“This manuscript of yours that has just come back from another editor is a precious package. Don’t consider it rejected. Consider that you’ve addressed it ‘to the editor who can appreciate my work’ and it has simply come back stamped ‘not at this address.’ Just keep looking for the right address.”
—Barbara Kingsolver, author of The Poisonwood Bible
Gosh, that’s a nice thought. How many of you think you can put that line of thinking into practice? Maybe after you’ve experienced success like Barbara Kingsolver’s…
It is impossible to sell animal stories in the U.S.A.
—from the rejection slip for George Orwell’s Animal Farm
“A good many young writers make the mistake of including a stamped, self-addressed envelope, big enough for the manuscript to come back in. The is too much of a temptation to the editor.”
—Ring Lardner, author of lots of great short stories
Not all humorous advice is meant to be taken. Then again, ol’ Ring may have a point. That envelope does plant the “mail it back” seed from the moment the editor opens your package. Do include one if you want the manuscript returned to save yourself printing costs, etc., but keep in mind that you might get back a copy that’s dog-eared, torn, coffee-stained, or otherwise unusable.
“These stories have trees in them.”
—from the rejection slip for Norman MacLean’s A River Runs through It and Other Stories
“I discovered that rejections are not altogether a bad thing. They teach a writer to rely on his own judgment and to say in his heart of hearts, ‘To hell with you.’ “
—Saul Bellow, author of Humboldt’s Gift
You tell ‘em, Saul! I wish I could, more often, say in my heart of hearts, “To hell with you.” In all aspects of life.
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February 9th, 2007 at 1:50 pm
As a writer, I mostly agree with Saul Bellow–”To hell with you.” However, after watching programs such as American Idol, I, like many other writers, have to ask myself if I am as deluded as many of those countless contestants who only think they have talent.
From Edward Wolf at urbaniconoclast.blogspot.com
February 9th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
Edward, I can’t deny that some writers who think they’re the next Philip Roth can’t even construct a grammatically correct sentence. A harsh reality in all of the arts. At the same time, it’s a harsh reality that some terrific writers never get published, and some very mediocre ones become bestselling authors. There’s so much luck and subjectivity involved. If it brings someone joy or fulfillment to write, I salute them for trying. At least they don’t have to be judged by Paula Abdul.
February 10th, 2007 at 8:27 am
Edward, did a roomful of writers ever like your writing best? Because that is a very good beginning.