a) Remember that literary agents don't 'owe' you anything. They are employed to generate revenue, not to discover your work or flatter your ego
b) Look into the realistic odds of being picked out of the slush pile - Query Tracker has some eye-opening reports on how many full requests are actually dished out, and how many queries even receive a response — and given the odds, think about how many other talented authors are missing out too
c) Think of it as a 'pass' rather than a rejection (I can't remember who said this first, sage advice)
This is really great advice! When I was querying agents I decided to distract myself by painting my living room. Distractions are so good! And also reminding yourself that you are more than a writer. You are a friend, a parent, a daughter, an xyz. And those are all important parts of your life. Really excellent. Thanks for sharing!
Writing something else is always the big one for me – it's something I do anyway, I always have multiple projects on the go at once, and so while I of course hate rejection as much as anyone else, there's always something else to look forward to in the future which does lessen the sting.
Can I also just say, Phoebe, your enthusiasm and positivity in these posts really comes across effectively. It's a real bright spot to read every week.
I used to call query letters requests for rejection but I don't feel that way about them any more. The more I think about it, submitting to agents or publishers is like cold calling. Even after choosing them carefully for a possible match, all I'm doing is hawking my wares. So I expect most, if not all, of those I've contacted to be uninterested. Once in an occasional moon, it might just work out; I could be selling something somebody wants. The other times aren't rejections, they're just not sales leads. But what you've encouraged me to do now is to see the aim more as a relationship rather than a transaction, which is a really valuable insight to add to this too.
Well the rejectee has to admit fault. Either you didn't submit the right thing, or you submitted to the wrong place. Admitting fault is painful, but the only way you get better.
It's so hard to shake off the impression that rejection is personal as if someone's saying, 'I'm sorry, but that's a really ugly baby you've got there.' I think the sooner we can depersonalise rejection, the better, as you wisely advise.
Great post! Lack of control is definitely what sends writers the craziest imo. And there's so much in publishing we can't control. Might as well try to get used to it. What helped me, and this is useful for being on sub to agents too, is to stop thinking of my novel like it's a cake I made (I made this delicious cake, everyone should love it, if they don't I'm a terrible baker) to thinking of it more like a glass slipper (there is only one right fit - one perfect agent/editor for this piece of work so it's a waiting game, until I find the one it fits.) As you say, we need an agent/editor who is all in, and passionate about the book! This shift in mindset makes all rejections positive as they're not the one it fits, so now you better chance of finding the one it does! I'm not saying it's easy to stay in that mindset but it helped me (and I got a brilliant result in the end!) 💫
LOVE THIS. Cake versus glass slipper - such a good idea! Thank you for sharing. Am sure that will help lots of readers. And I am glad you got your brilliant result in the end!
Thank you! The other day I found a sign I’d made saying ‘Every rejection is one step closer to my dream agent.” 🤣 Full time cheerleader/therapist to self is just another one of the many hats we authors have to wear.
Heya Phoebe, thank you for this, though made me laugh when I saw it in my inbox...I'm a debut author out on sub and trying to do ALL the things you suggest!
I'm a new subscriber, so I'm not sure if you've covered this subject before, but do you research an author before you decide to take them on? I ask as I'm staring daily at my website hits, wondering if I can read anything into the stats. My current agents are laidback about me updating Socials and my website, though agents in the past were keen I try to build relationships and a readership that way. But does an editor care? (my book on sub is women's book club fiction).
Thanks again, and very much love the idea of buying flowers!!
Hi Carlie, welcome and thank you for subscribing. I've covered a bit of this in some of the posts about acquisitions and the commercial hook of a book. I do usually look writers up, but it's not a huge deal if they aren't huge on social (it is more relevant in non fiction). In this market, though (which is quite a challenging one for debuts) we do find that authors who can partner with us on social media and who can help grow their profiles are an asset if I am being honest, but if I really love a book then that is the main thing. Connecting authors and readers is important and so if you enjoy doing that (on your socials and website) then I'd say it is a good thing, but don't let it take away fully from crucial writing time! Lots of authors now have newsletters, and I'd suggest following some successful authors in your genre to see what sorts of things they do if you need inspiration (readers like video content and behind the scenes info!) Hope this helps. Phoebe x
Thank you, Phoebe. Once again, a helpful and realistic post. The LitRejections site looks great. I do wonder about the relationship between rejection and 'bad track' and what an author can do about it, beside changing their name or writing in a different genre: probably not much! I think that the hardest thing to deal with, after rejection, is the sense of lack of agency, together with being uncertain as to what the rejection 'means' and desperately trying to fill the void of not-knowing. But therein lies madness!
Another great post I'll keep reminding myself about again and again! Thank you!
Thanks for reading, Amy!
Some tips:
a) Remember that literary agents don't 'owe' you anything. They are employed to generate revenue, not to discover your work or flatter your ego
b) Look into the realistic odds of being picked out of the slush pile - Query Tracker has some eye-opening reports on how many full requests are actually dished out, and how many queries even receive a response — and given the odds, think about how many other talented authors are missing out too
c) Think of it as a 'pass' rather than a rejection (I can't remember who said this first, sage advice)
d) Count your other blessings
e) Busy yourself with a new writing project
This is really great advice! When I was querying agents I decided to distract myself by painting my living room. Distractions are so good! And also reminding yourself that you are more than a writer. You are a friend, a parent, a daughter, an xyz. And those are all important parts of your life. Really excellent. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for reading!
