Comments on: When Rejections Hurt http://www.therenegadewriter.com/2006/09/19/when-rejections-hurt/ If you loved the book, read the blog Fri, 10 Sep 2010 14:25:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: LindaFormichelli http://www.therenegadewriter.com/2006/09/19/when-rejections-hurt/comment-page-1/#comment-690 LindaFormichelli Thu, 21 Sep 2006 18:02:13 +0000 http://therenegadewriter.com/?p=90#comment-690 I agree that it's difficult when you get no response to a query. Is it because the editor is busy, the editor didn't like your idea, your query fell behind the staff refrigerator, the editor is on vacation...? Each one of situations would require a different response (follow up in a week or two, pitch a different idea, resend your query, wait it out...). We need to know! I also agree with Diana that "It's not me, it's them." It's so easy to think that editors are thinking about you 24 hours a day. YOU're thinking about you 24 hours a day. And editors are thinking about themselves 24 hours a day. I agree that it’s difficult when you get no response to a query. Is it because the editor is busy, the editor didn’t like your idea, your query fell behind the staff refrigerator, the editor is on vacation…? Each one of situations would require a different response (follow up in a week or two, pitch a different idea, resend your query, wait it out…). We need to know!

I also agree with Diana that “It’s not me, it’s them.” It’s so easy to think that editors are thinking about you 24 hours a day. YOU’re thinking about you 24 hours a day. And editors are thinking about themselves 24 hours a day.

]]> By: sirio http://www.therenegadewriter.com/2006/09/19/when-rejections-hurt/comment-page-1/#comment-687 sirio Thu, 21 Sep 2006 15:19:10 +0000 http://therenegadewriter.com/?p=90#comment-687 The non-rejection rejections are the worst. Tell me it's a dumb idea, tell me it's such a perfect idea you just ran it last week (this happened to me once, ouch!). But when you don't answer the pitch, I don't know what to do. Wait? Call? Follow up? Shrivel and have a martini? To get rid of the sting, I try to think of one thing that I can do to bring myself forward. Whether it's checking out a class or getting started on another project. Just one thing. Then I give myself a break for the day (see martini). The non-rejection rejections are the worst.
Tell me it’s a dumb idea, tell me it’s such a perfect idea you just ran it last week (this happened to me once, ouch!).
But when you don’t answer the pitch, I don’t know what to do.
Wait? Call? Follow up? Shrivel and have a martini?

To get rid of the sting, I try to think of one thing that I can do to bring myself forward. Whether it’s checking out a class or getting started on another project. Just one thing. Then I give myself a break for the day (see martini).

]]> By: DianaBurrell http://www.therenegadewriter.com/2006/09/19/when-rejections-hurt/comment-page-1/#comment-657 DianaBurrell Wed, 20 Sep 2006 15:51:09 +0000 http://therenegadewriter.com/?p=90#comment-657 Great post, Linda! As you know, I get over rejections pretty quickly. In fact, I just confessed to a writer friend on Monday that I have somewhat high self esteem when it comes to my career. That is, I can't fathom why an editor would diss my writing or ignore me, which leads me to think, "He's a moron. I deserve better than that." (Luckily, I've never had an editor diss my writing, but plenty have ignored me.) And that leads me to my next point: it's rarely about me. It's about them -- they're ignoring "me" because they're swamped and don't have time to say, "No thanks" or just maybe my e-mail's moldering in their spam filter. There are always a million ways to take something personally -- but it's words, not me they're rejecting. Does that make sense? Great post, Linda! As you know, I get over rejections pretty quickly. In fact, I just confessed to a writer friend on Monday that I have somewhat high self esteem when it comes to my career. That is, I can’t fathom why an editor would diss my writing or ignore me, which leads me to think, “He’s a moron. I deserve better than that.” (Luckily, I’ve never had an editor diss my writing, but plenty have ignored me.) And that leads me to my next point: it’s rarely about me. It’s about them — they’re ignoring “me” because they’re swamped and don’t have time to say, “No thanks” or just maybe my e-mail’s moldering in their spam filter. There are always a million ways to take something personally — but it’s words, not me they’re rejecting. Does that make sense?

]]>