tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post1088721593688558445..comments2023-09-25T02:24:22.087-07:00Comments on Anne R. Allen's Blog: What it Really Means When Your Book Gets RejectedAnne R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-73568404475758539442011-05-28T14:40:26.415-07:002011-05-28T14:40:26.415-07:00I know all of this, but rejection still stinks!I know all of this, but rejection still stinks!Caroline Clemmonshttp://www.carolineclemmons.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-17992329459040375322011-05-28T14:30:42.266-07:002011-05-28T14:30:42.266-07:00Good advice! I re-tweeted it on Twitter!Good advice! I re-tweeted it on Twitter!Jan Markleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08317561950719847803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-77035550241538021512011-05-28T11:10:05.833-07:002011-05-28T11:10:05.833-07:00What a great perspective! Thanks for sharing.What a great perspective! Thanks for sharing.Susan Kaye Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07348197999397141067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-79320776476777741652011-05-28T10:56:03.616-07:002011-05-28T10:56:03.616-07:00I think this post works for the magazine publishin...I think this post works for the magazine publishing industry as well. Hilarious! Loved the idea that you'd get a rejection for your already published book. I'm guessing that agent was a tad late in responding. Ha!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09505661913107994459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-23889420360360009832011-05-28T10:50:52.098-07:002011-05-28T10:50:52.098-07:00I absolutely love this! It's a great reminder...I absolutely love this! It's a great reminder that it's not personal (well, most of the time). Thanks for the encouragement AND the laugh!Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-21008764977031942052011-05-27T11:27:17.959-07:002011-05-27T11:27:17.959-07:00Great article! The last negative query response I...Great article! The last negative query response I received (see how I avoid using "rejection") actually made me feel bad for the PUBLISHER. He wrote a helpful and sincere letter addressing the shaky state of his press, the genre in question and the industry in general, and provided a list of other potential publishers to query and online communities to join. Now that is how you reje- er, provide a negative query response. It was truly above and beyond, especially when you're accustomed to "Not for us" scrawled across your ms. I actually wrote him back to thank him and wish HIM the best of luck! It was a nice reminder - just like this article - that publishers and agents are people too, with their own challenges and problems....Bill Schweigartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-17612159324880052152011-05-27T09:48:00.677-07:002011-05-27T09:48:00.677-07:00Jack--what a story! "Frustrating" hardly...Jack--what a story! "Frustrating" hardly covers it. "Partnerships never last", huh? Only 30 years. I hope all editors don't feel that way, since I'm collaborating on a book right now. Funny--I could only find an audience in the UK, even though my books are set in the US!<br /><br />Rachna--Glad to provide a day brightener. Love Ruth's humor. I hope she'll be back.Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-34922536343385861192011-05-27T05:36:19.896-07:002011-05-27T05:36:19.896-07:00Loved the post, Ruth and Anne. Rejection is someth...Loved the post, Ruth and Anne. Rejection is something we all have met many times and though it is nothing personal, it still hurts when people reject our baby (MS.) Great post. Really enjoyed it a lot. Brightened up my dull friday evening.Rachna Chhabriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-64424696261684551482011-05-26T22:37:37.234-07:002011-05-26T22:37:37.234-07:00I have been writing with a partner for thirty year...I have been writing with a partner for thirty years and after our first ms getting accepted we thought the world was our oyster. The next two were rejected because the original publisher had stopped publishing Fantasy but had not bothered to inform us, and as one was a sequel no one wanted it. After a long period of frustration, anger, feeling of rejection we spent two years writing an Historical novel based on fact. We sent it to a named editor at an extremely prestigious house who- and I have never forgotten her words- loved it but didn't feel comfortable about taking on a partnership because they never last. Ten years later it was accepted as it was by a publisher, not in the UK where it was set, in America.<br />So Ruth has it right you may never know the true reason but wear your rejections as battle medals and ready yourself for the next fight.<br />jackleverett.me.ukAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-80125350983058001212011-05-26T11:38:23.018-07:002011-05-26T11:38:23.018-07:00Pat--No, I'm sure the agent was being truthful...Pat--No, I'm sure the agent was being truthful. Agents can't sell anything new. The publishing business is a mess. It's all about quantity over quality, and gets worse by the day. The Big Six are self-destructing. And Amazon is picking up the pieces. Barry Eisler moved from St. Martins to indie to Amazon's new imprint in a matter of weeks. The old order changeth.<br /><br />Veronika--thanks!<br /><br />Stephen--I hear you. I once got a rejection within five minutes. Some poor intern was probably told to just clear the inbox without even taking a look. (Although I must admit I've also had requests for fulls in almost that short a time. But that was a long time ago.)Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-90770580364680728542011-05-26T10:55:11.782-07:002011-05-26T10:55:11.782-07:00Fantastic post. I received scores of rejections be...Fantastic post. I received scores of rejections before my books were accepted. I once emailed a query letter at 9:45 at night. By 10:15, only half an hour later, I received an email rejection. Or how about the rejection that came after I'd ben acceptance and almost eighteen months after I'd sent the query. I'm not sure which is worse. <br />Anyway, thanks.Stephen L. Braytonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14575880529198211433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-15924947025951808532011-05-26T10:44:46.198-07:002011-05-26T10:44:46.198-07:00Take it easy, Anne. Looking forward to hearing mor...Take it easy, Anne. Looking forward to hearing more from you. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-65804622426607273852011-05-26T10:42:54.455-07:002011-05-26T10:42:54.455-07:00I got:
