| As a writer, you're going to be submitting a lot of | | | | few bad comments get to you. After you do this for |
| material to a lot of publishers and agents. It could be | | | | a while you will start to find that you develop what is |
| weeks, months, maybe even years before you get | | | | called a thick skin. Suddenly, the comments don't hurt |
| your written work accepted, which means many, | | | | as much. When that day comes, you are probably |
| many rejection letters. Unless you can learn to handle | | | | ready to start submitting to publishers. |
| this rejection your writing career is going to be very | | | | When you submit to publishers, keep a list. Make a |
| short. | | | | game of it. In marketing, you only make sales to 3% |
| The truth is, many writers, once they reach the point | | | | of your prospects. So if you send out 100 copies of |
| where they actually start submitting material and | | | | your manuscript most likely you will only get 3 |
| start getting rejected, end up changing careers | | | | positive responses. As you start getting your |
| faster than the Giants moved from New York to San | | | | rejection letters back, don't just tack them up on the |
| Francisco. Many promising careers were probably cut | | | | wall or throw them in the trash. The really good |
| short because of the inability to handle rejection. | | | | publishers will give you a reason for the rejection. |
| Hopefully the following tips will make that rejection | | | | Make a note of their comments. Maybe they spotted |
| easier to deal with and help turn it into a positive. | | | | something in your work that you didn't see. Maybe |
| Before you even start submitting your material to | | | | there's room for improvement. If you take each |
| publishers and agents, get a little practice getting | | | | criticism as the person actually trying to make your |
| some feedback from others. Don't give your work to | | | | work better you will be on your way to turning that |
| friends to read. For starters, they're probably not | | | | work into something that will sell. |
| interested and depending on the kind of friends you | | | | The part of tacking the rejection letter on the wall |
| have, will either tell you what you want to hear or rip | | | | was no joke. Do it. Make a game of it. See how |
| your work to shreds just for the fun of it. Give it to | | | | many you can get. See if you get enough of them |
| somebody who has some knowledge of the material | | | | to wall paper your bedroom. See how many it takes |
| like one of your old college professors or high school | | | | before you get your first acceptance. That's right. |
| teachers if you can find them. If you can join a local | | | | Think positive. Tell yourself under no uncertain terms |
| workshop to get feedback, that's always a good | | | | that you WILL get your work accepted. Attitude is |
| thing too. Get as much feedback as you can from as | | | | everything. |
| many sources as you can. Most likely some of it | | | | The above is not a magic formula. Sure, you're going |
| won't be glowing, especially if you tell them to be | | | | to feel rejected when you get one of those letters. |
| honest because you are thinking of submitting the | | | | But if you turn it into a positive it will help you get |
| work to a publisher. | | | | through the number of rejections that are surely to |
| Every time somebody says something negative | | | | come. |
| about your work, think about how you feel about | | | | Just remember to tell yourself one thing. If you give |
| the comment. If it hurts, deal with it. Come to terms | | | | up, you have no chance. As long as you keep trying |
| with it. Tell yourself that you're not going to let a | | | | there is always hope. |