much I admire the organizations and workers, I don’t possess unlimited funds to dispense meaningful contributions to every worthy cause. And when I do, I have noticed I get on mailing lists for similar organizations and the tide becomes a tsunami.
I give to church and charity, but not to every church, nor to every charity.
So, what does this have to do with writing and publishing? I’ll tell you. Most every week, I am forced to decline worthy manuscripts. These manuscripts are well written, have a great spiritual arc, and show the author’s talent. In my office, we try not to be heartless when rejecting any manuscript. But we know the author who’s worked months, perhaps years, on a manuscript, feels the sting.
Likewise, editors must reject submissions from agents. Agents have already screened the manuscripts so the editors can give them serious consideration. Yet, every editor has limitations as well, and cannot accept every worthy manuscript. And agents feel the sting when we must deliver bad news to writers.
Please know that as an agent, I don’t take rejection lightly. I care about writers.
I advise writers who receive any encouragement from an agent or editor to weigh those opinions and keep trying. Talent is a gift well used, but persistence must accompany that talent for an author to be a success.
Your turn:
When did you turn a rejection into a sale?
Have you ignored an agent or editor’s advice, and gone on to be successful?
Have you taken an agent or editor’s advice, and gone on to be successful?
What is the worst advice you’ve ever been given?
Christmas in Story
*deep, long sigh* Just like a fictional heroine in oh-so-dire-straits.
Totally understandable. I was recently involved in some major fundraising for a worthy cause, and my dad referred me to a wealthy contact of his. I was warned by a bunch of people that despite her wealth, she’s a bit on the stingy side, so I approached with caution. I was surprised, because she was actually kind and accommodating. She later explained to me that as much as she wanted to support the cause, she was already committed toward a bunch of charities and organizations. PLUS she’s currently paying for all medical costs of her eye doctor, who was recently diagnosed with cancer.
She’s my reminder that just because people reject you, doesn’t mean they’re heartless. They’re just not the people He wants to use to help.
As a writer, I dread rejection. Always have, but I know it will come in one way or another. It’s sad, but it’s just the way it goes. After all, Jesus was perfect, and a lot of us reject Him over and over again.
**Jesus IS perfect. He was, He was, He always will be.
*facepalm*
Had to change it.
Joanna, thank you for sharing such an uplifting true story!
Thank you for this post, Tamela. I can relate to the giving dilemmas, especially after working in my church for eighteen years. During a pitch one time an agent suggested I add a female and touch of romance to my suspense manuscript. Hmm, I pondered her suggestion and left the conference feeling a bit whipped and disappointed she didn’t dance and shout at the amazing work I thought I’d written. However, I followed her advice and found writing romantic suspense more intriguing.
Then, there was an agent who I found to be very rude and curt. Her advice fell by the wayside. I can take criticism and rejection, but it doesn’t have to be given in a hateful manner.
Since that time I prayed for three years that God would provide an agent that loved Him as much as I do, one that would be easy to work with and point me in the right direction . . . that’s when He sent you!
Awwww, you made my day! I am humbled by your words.
I have to say, I’ve been given some wonderful advice from most agents and editors I’ve talked to. There was one who tried to convince me to make my WWII novel a Western… Otherwise I’ve taken most advice given. In my experience, industry pros do want to help and do want writers to succeed. I think most of the advice I’ve ignored has come from contest judges. Especially ones who say your work is totally unpublishable when you already have a contract….
Joanna, that is too funny! One day I might survey editors and agents and see which ones have declined authors who turned out to be CBA’s equivalent of Elvis or the Beatles. In fact, here’s an article on that topic. http://www.neatorama.com/2013/01/01/The-Record-Company-That-Rejected-The-Beatles/
On the same token, sometimes an agent or editor sees a project that isn’t *quite* there, and the author goes on to tweak it or write something else, and that project immediately takes off — with another agent or editor.
I love to see authors succeed and when it appears that has happened to me, I am grateful that I was part of the author’s journey, and hope my advice — even a rejection — helped make the author successful in the long run.
We all belong to the Lord anyway. He is in control.
Good analogy, Tamela. I’m just beginning to pitch my book to agents and publishers, and although I’ve been a professional writer for more than 25 years, there is a lot I need to learn about book publishing. Reading blogs like this one provides incredible insight. Thank you!
Amanda, thank you for making our blog part of your day!
Tamela, My recycle bin looks like yours. We give, but like you, we give to church and charity, but not every church and charity. Nice to know I’m not the only person who gets those appeals.
As for turning rejection into acceptance, I got into writing fiction because of advice (actually, more a challenge) given to me when I was writing my non-fiction book following the death of my first spouse. That book was published (and is still in publication). I wrote fiction for four years, crafting four books that garnered forty rejections. Actually, I’d given up when through what a friend would call a “God thing” I gained representation and my first contract. I understand that agents often have to decline worthy manuscripts. I wonder if it’s a matter of right place/right time/God’s will.
Thanks for your post.
And thank you for sharing, Richard. I enjoyed learning about your writing journey.
I’m not successful yet, but I did take a former editor’s advice last summer. We want to use my novels to support missions, and that means we need to retain the rights. The former fiction editor of a big Christian publisher told me the only way we could do that was to self-publish.