"I'm afraid I do feel I've exh...I got:<br />"I'm afraid I do feel I've exhausted the possibilities for your lovely book Pat. I an so sorry. I continue to be surprised at the dire straits of publishing. If they don't think it will sell 100,000 copies, they just won't buy. Shame, shame,shame. It deserves to be published."<br /><br />Was she just being kind?Pathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01529798893653033970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-30140519778833046492011-05-25T11:54:06.775-07:002011-05-25T11:54:06.775-07:00Katie--Yeah. I think you've got it just about ...Katie--Yeah. I think you've got it just about right.<br /><br />Leslie--Kind of scary to know how random it is, but you're right--that makes it all the more important to persevere.Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-13818213368687606042011-05-25T10:50:51.885-07:002011-05-25T10:50:51.885-07:00Thanks for the funny sneak peek. Interesting to kn...Thanks for the funny sneak peek. Interesting to know what's happening on the other side of the door. Chalk up another point for author perseverance in the face of rejection.Leslie S. Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17122865337924270039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-90601631579821149592011-05-25T05:19:24.561-07:002011-05-25T05:19:24.561-07:00oh wow. I don't know whether to laugh or cry....oh wow. I don't know whether to laugh or cry. My rejection might not mean my book sucks? But I'm still screwed? *sigh*Creepy Query Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18115161057496086972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-53657354044970764082011-05-24T10:34:41.042-07:002011-05-24T10:34:41.042-07:00Oh, it's fantastic to see my blog in such capa...Oh, it's fantastic to see my blog in such capable hands while I'm out of town! These comments are fascinating. Anon's story about CSI shows this happens everywhere, doesn't it?<br /><br />And we had a visit from Sibel Hodge herownself! Thanks Sibel--and everybody who's joining in the conversation. <br /><br />And special thanks to Ruth! Thanks for this great post and for keeping up with all the interesting comments.<br /><br />I'll be back tomorrow, but I've managed to injure my hand, so I have only one opposable thumb. Slows me down a bit.Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-34358481883965806492011-05-24T07:11:54.178-07:002011-05-24T07:11:54.178-07:00Steven--Why don't you write ABZIM? After all, ...Steven--Why don't you write ABZIM? After all, if you'd like to read it, others might, too. I'm only sort of half-joking because you never know what's going to sell. As for your pathetic query letter, you now see what you did wrong & won't make the same mistake again. It's true: failure=progress. <br /><br />Jennifer--Thanks for the kind words & thank you for the repost! As to your other point, think of any big success. Like, for example, the movie TITANIC. Huge hit & lots of people loved it. Plenty of others, though, considered it total drek. *shrugs* Bottom line: it IS just one person's opinion & the writer's task is to find the "one person." Like love, I guess, only without dating.<br /><br />Meghan--thank you, merci, gracias! Also teşekkür ederim. (Turkish) :-)Ruth Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15246050315747917109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-51977938687672607122011-05-23T22:34:45.970-07:002011-05-23T22:34:45.970-07:00What a wonderful, funny post! Ruth not only wrote ...What a wonderful, funny post! Ruth not only wrote a very enlightening, encouraging post for authors who have been (or will be, in the future) rejected, but also she demonstrated how to show what a great writer she is through a blog post. She definitely made me want to read her books!Meghan Wardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12773598501857799104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-61835326011950376772011-05-23T22:23:20.437-07:002011-05-23T22:23:20.437-07:00Anne & Ruth...
This post put a big grin on my...Anne & Ruth...<br /><br />This post put a big grin on my face. :) Thank you. I try to assure myself that a rejection represents one person's opinion. It works sometimes. <br /><br />Wonderful post. I've reposted it. Thank you! <br />JenJennifer Tannerhttp://jennifertanner.infonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-47389299777014913772011-05-23T14:47:48.941-07:002011-05-23T14:47:48.941-07:00Karly--back atcha!
anonymous--yep. classic. ;-)Karly--back atcha!<br /><br />anonymous--yep. classic. ;-)Ruth Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15246050315747917109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-23392593221912942532011-05-23T14:38:38.749-07:002011-05-23T14:38:38.749-07:00Oh my god...I have got to read a book about aborig...Oh my god...I have got to read a book about aboriginal bisexual zombies in Manitoba; where can I get one?!<br /><br />It's nice to know that rejection isn't personal, but on the other hand I just read back my (standard form, one size fits all) query letter from two years ago and it's just horrible. It was my fault, I openly acknowledge, because I looked up "how to write a query letter" on Google, wrote one (badly), printed it 30 times and sent them out. But now I can pretend it wasn't JUST my fault...Steven D. Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08413630014732734412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-41699838846585408872011-05-23T13:45:29.238-07:002011-05-23T13:45:29.238-07:00Reminds me of a story from my line of work... ABC ...Reminds me of a story from my line of work... ABC studios dropped its interest in CSI while shooting the third episode of the series back September of 2000. The show hadn't aired yet but the studio decided it wasn't worth the money they were putting into it. CBS went on to find another production partner and well, 251 episodes and 2 spin-offs later, the rest is tv history. ABC is still kicking themselves in the behind for that misjudgment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-33528817921944695502011-05-23T11:26:06.817-07:002011-05-23T11:26:06.817-07:00Aw, thanks Ruth! Good luck with your books! :DAw, thanks Ruth! Good luck with your books! :DKarly Kirkpatrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05032213203101470326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-938229624580847352011-05-23T10:50:09.186-07:002011-05-23T10:50:09.186-07:00Nina--Thank you. *curtsies* *smiles*
Veronika--Ma...Nina--Thank you. *curtsies* *smiles*<br /><br />Veronika--Maybe not famous last words. Nothing says you should like rejection; the point is that you're the one who's in charge of whether or not you're knocked sideways by it.<br /><br />Karly--See? 100 rejections & it doesn't mean doody. Congratulations!Ruth Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15246050315747917109noreply@blogger.com