tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post3508589146089129891..comments2024-03-29T01:48:39.501-04:00Comments on Pimp My Novel: We Regret to Inform You: The Form RejectionUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-71450006674027757572009-11-02T22:42:17.958-05:002009-11-02T22:42:17.958-05:00I love getting rejected.
Truly. It may be a bit of...I love getting rejected.<br />Truly. It may be a bit of a pinball ride, and yet still a guiding me in the ultimate direction. <br />I never want to be stuck in the middle at "Maybe".<br /><br />Just keep playing the game.TERI REES WANGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14948438335395055496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-30380992495547528662009-11-02T19:46:47.554-05:002009-11-02T19:46:47.554-05:00I would welcome hundreds of form rejections (in fa...I would welcome hundreds of form rejections (in fact, I have) over the non-response. Form rejections are par for the course. Non-responses are just plain torture. I consider it a rare gift when an agent does take a moment to give me a personalized remark. One such gem actually helped me sell my novel since my request rate improved by about 40% after I made the recommended change. I respectfully returned the favor by NOT replying back to the agent. The gift of one less email, I figured.Rebecca L. Boscheehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08532242944189083737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-74239239601853685482009-11-02T19:13:29.485-05:002009-11-02T19:13:29.485-05:00As I've only ever gotten one acceptance letter...As I've only ever gotten one acceptance letter, and the rest have been form rejections, this is very nice to hear. Form rejections can be disheartening, but like you said, we just need to remember that the lives of everyone involved in publishing, whether its agents or magazine editors or whatever, all are very busy, and a form rejection does not equal 'You suck.' Thanks for the reality check!Sarah Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01185278849400551014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-36123513922479457452009-11-02T19:02:20.564-05:002009-11-02T19:02:20.564-05:00Well, I don't like only getting a form rejecti...Well, I don't like only getting a form rejection when I'd like to know what's wrong with the concept or the query itself. But I can understand the agent side of it. And at least a form rejection is a response. <br /><br />A no is a no is a no, true. But I think it's human nature to ask why. Especially on a partial or full. I must admit that it does steam me a bit to get a form rejection on a full. You asked for it, so what's wrong with it? I'd just like to know what to work on for next time.<br /><br />Thanks for your perspective, Eric. And for making us put rejection in perspective.VB Tremperhttp://www.vbtremper.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-63464335665825689402009-11-02T17:31:05.897-05:002009-11-02T17:31:05.897-05:00Thanks Eric. In the end, you make it sound like gr...Thanks Eric. In the end, you make it sound like graduating from Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardy. <br /><br />Sort of like the Triwizard Tournament. So apt.<br /><br />Now where did I leave my Invisibility Cloak?Terry Stonecrophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03726985400500572770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-54264547633371962852009-11-02T15:23:01.526-05:002009-11-02T15:23:01.526-05:00I am fortunate and pleased to say I did not get ma...I am fortunate and pleased to say I did not get many rejection letters - only 9 or 10 (I got very lucky and landed a contract soon after I began searching for a publisher).<br /><br />However, the rejection letters I did get were all standard form letters: "we're sorry but..."<br /><br />I didn't take it to heart and wonder too much or too long "why why why". I just sent out the next query.<br /><br />The agent (or publisher or editor) has a job to do and it is unfair to expect they can give you detailed feedback on your submission. <br /><br />Cheers, Jill<br />"Blood and Groom" will be released in two weeks!<br />www.jilledmondson.comJillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05152599507268946811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-45789156269295055182009-11-02T15:00:46.702-05:002009-11-02T15:00:46.702-05:00I love anyone who quotes Cmdr. Peter Quincy Taggar...I love anyone who quotes Cmdr. Peter Quincy Taggart!<br /><br />And the other way to look at the rejections?<br /><br />The agents are like Rock. They have no vulnerable spots. So you'd better have friends who can pull your ass out of a tight spot before you're crushed.Suzan Hardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04600258874634909988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-38110880945005740492009-11-02T14:52:48.586-05:002009-11-02T14:52:48.586-05:00Form rejection and personalized rejection are both...Form rejection and personalized rejection are both still...well.. rejection, people. No matter how you slice it, it's a no. Are you really going to get jacked up over the semantics of it? Or are you going to do what the rest of us do and pick yourself up and carry on? Jacked up or not...still a no!