No, this post is not about a cop show in Hawaii, and it’s definitely not about me approaching a significant birthday. OH, I WISH! I passed that particular milestone a long, long time ago and just kept on truckin’.
So what is this all about? Well, I started this blog, “Swords, Specters, & Stuff,” earlier this year, at the end of January—a little over eight months ago—and this marks my fiftieth post! Holy cow, am I that chatty? My wife, Jacqueline, will tell you that’s a given. So will many other people that know me. But what the heck, this has been fun so far, and I intend to keep on “chatting” about all things writing, horror, sci-fi/fantasy, movies and books good and bad, and anything else of interest to me and—hopefully—to you. I appreciate your support of my blog and hope you’ll continue to come back for more.
So, for you writers, wanna-be writers, and even established writers, here is a topic near and (not) dear to my heart: REJECTION. We’ve all dealt with it, and we’ll mostly all continue to deal with it, especially with the many changes taking place in the publishing industry. I first wrote about this in one of my newsletters a few years ago. Enjoy!
OH NO, ANOTHER REJECTION!
So, what does a rejection letter have in common with a paper shredder? An article in our local paper told about a recent seminar offered at the San Diego Writers, Ink loft downtown. The speaker addressed a topic near and not so dear to all writers’ hearts: rejection. In a creative stroke she placed a paper shredder before the attendees and invited anyone who so desired to shred one or more of their own rejection letters. From what I understand, they had a hell of a lot of takers.
Reading this article made me think back to when I led multi-week workshops and seminars at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Extension and other educational venues. I always spent one-two hours talking about rejection, and while I did not use a paper shredder for “show and tell,” my own “gimmick” usually got the point across. I had published many books by the time I started teaching, but along the way I’d collected hundreds (thousands?) of rejection letters, all of which I brought to the classroom in a large box. A multi-published author with countless rejections? Naah, my students refused to believe it…until I poured each and every one out on the floor. To this day, former students that I run into tell me that they never forgot the image of my rejection slips flying all around the room.
Yep, this book got quite a few rejections…
I always began that class with a mantra, which I repeated many times. Let me do the same here: Rejection is a professional opinion, not a personal statement. The literary agent is not saying to you that you’re a sucky person, or yo’ momma’s so stupid that she studied for a drug test, or that your four-month-old kid smells bad. They are only offering their own estimation of your writing.
Let me say it again: Rejection is a professional opinion, not a personal statement. And further, you know what they say about opinions. They’re much like a certain posterior orifice on a person’s anatomy: everybody has one, and they all stink.
Imagine this book without the “Indian stuff”…
Don’t let rejection letters deter you. They are an unavoidable part of this profession. The most successful authors have endured the “Dear Writer” notes. You’ve probably heard some of the stories. J.K. Rowling—Harry Potter’s mom—received numerous rejections and was on “the dole” (welfare) before her success. So did Tom Clancy, and Stephen King. Someone told Pearl Buck, author of the classic, The Good Earth, that “We regret the American public is not interested in anything on China.” Tony Hillerman’s rejection letter said in part, “Get rid of all that Indian stuff.” In her early days, Mary Higgins Clark was told, “We found the heroine as boring as her husband had.”
Rejection is a professional opinion, not a personal statement. And folks, they ain’t always right. If you want to get published, remember Commander Taggart’s words in Galaxy Quest: “Never give up, never surrender!”
We really are on the same blog page. 🙂 I love what you said about rejection not being personal–almost as much as I love that t-shirt.
There are so many reasons our work may not click with various agents, publishers or heck–readers. The important thing is forging on, while hopefully embracing the process. Thanks for the fabulous reminders!
And ditto on your rejection post! Rejection runs rampant (he said, alliteratively) in all facets of our lives. It’s all about how we deal with it.
Also, CONGRATS on your 50th post. Your blog is terrific.
That’s because I had a great Blog Guru. 🙂
Yeah, you’re right Mike. Things have been a little hectic here but I’ll get going again, soon.
Glad to hear it, Moise.
This is a great post, Mike. People take rejection so personally, yet it really is ‘only an opinion’. Authors need to have a very thick skin and (as you’ve pointed out) some of the most famous books in history have been ‘rejected’!
And some of the least famous books–like all of mine–have gotten their share of rejections. 🙂
Thanks, Dianne.
I salute you on your dedication to a fun, instructive, and encouraging blog.
As you know, I received my very first rejection yesterday (1 down, only 999 to go…). Unlike the one you posted above, however, it wasn’t a “Dear Writer” form letter. The agent was kind enough to explain that she simply did not connect with my heroine, and therefore felt unable to be her champion.
To me, that is a great example of the subjectivity of the entire realm into which all writers thrust themselves. There are many books that I’ve read, or movies that I’ve watched, to which I’ve had the same reaction. It wasn’t bad writing, or acting, that was the problem. In fact, there are plenty of “guilty pleasures” (as we’ve discussed here) that I adore for reasons other than technical quality. It was that I just didn’t connect. However, somebody, somewhere, must have, so…
Never give up, never surrender!
I absolutely love “Galaxy Quest” and feel that there is another lesson to take from that story, as well. The Thermians (aliens) thoughts that the episodes of the TV series, “Galaxy Quest”, were historical documents. The power of their belief in what they saw caused them to bring the ship, “Protector”, into being. And they inspired the actors to become real-life heroes.
So, regardless of the opinions of some, we need to keep believing in ourselves until we find a way to make our own goals a reality. And having examples like you, Mike, is a real inspiration!
Thanks, Kate. I know that you’ll never give up, or surrender. Hopefully your excellent story will become more than a historical document. But if the literary agents are blind, then remember this: “By Grabthar’s hammer, by the sons of Worvan, you shall be avenged!” 🙂
That’s perfect! 🙂 From your lips to the Great Spirit’s ears. Thanks for your fabulous support!