No Thanks
Firstly, you print out the sample chapters again and send them to another agency/ publishing house, as soon as you can. Rejections are natural: even J K Rowling was turned down several times, and when Bloomsbury accepted the first Potter book it was because the editor's daughter insisted, or so the story goes. You just have to try again.
Secondly, you write some more. That's obvious really, but it does need saying, because for me at least writing is a daily thing. If I don't put down some words one day then I likely won't the next, or the third, and suddenly the script lying on one side of my desk seems to be giving me disapproving looks and it's harder than ever to start back in. It doesn't even matter if I read back the work I've done, decide it's rubbish (that rejection letter distracted me, curse it) and delete the lot: I still did it, and my head's still inside the story.
Which is why I write, in the end. Someone said to me after I published The Risen King that it's a tremendous thing really, writing a novel, and I suppose it is. But to me it's just part of how I live, what I do in my days and evenings. Send me a hundred rejection letters, a thousand, and it still will be.
Listen (and really listen this time, will ya?), your writing is fantastic! Yours is one of the most well written and attention grabbing books I've had the sincere pleasure reading. In fact, I've enjoyed every single little blurb you've ever written anywhere.
ReplyDeleteSo, until you find a publisher who agrees with me, you're just going to have to take my word for it and not give a second thought to the rest.
Lori Anne
So you sent your manuscript to a publisher who couldn't recognise talent, it happens. I'll see your rejection and raise you two of mine.
ReplyDeleteYou're a great writer Ben, your words seem to flow in a way I can only aspire to. You'll get there, I know you will. I just hope you're keeping a note of the people who had the opportunity to represent you and missed it because one day you'll be able to send each of them a copy of your bestseller and say na na nana na!
Thanks guys, I appreciate the support. It's just about believing in ourselves, isn't it? But the economy isn't strong and agencies or publishers run for cover when that's true, and don't take on new authors. So I'll just do the things I can do and keep plugging away.
ReplyDelete