tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post3008529574893959227..comments2024-03-29T07:01:21.278-04:00Comments on Writers Who Kill: Feeling Rejected?Jim Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-37482607707810798752016-11-15T16:33:48.258-05:002016-11-15T16:33:48.258-05:00And my favorite synopsis - Tom Clancy, "It...And my favorite synopsis - Tom Clancy, "It's a little book about a boat." Hunt for Red October. <br /><br />I feel so much better now! I do think that Shari has a great point. So many of these books were considered coloring outside the lines when they were presented to publishers/agents. Let's be grateful for the ones brave enough to take the chance and the writers brave enough to keep writing!Kaithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07758348842858993203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-78392084677893431162014-10-28T21:50:34.464-04:002014-10-28T21:50:34.464-04:00Shari, you make a good point about publishers reje...Shari, you make a good point about publishers rejecting some of these writers because they were comfortable going with what fit their criteria. It's too bad they weren't kinder with their rejections. <br />You can never have too much chocolate!<br /><br />I feel the same way, Paula. Reading these rejection letters inspires me to redouble my efforts.Kara Cerisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16484336785514235707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-1913421805525402552014-10-28T17:57:11.181-04:002014-10-28T17:57:11.181-04:00Wow, seeing these helps me to get back to writing....Wow, seeing these helps me to get back to writing. No excuses. Thanks, Kara!Paula Gail Bensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08843350597811462936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-15019284915537185112014-10-28T15:29:40.992-04:002014-10-28T15:29:40.992-04:00Wow, these really sting!
Looking at this list, it ...Wow, these really sting!<br />Looking at this list, it seems that many of these writers - Dickinson, Nabokov, Orwell - were moving into uncharted territory and their publishers were looking for books that comfortably fit their lists - looking for the same old, same old.<br />Time to buy some chocolate for courage!<br />Thank you for the pep talk, Kara ;)Shari Randallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16425493627354028820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-70510145912425511602014-10-28T14:51:27.592-04:002014-10-28T14:51:27.592-04:00I'm glad that you keep writing, E.B.! You'...I'm glad that you keep writing, E.B.! You've written terrific stories. Rejections can be discouraging even when we know they're subjective because that nasty self-doubt creeps in. I guess all we can do is our best, send our story out in the world, and try to let it go. Kara Cerisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16484336785514235707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-7803293848269551872014-10-28T13:12:13.829-04:002014-10-28T13:12:13.829-04:00Good point about Carrie, Gayle! I had a similar re...Good point about Carrie, Gayle! I had a similar reaction when I read that Animal Farm was rejected in the US because animal stories don't sell. Kara Cerisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16484336785514235707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-68338720850528301572014-10-28T11:44:54.794-04:002014-10-28T11:44:54.794-04:00I've had my share of rejections, especially th...I've had my share of rejections, especially this year. This blog reminds me that criticism is subjective. It doesn't help to know when rejection causes hurt and discouragement. I must admit to going through the, "I can't write my way out of a paper bag" mentality every once in a while. <br /><br />But then someone will come along and really like something I wrote encouraging me. Sometimes they like pieces I felt weren't my best. Other times, the pieces that I've felt sure about have received a "ho-hum" reception. Which is the point of this blog. Thank you so much for writing it, Kara. We need to hear this message about once per week!E. B. Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746747050278597888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-29319497995124299032014-10-28T11:29:16.475-04:002014-10-28T11:29:16.475-04:00The rejection for Carrie is what makes me laugh (a...The rejection for Carrie is what makes me laugh (and then slap the writer). Of course the book doesn't work as science fiction - it's a horror story, for Pete's sake!Gayle Carlinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15783449240138097315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-34844682099149015572014-10-28T11:18:47.171-04:002014-10-28T11:18:47.171-04:00Gloria, when I was doing research for this blog I ...Gloria, when I was doing research for this blog I learned that Beatrix Potter, author of Peter Rabbit, started out by self-publishing. Apparently, she couldn't find a publisher willing to take a chance on a children's story about a family of rabbits.Kara Cerisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16484336785514235707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-31115013878969066172014-10-28T11:04:25.918-04:002014-10-28T11:04:25.918-04:00KM, it must have been sweet vindication for these ...KM, it must have been sweet vindication for these authors to say, "I told you so!"<br /><br />I feel the same way, Ellis. The harsh words are discouraging. But it's also inspiring to know that rejections can be flat out wrong.<br /><br />Warren, I'd prefer a polite "no thank you" over a nasty rejection. Although, sometimes feeling angry and wanting to prove them wrong can be motivating.<br /><br />Jim, one publisher sent a mocking rejection letter to Gertrude Stein that clearly required time and effort. I probably should have included in this blog because it was so over-the-top.Kara Cerisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16484336785514235707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-42320433270658771472014-10-28T10:42:02.789-04:002014-10-28T10:42:02.789-04:00I certainly got my share of rejections back when I...I certainly got my share of rejections back when I was submitting to agents, but mostly in the line of form letters. Instead, of making me give up, I decided eventually to self-publish and am very happy with my choice. I loved reading the rejection letters for those authors who went on to become famous. It just shows how subjective the whole business is.Gloria Aldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13581719606924364447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-59349445673562644032014-10-28T10:22:42.323-04:002014-10-28T10:22:42.323-04:00Jim, I agree. Those nasty rejections were intended...Jim, I agree. Those nasty rejections were intended to hurt and discourage. In my opinion, that's unnecessary. If you're going to take the time to write a personal rejection, you could at least give constructive criticism. Ellis Vidlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11918353154644739285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-88953488187271457742014-10-28T10:08:28.527-04:002014-10-28T10:08:28.527-04:00I guess my writing needs to improve before I can g...I guess my writing needs to improve before I can generate as nasty letters as your examples. I did have a magazine (who rejected the story) note that my bio could have stopped after my name!<br /><br />And Warren, a form letter is just a "no thanks." A nasty rejection required effort and was intended to hurt -- of course it is up to us to remove the stinger and laugh at their puerile need to attempt to aggrandize themselves by inflicting pain on others.<br /><br />~ Jim<br />Jim Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090252530437277145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-87108578830006417802014-10-28T10:04:25.090-04:002014-10-28T10:04:25.090-04:00Is a harsh rejection so much worse than a form let...Is a harsh rejection so much worse than a form letter?Warren Bullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07789270258599769915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-80250953570782400942014-10-28T09:38:28.900-04:002014-10-28T09:38:28.900-04:00Terrific post. I don't know if it's hearte...Terrific post. I don't know if it's heartening or disheartening. When I consider how some people are so convinced they know so much about readers and are quick to pass on harsh words it saddens me. But seeing who they rejected and why is uplifting. :-)Ellis Vidlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11918353154644739285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-993649290245605005.post-39634130806087387912014-10-28T09:26:06.194-04:002014-10-28T09:26:06.194-04:00We all get rejections (at least I think we do.) I ...We all get rejections (at least I think we do.) I have never gotten quite so spectacular ones as those you cite. The closest I've come is "I don't know where I could sell this."<br /><br />I'll just keep on plugging away, even if I never do get to the "I told you so!" point of the authors in your blog. KM Rockwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03973749764907859829noreply@blogger.com