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Tuesday, January 5, 2016

REJECTION_IWSG Entry

REJECTION

It's a hard pill to swallow.  Our prose is an extension of who we are, what we are.  

When our story, our novel is rejected, it is a pushing away of what makes us US.

Have you ever been told by a romantic partner, "It's not you; it's me."

You knew the truth: IT WAS YOU. Ouch!


What is the TRUTH about novel or story rejection?

EDITORS REJECT STORIES, GOOD AND BAD, 
BECAUSE THEY FEEL THAT THE PARTICULAR STORY WILL NOT GIVE THEIR READERS 
THE KIND OF SPECIFIC READING EXPERIENCE THEY WANT OR EXPECT
 IN THAT PARTICULAR VENUE.
 

EDITOR'S REASONS for buying a story:

1. The editor knows it will give the reader a Satisfying Reading Experience of the kind his magazine or anthology was intended to provide.
 

2. The story has a clear-cut, likable character with whom the reader can identify.
 

3. The story tells, and solves, a clear-cut narrative problem which the main character solves by his or her own efforts.
 

4. The story makes the reader glad he read it, therefore giving the reader a (see #1 above) Satisfying Reading Experience.



OTHER THOUGHTS

A magazine, an anthology, even publishing houses ... 
they have only finite space and have to consider balance in their publication(s).

Rejecting your story may have broken the heart of the editor ... 

or they may have buried it in their cat's kitty litter box.  

You know which option I like to think is relevant to my stories!! 


You will probably not be given a reason for rejection ... or you will be given a vague, sugar-coated one.


1.) If you were the editor's best friend and you submitted a story she couldn't use, she would reject it.
  
2.) If you were her mother and you submitted a story she couldn't use, she would reject it. 

3.) If you were Jesus at the right hand of God and you submitted a story she couldn't use ...

come on, she would accept it. 

Hey, we're talking possible damnation here!



Bottom line: you were rejected.  People in Bosnia only wish that was their greatest problem.  

We have to move on ... or don't.


We learn from the blows we take ... or we languish in them.  

Deep down you know which option is more healing.


In the end, we get compared to other good stories with similar themes.  

If another rings purer or more evocative than ours .... guess what?



This is the real world of publication.  

And eventually, you are going to have to fist-fight a bear.

Yeah, you're outclassed ... but you entered these woods of your own volition.

It will not be just one bear ...

oh, no it will be polar, grizzly, and Kodiak.  

Your story will have to run through a gauntlet of judges that just don't care about you at all.  

Not a bit.

They care about themselves.  

They do not want to choose a story that the readers will label "Awful!" 

and in turn paint those judges with the same tar.


May we all someday experience that singular joy of being accepted.

And if it means anything ... I like you.    :-)

22 comments:

  1. Eternal damnation is a big deal; that caught me by surprise. lol

    With writing, I have learned a new mindset. I've always been goal oriented and efficient. To write for no general purpose is a new way of thinking for me. What surprises me about my blog is what becomes popular and what is ignored.

    So much in the world boils around what is going on with the other individual and not yourself. Good points made.

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    1. Many times it really is that other person be it editor, judge, or reader. Thanks for visiting this weary blood courier. :-)

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  2. Unless the editor was a total non-believer, she'd accept a story from Jesus!
    There are also reasons for rejections that have nothing to do with your story. An editor having a bad day and just trying to clear out his inbox for example. Good story and good timing will net you an acceptance.

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    1. I think seeing both Jesus standing by the throne of the Most High might make them a believer! :-)

      You're right: timing is crucial! Would an unknown Thomas Wolfe or Fyoder Dostoevsky be bought by publishers today?

      Happy New Year!

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  3. Hi Roland - rejection is sad ... but so many go through it - it's being busy, so another rejection is just that ... a minor event in the scheme of things.

    Our time will come ... it will! Cheers - Hilary

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Wise thinking: keep shooting at more targets -- that way when we miss a few, we are busily improving our aim! Happy January. :-)

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  4. It takes time to learn that rejection isn't personal (unless it's from someone you want to sleep with) and just the way the writing business goes. My coping mechanism is sending out a story the same day I get a rejection slip. This way I haven't been rejected, I'm under consideration!

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    1. That is exactly the same way I deal with rejection as well! If we stop trying, then we have, in fact, rejected ourselves! How silly is that, right? Best of luck in 2016 for us both. :-)

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  5. Not every story I read resonates with me, so I have to realize that a lot people aren't going to enjoy what I create.

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    1. We just have to try to keep on improving, keep on writing so that our work will be out there to be noticed by that crucial editor or agent.

      You know I just checked, and I have written 2,469 posts. And still unrecognized. Me and Emily Dickinson! :-)

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  6. Rejection is something all writers face, and it can be hard to remember that it isn't personal. All we can do is keep going.

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    1. Yes, L.G. But in a way it is personal, for we see it as an indication if we will ever be accepted. Yes, keep on going so that our work exists for someone to notice. :-)

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  7. Haha! I like you, too, Roland. Someday I'm going to submit to a publishing house so I can be officially rejected. LOL. Since I self publish I've never dealt with rejection, except through lack of sales. So yeah, rejection hurts. I'm just going to keep going forward though.

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    1. Lack of sales. I hear you on that one, too! We just have to keep moving forward -- a moving target is harder to hit!! :-)

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  8. My agent and I are on sub now, so very fitting topic! We've gotten some rejections, but 2/3 we're still waiting to hear from. And you're right: #FirstWorldProblems. Fingers crossed!

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    1. Alexia, I wish you luck with those subs. Yes, the Third World would give their right hand to have rejection be their worst problem!

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  9. Sometimes good authors do get rejections from the industry professionals. Rejection is hard to swallow for anyone, especially those who know their writings are excellent. A part of the process however. Unless you are self published, then you always get the joy of seeing your works out there for consumers to enjoy. Still, some stories are not for everyone, regardless of how well written they are, or who our friends are.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Emily Dickinson was never appreciated in her day. She had to die before the world took notice.

      I'd rather not take that route!!

      Yes, my stories are probably not for MOST people. :-)

      Have a great 2016!!

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  10. Haha, you're last line made me laugh. Rejection sucks, but you're right on all counts!

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    1. Jennie, I thought I'd end with a smile. Rejection sure is no fun but there are seriously more grim things that can happen to us, right?

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  11. Beautifully written as always, Roland. There are so many reasons an agent or editor may reject a piece of writing that there's no point asking, "Why?"

    Unless they've told us. If so, that information is worth its weight in gold.

    Good luck in 2016! Let's go out there and fight some more bears.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I think the bears pick us! Fist fights with those critters and editors are no fun!! ;-)

      Thanks for the kind words.

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