Writing something else is always the big one for me – it's something I do anyway, I always have multiple projects on the go at once, and so while I of course hate rejection as much as anyone else, there's always something else to look forward to in the future which does lessen the sting.
Can I also just say, Phoebe, your enthusiasm and positivity in these posts really comes across effectively. It's a real bright spot to read every week.
That’s so kind of you to say - thank you!
I used to call query letters requests for rejection but I don't feel that way about them any more. The more I think about it, submitting to agents or publishers is like cold calling. Even after choosing them carefully for a possible match, all I'm doing is hawking my wares. So I expect most, if not all, of those I've contacted to be uninterested. Once in an occasional moon, it might just work out; I could be selling something somebody wants. The other times aren't rejections, they're just not sales leads. But what you've encouraged me to do now is to see the aim more as a relationship rather than a transaction, which is a really valuable insight to add to this too.
Thank you for this Phoebe and for recommending Lit Rejections. I feel better already!
Yay! I’m glad you do
An enlightening and generous post. Thank you Phoebe.
Thanks for reading!
Well the rejectee has to admit fault. Either you didn't submit the right thing, or you submitted to the wrong place. Admitting fault is painful, but the only way you get better.
It's so hard to shake off the impression that rejection is personal as if someone's saying, 'I'm sorry, but that's a really ugly baby you've got there.' I think the sooner we can depersonalise rejection, the better, as you wisely advise.
Depersonalising it is so important! Thanks for reading.
Thanks for another friendly, encouraging, and practical post.
thank you for reading and saying so, Marti!
Great post! Lack of control is definitely what sends writers the craziest imo. And there's so much in publishing we can't control. Might as well try to get used to it. What helped me, and this is useful for being on sub to agents too, is to stop thinking of my novel like it's a cake I made (I made this delicious cake, everyone should love it, if they don't I'm a terrible baker) to thinking of it more like a glass slipper (there is only one right fit - one perfect agent/editor for this piece of work so it's a waiting game, until I find the one it fits.) As you say, we need an agent/editor who is all in, and passionate about the book! This shift in mindset makes all rejections positive as they're not the one it fits, so now you better chance of finding the one it does! I'm not saying it's easy to stay in that mindset but it helped me (and I got a brilliant result in the end!) 💫
LOVE THIS. Cake versus glass slipper - such a good idea! Thank you for sharing. Am sure that will help lots of readers. And I am glad you got your brilliant result in the end!
Thank you! The other day I found a sign I’d made saying ‘Every rejection is one step closer to my dream agent.” 🤣 Full time cheerleader/therapist to self is just another one of the many hats we authors have to wear.
Thanks yet again Phoebe! I do enjoy making erasure poems out of my flash fiction rejections!
Haha love that and you're welcome! Thanks for reading and supporting.
Heya Phoebe, thank you for this, though made me laugh when I saw it in my inbox...I'm a debut author out on sub and trying to do ALL the things you suggest!
I'm a new subscriber, so I'm not sure if you've covered this subject before, but do you research an author before you decide to take them on? I ask as I'm staring daily at my website hits, wondering if I can read anything into the stats. My current agents are laidback about me updating Socials and my website, though agents in the past were keen I try to build relationships and a readership that way. But does an editor care? (my book on sub is women's book club fiction).
Thanks again, and very much love the idea of buying flowers!!
Carlie
Hi Carlie, welcome and thank you for subscribing. I've covered a bit of this in some of the posts about acquisitions and the commercial hook of a book. I do usually look writers up, but it's not a huge deal if they aren't huge on social (it is more relevant in non fiction). In this market, though (which is quite a challenging one for debuts) we do find that authors who can partner with us on social media and who can help grow their profiles are an asset if I am being honest, but if I really love a book then that is the main thing. Connecting authors and readers is important and so if you enjoy doing that (on your socials and website) then I'd say it is a good thing, but don't let it take away fully from crucial writing time! Lots of authors now have newsletters, and I'd suggest following some successful authors in your genre to see what sorts of things they do if you need inspiration (readers like video content and behind the scenes info!) Hope this helps. Phoebe x
Thank you for writing this, it helps to see things more clearly.
My pleasure - thanks for reading Zehra.
Thank you, Phoebe. Once again, a helpful and realistic post. The LitRejections site looks great. I do wonder about the relationship between rejection and 'bad track' and what an author can do about it, beside changing their name or writing in a different genre: probably not much! I think that the hardest thing to deal with, after rejection, is the sense of lack of agency, together with being uncertain as to what the rejection 'means' and desperately trying to fill the void of not-knowing. But therein lies madness!
I know, it's so hard! The post about what authors can do for themselves might be helpful?
Thanks Phoebe - as a novelist on sub I really needed to read this today!
I am glad it helped! Good luck on sub! You might want to read my post about why submission can take so long, too.
Thank you! Love all the nuggets of gold you are sharing about publishing!
Thank you!