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The Steve Laube Agency

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World Word by Word

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Home » Rejection » Page 5

Rejection

The Unhelpful Rejection Letter

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon March 8, 2012
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rejection-letter

Have you ever received an unhelpful rejection letter that says, “Sorry, but this just isn’t a fit for us.”? I have. And I’ve also written more of these rejections than I’d like to admit. In fact, after I write this post, I may just have to send out twenty more.

Some authors write back to say, “Can’t you tell me what I can do better? What suggestions do you have?” I’m sure I frustrate writers when I tell them I can’t comment further. As a published author in my own right, I understand why writers want feedback. So now let me tell you why I don’t feel it’s in your best interest for me to offer feedback when the answer is a firm no.

Lead Me On

When you were in high school, you kept from encouraging people you didn’t want to date, right? Sometimes those people were nice and would make a great match for someone else. Just not you. You hated the fact you couldn’t, in your heart of hearts, be passionate enough about spending time with them to accept invitations for dinner. But how to tell them without gaining an enemy forever? Ouch!

I don’t want make writers, especially my lovely friends, think I’m going to introduce their work to editors if I have no intention of doing so. If I tell you, “Well, I’d like this better if the heroine’s eyes were blue and her name was Sally,” and you changed both factors and sent it back to me, you’d expect me to pursue your work. Now, in truth, I might think your book would be better with blue-eyed Sally instead of green-eyed Sarah, but another agent might disagree. Unless I’m serious about pursuit, it’s better for me to keep my opinion to myself.

Tick Tock Tick Tock

Another factor in a lack of meaningful comment is time. I would love to mentor more writers, but time doesn’t allow. I’m simply not able to give each writer with a shred of promise a line-by-line edit. Until you are published and receiving meaty critiques from professional editors at publishing houses, look for critique partners to do heavy edits. And expect to return the favor many times over. Even better, learn self-editing so your critiques are light both in critique group and from the editor at your publishing house.

And realize that even a morsel of advice can take considerable time to compose so that it is genuinely helpful.

You Owe Me!

When you follow up with an editor or agent after a conference, you may be disappointed if you receive an unhelpful rejection letter. But for the reasons I’ve stated, you’ll have to swallow disappointment even when you’ve made a great personal connection. Some editors and agents may go the extra mile with a few comments based on the great time you had over lunch at conference, but they don’t owe you. Remember, agents and editors are more swamped than ever after big conferences so they may be treading water with the tsunami of resulting submissions.

Ungrateful

Believe it or not when we do provide a bit of critique or advice a few writers take it as an affront and fire vitriol in return. Steve Laube shared this final salvo from a person he tried to help by saying the manuscript was too long for the current market:

You have rejected the proposal, so why do you insist on insulting me? Why does it matter to you? My manuscript is what it is and everything included is vital information … Please do not email me again.

A Forever No?

In my view, a rejection letter is not a forever no, even if you feel the letter is unhelpful. You can always try again with a new submission, especially if you have worked hard to improve the material. Persistence is just as helpful in writing as it is any other profession.

The Helpful Rejection Letter

Did you score a helpful rejection letter? One that provides specific advice or critique? Rejoice! It’s the next best thing to an acceptance. The helpful rejection almost always means the agent is engaged in your work and is taking the time to groom you for possible representation. Listen, heed, and resubmit.

Your Turn

What was the most helpful rejection letter you ever received?

What was the worst rejection letter you’ve received?

Did you follow up on advice given in a rejection letter? What happened?

Leave a Comment
Category: Book Business, Book Proposals, Get Published, Rejection, TamelaTag: Get Published, Query Letters, Rejection, Tamela

Charmed, I’m Sure

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon February 16, 2012
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Dear Editor:
You really should meet this author! He knows all the best places to dine. I couldn't believe the fabulous meal we were served at a hole-in-the-wall place I'd never heard of until I made his acquaintance. He has also been quite generous and charming to my family. My husband and my kids have nothing but great things to say about this wonderful author!
In our meetings both in person …

Read moreCharmed, I’m Sure
Category: Book Business, Book Proposals, Get Published, Pitching, Tamela, Writing CraftTag: Editors, Pitching, Proposals, Rejection, Tamela, Writing Craft

How Many Critiques Spoil the Broth?

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon January 12, 2012
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Today I'll give my opinion on a question sent to our blog:
When an author is trying to find the right Genre to write in for a particular subject, is it profitable to listen to only one critique? 
Discover

The author who posed this question is in the discovery phase. Writers who read lots of books and have developed a love for many types of stories often have trouble deciding what to write. …

Read moreHow Many Critiques Spoil the Broth?
Category: Craft, Get Published, Tamela, Writing CraftTag: Craft, Get Published, Rejection, Tamela, Writing Craft

Conference Proposal Requests

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon October 6, 2011
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The recent ACFW conference (attended by nearly 700 writers and industry professionals) has writers, agents, and editors in overdrive as we all attempt to follow up on conference proposal requests. Writers are working feverishly to get proposals to editors. Some are thinking, "Surely the editor who seemed so excited about my proposal is checking email at least once or twice a day looking for it. I …

Read moreConference Proposal Requests
Category: Conferences, Get Published, Marketing, TamelaTag: Book Business, Conferences, Pitching, Rejection, Tamela, Writing Craft

Nameless Waterfalls

By Steve Laubeon September 5, 2011
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by Steve Laube During a recent vacation we visited a place in Alaska called the Tracy Arm Fjord. The picture above was one that I took during that visit. As we past through these amazing waters it was bitter cold (note the icebergs in the water), in the early morning around 6 a.m., and with a chilly wind to accompany us. But rather than be frozen by the weather I was mesmerized by the number of …

Read moreNameless Waterfalls
Category: Encouragement, Get Published, Personal, Steve, Writing CraftTag: Personal, Rejection, Writing Craft

The Fear of Rejection

By Steve Laubeon June 20, 2011
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Randy Ingermanson recently interviewed author Mary DeMuth in his "Advanced Fiction Writing E-Zine" and the topic of rejection surfaced. I thought it was very insightful and, with permission, am posting their conversation.

_______________

My friend Mary DeMuth recently published an e-book with the title The 11 Secrets of Getting Published.

Given that the price is only $2.99, I assumed the …

Read moreThe Fear of Rejection
Category: Book Business, Get Published, Rejection, Writing CraftTag: Book Business, Get Published, Rejection, Writing Craft

What’s up with Christian Retail?

By Steve Laubeon May 10, 2010
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Twice in the last 30 days I have been interviewed about the "state of the industry." The journalist's questions were insightful and thought I would share some of them with you. My answers have been expanded beyond the original ones since I have more space to work with here.

1. What do you believe to be the most important trend in Christian publishing and why?

This can be a complex …

Read moreWhat’s up with Christian Retail?
Category: Publishing A-Z, TrendsTag: Bookselling, Editors, Get Published, Proposals, Rejection, Writing Craft

Incoming Proposals

By Steve Laubeon January 6, 2010
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To your left is an actual picture of the pile of proposals our office has received since December 1, 2009. About 30 days worth of incoming mail...during a slow time of the year. The stack of books next to the pile include books sent for review (consideration) and recent publications that I want to look at.

That does not include the myriad of email submissions we get (many simply ignoring our …

Read moreIncoming Proposals
Category: Book Proposals, Get PublishedTag: Get Published, Pitching, Proposals, Rejection
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