<br /><br />I do have to say that I absolutely agree with the fact that at least *something* should be offered for a partial or a full. Did you not like the flow, the plot, the character development, any of the above, all of the above...I mean, throw me a freaking bone for God's sake. You got me all giggling and stuff over the fact that you asked for some of my BOOK. The one I slaved over. Yeah, that one. At least tell me why it didn't make the cut so I have a drawing board to which I can retreat. And cower under for a while before coming out to potentially revise my work to strengthen it.<br /><br />Double YEAH! to Wendy's point about the form rejection being well written (and so many of them are- sad that I know this- but some...not so much!). I lurk on way more agent websites than would make my boss happy, and I can tell you this. Virtually all of them ask, nay, BEG those of us who query to send only the veryvery best. They stress how crucial it is to make sure names are spelled properly, typos are fixed, research is done, etc. And yet here I am, getting a form rejection addressed to a mis-spelled version of me. I might as well have written my novel with blood sweat and tears for how hard I worked on it. Show me a little joy when you pass! If you're nice about it, even in a form rejection kinda way, I can handle it...Kimberly Kincaidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10796741685901278761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-45074195961514494972009-11-02T14:37:31.752-05:002009-11-02T14:37:31.752-05:00Personally, I love the form rejection and wish it ...Personally, I love the form rejection and wish it were standard. After you've heard the word "no," what more do you need? No "reason" for the rejection is going to help you in the slightest. Personal rejections often contradict each other and some can be downright painful. I've never been hurt by a form rejection.Margaret Yanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464624057491288244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-50166195712025618692009-11-02T13:06:35.850-05:002009-11-02T13:06:35.850-05:00Your Never Give Up! Never Surrender! post is still...Your <i>Never Give Up! Never Surrender!</i> post is still one of my favorites. I shared it with my writing group and continue to be an optimist, in spite of the state of the industry today (or tomorrow).Susan Kaye Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07348197999397141067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-39639021334112904822009-11-02T12:19:56.131-05:002009-11-02T12:19:56.131-05:00...but, I was never rejected by any of the college......but, I was never rejected by any of the colleges I applied to. ;)Joseph L. Selbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11851550951042358953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-39068922663099337572009-11-02T11:52:34.365-05:002009-11-02T11:52:34.365-05:00I can't figure out why people complain about f...I can't figure out why people complain about form rejections. They obviously haven't got any brutally personalized rejections--they make you crave a nice "Dear Author" any day. At least with form rejections you can pretend they didn't even read whatever you sent. It's like they've given you a free pass to not get upset and blow them off as lacking vision. <br /><br />Since you caveated, I will to:<br /><br />Caveat: I think form rejections should be well written. If you're sending out one hundred copies of anything a week, it should be your best work. There are some down-right snide or cruel form rejections out there. On the flip-side, there are some really good form rejections. <br /><br />Also--rejections are still better than no response.Wendy Sparrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06240583852940769313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-62325625603243032752009-11-02T11:18:17.905-05:002009-11-02T11:18:17.905-05:00Thanks for putting it back into perspective. I got...Thanks for putting it back into perspective. I got another form rejection last week and groused, but as you say it's business, not personal.<br /><br />When I do finally find an agent, I'll want them to focus their attention on me (and their other clients, if they must) and not on writing personal rejection letters to everyone and their aunt.Katie O'Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17295418503546522882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-65989773571754291592009-11-02T10:53:12.599-05:002009-11-02T10:53:12.599-05:00Clear & concise - I love it! I think this post...Clear & concise - I love it! I think this post ought to be added to your list of Essential PMN.Anna Clairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08774415814789806840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-83352680191454367132009-11-02T10:10:40.600-05:002009-11-02T10:10:40.600-05:00Whoa. Psychic day today.Whoa. Psychic day today.sarah mccarryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06092116746268072592noreply@blogger.com