Six Rejections That Should Make You Keep Writing
Rejections. Every writer has gotten them. But how do you know when to keep trying and when to take a hint? Here are a few hallmarks of what I’d call “good rejections”–the kind that should encourage you to keep going.
1. There’s some outright encouragement. Did the editor mention that he/she enjoyed certain aspects of your manuscript? Remember that an editor has to fall head-over-heels in love with a book in order to take it on. Just as we don’t fall in love with every attractive person we meet, editors don’t make an offer on every good manuscript.
2. It’s not the right fit. If you get a rejection that says something to the effect of, “It’s not right for our line,” that isn’t an insult to your book. Remember that book imprints have a brand of their own–readers expect certain types of projects from them. Your book may be great but not in line with their brand.
3. It’s too similar to something else. It may be that your book is good but that the publisher has already acquired something too much like it. Let’s say your book is about a cat who speaks French. Unbeknownst to you, the publisher has a book coming out next year about a cat who speaks German. (It takes a couple of years from acquisition to book store shelves, after all.) This doesn’t mean that your book isn’t good; it just means there’s only so much room for multilingual felines on their list. Or maybe your book reminds them of another book they did several years ago with a similar gimmick, and that book didn’t do well for them. Or a competitor has a book with the same sort of gimmick. Any of these can keep you from getting a yes, but it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep trying.
4. They ask to see a revision. This is extremely encouraging because while the current version isn’t quite right, the editor sees something in your book that makes him/her willing to read it twice.
5. They ask to see something else from you. If the editor asks to be kept in mind for future submissions, your writing must be pretty good.
6. They take it to acquisitions. For an offer on a book to be made, everyone at the publishing house has to be on board. There are times when an editor loves a project but can’t convince the rest of the team to buy in. This is heartbreaking for the author (so close!) but ultimately, the most affirming of rejections. Someone in the publishing business loved your book enough to go to bat for it. That’s huge!