Not the advice I wanted to hear. Not the path I wanted to take. But when the only way to accomplish what you want to do to serve the Lord is not the way you would have chosen, it’s time to bite the bullet and head on down that road.
Carol, I feel confident you will end up working with the right agent and publisher. Godspeed as you write for Him!
I made the choice a long time ago that I would never turn away a stray dog or cat; I haven’t, but it’s a choice that has precluded a lot of other choices, and a lot of cherished dreams. And it’s been years since I have slept in a bed, as I need to be in the kennel to take care of the guys whose sleep is still traumatized by bad memories. Yes, I hold their paws and sing them a lullaby.
I’m trying to find an elegant segue into writing, but I can’t do it. All I can really say is that I write because I care, and sometimes – as with “Emerald Isle”, my ‘abortion story’, writing it MADE me care.
The best advice I got from an agent wasn’t really advice; it was grace. In 2008 I sent Rachelle gardner “Blessed Are The Pure Of Heart”, and while she passed, she sent a lovely, encouraging email, complimentary of both the concept and writing style. It’s kept me going since then.
Andrew, how kind and compassionate you are, which is likely one reason you appreciated receiving grace yourself!
Tamela, this really nice man rejected the first draft of my manuscript but he gave me some excellent feedback. I took his comments to heart and changed the book around. Even though he still rejected it, someone else didn’t and I am praying that the next acceptance comes from a superb publisher. The morale of the story is that we can face rejection but, if we believe in our writing, God can still use it for good and we can still like and respect the person who did not have the same vision we did.
Sheri, I visited your web site and I think you have a great ministry!
I got a first rejection letter an hour after I won NaNoWriMo, and given that I participated in the event in a bid to stifle my anxiety concerning my pitch, it’s my perfect definition of God’s work.
Receiving the rejection plus writing 50,000 words in nineteen days served to open my eyes to so many errors that made the manuscript not ‘quite’ there. And while family thinks I write very well, I just shake pitifully.
One more thing I’ve enjoyed. Early this week, Jerry Jenkins offered to edit the opening paragraphs of our present manuscript while explaining setting. When he was done with my first four paragraphs – and though I submitted a rough draft – it’s the best thing so far. While of course, I recoiled and wanted to scream, I found the paragraphs far more better.
Really, it’s been a good nineteen months of writing. I trust God for the patience to wait, listen, and learn. (And I wonder how many sentences would be cut from this comment by an editor.)
Michael, it sounds like you are doing everything right! Keep at it!
A very timely post for me. 🙂 smile.
blessings.
Glad to hear that, Diana!
I love dreading this and all the comments. Rejection can be so normal that you expect it. That’s the scary thing.
And the endless discard of the good can be an unpleasant task we must routinely attempt.
Sometimes, the only good Good that makes any sense is what God puts within us that guides us and is a Guiding Light to those whom we happen to share it with. The other day I talked with a homeless woman, actually, I was holding the door for her in a store, when I thought of how a smile conveys worth an approva because she seemed surprised by my kindness and small talk. I caught the eye of a gentleman watching me as I shared through this simple act of kindness. So, discouraged as we may be about out lack of success in some areas, we never need be fully defeated.
Nice example, Norma!
*loved reading*and approval. (Oops. Fingers not working properly!!)
Thank you for your thoughts, Tamela. I have to remind myself again and again that the various reasons my work may not be eagerly sought can include other factors not linked to the quality of my writing –such as an agent’s awareness of something quite similar due to be immediately published or a better understanding of the market.
Still, the attitude coming thru in the response can offer hope and soothe the disappointment of rejection. I remind myself–when I’m able to–that God’s timing is omniscient–mine isn’t, and keep trying. Thanks.
Elena Corey
I put aside my writing for several years, even though it was a passion that I’ve had since before I can remember. I’m getting back to it now as a stay-at-home mom. However, I’ve yet to submit my writing. I’m writing, editing, researching, and preparing my heart, knowing rejection often comes first. So, I can’t answer these questions, not entirely, but this post was still encouraging to me.
What a wonderful, compassionate article, Tamela. Your name rings a bell. I think perhaps you know my dear friend, Kathi Macias. I can’t tell you what a difference a kind rejection makes to an author. Actually, I prefer to translate “rejected” into “not selected.” Rejection feels far more personal. Not selected implies to me that my piece is simply not a good fit for a publisher’s needs. I’ve written three books, and when I first pitched my “passion book,” the editor, who had championed my proposal and concept all the way to her publishing board meeting, wrote me a scathing rejection letter. It was merciless, and I felt so defeated that I was ready to quit (forever)! But as I prayed and pondered, I found it odd that what she had championed, now she hated. I honestly think because that committee rejected my proposal, she felt foolish and then let me have it with both barrels. I tried to read her rejection objectively. Without trying to be a prima donna, *I* rejected some of her off-base critiques. What was valid, I took to heart and learned from. My book was published ten years later, and as a beautifully illustrated gift book (despite some of my raw writing about pain in my life). My experience with such a cold-hearted rejection, also taught me how not to behave as an editor, myself. There is always something to encourage in every writer. You obviously know and “live” that, Talmela. Thank you for encouraging that philosophy here.
Blessings and Happy New Year!
Lynn Morrissey