I guess I'm a real writer now

[Whispersecret]

Some of you might be interested to know that my erotic novella was rejected by Kensington. I thought I'd post that info since I so carelessly mentioned that I had sent it there several times. After some wallowing, commensurate with the amount of hope I had harbored, I'll find another house to send it to.

 

[Datadr]

I guess you are ( a real writer now). What a thrill to be able to be so confident in a piece that you could actually submit it to a "house". Turned down, so what. Ever had a low vote here at lit? This is no different, you just haven't gotten your novella in front of the right person.

Sorry, I have to say "Congratulations" you have already accomplished more than most of us. Jealous, yea I'm jealous, but with enough hard work maybe I can catch up to you, and get my first real rejection. Geeze, an actual turn down. What a motivator.!!!! Don't you dare give up.

 

[MaxSebastian]

Bad luck, whispersecret. Did you get any reasons why you were rejected?

If one publisher rejects you, though, and you honestly believe that your submission is as good as you can make it, you should be posting your manuscript off to another publishing house. If that one turns you down, send it to another - and so on.

Publishers turn stuff down for all kinds of reasons not related to how good it is, so if you're fully satisfied that there's no more work to be done with your piece and if you keep sending it to different people, something might just come of it all.

Now if I could just get enough time to finish my own off... ever feel like there's never enough hours in the day?

 

[MaxSebastian]

I really have to get rid of this 'Virgin' tag. It's so demeaning.

 

[KillerMuffin]

3 more posts and it's gone.

Okay, WS, you can buck up tomorrow. Today, though, chocolate party at your house. We'll all curl up on the couch, watch really bad soaps, eat lots of decadently delicious chocolate things, and cry a lot. Maybe we should watch stuff like an Affair to Remember instead.

Damn, girl, and you're a damned good writer too.

 

[Mickie]

Whisper --

I read that novel, and it's good. Don't despair. Kensington doesn't do much erotica, more along the romance line. And, to let you know that you aren't alone, I've been rejected more times than I can count. (And by people who don't know a comma from a crowbar!) Now the game really starts. Head for Preditors and Editors and get yourself a publisher! Don't let one rejection get you down. There'll be plenty more before you're finished. Then, you get that single acceptance and it makes all the rest worth it. Believe me. You'll get there.

Mickie

 

[Whispersecret]

Thanks for the encouraging words everyone. I have news for datadr, heh heh. You can get a rejection now if you want. LOL. They're pretty easy to come by.

Yeah, perhaps the right person hasn't seen it yet. I know all the stories of the best selling authors who have all been rejected. I'm exchanging email now with a favorite published author of mine who has been recently rejected herself.

Right now I don't feel much like writing, but at least I'm not reeling like I was last night. A good cry in my husband's comforting arms helped, even if I didn't fall asleep until about 1. My mind was roiling with second-guesses, unanswered questions, and argumentative rebuttals to the statement on the rejection letter that my characters didn't connect deeply.

When I woke up, I realized something. I think I know why they rejected it. I unwittingly broke one of the cardinal rules of romance. The hero slept with another woman several times after he fell for the heroine. Even if it was in a fantasy world and he realized the extreme error of his ways, I guess that's taboo. I understand that. It's a sin romance readers won't tolerate, so a publisher won't bother publishing it. So, it's either change it, or send it to another house that isn't aiming so much at the romance market, and more toward the erotic market.

As for the chocolate party, I already gorged on a big piece of my birthday cake. I'm thinking another piece tonight might not be a bad idea. As for the movie, I'd rather be here with some people who understand and support my misery. Thanks, people.

 

[CelestialBody]

WhisperSecret

 

[Whispersecret]

Dear CB, thanks so much for your kind offer. The funny thing is, I have read Susan Johnson's stuff, and her publisher is Kensington, the company that rejected my novel. LOL. I sent my novel to them specifically because I love romance and I love erotica, and I combine them both. But somewhere along the line they feel I fell short.

 

[poohlive]

I feel it a refreshing change getting a rejection letter, cause anyone that I ever give my work to all tell me that it's great, or it sucks.
Well, etiher way they aren't experts on the material. Their job isn't to read my work and tell me constructive criticizm. It's nice to get a rejection letter with some constructive criticizm, at least that way you know where to go from there.
There was one place I sent a piece of work to, and the person told me it was a nice story, but they didn't feel like publishing it at this time?
I was a bit shocked. At least give me a reason, you know, the character wasn't developed very well, the story lacked energy, the plot was pointless. Something that makes sense.
Well, writing is what you make of it.
I do want to share my sympathies with you, I don't want to go cliche or anything (you're great, another publishing will pick it up, I love your writing) but I just want you to know I'm here to support you, we all are.

 

[Mickie]

Most places have a standard form rejection letter. It usually reads like this:

We have read your story and feel that, although it is a good story, it is not right for our needs at this time. Please keep submitting.


If you get a real letter from a real person with real pointers, consider yourself a step above the rest of the slush pile. Editors don't usually have the time to be pointing out each persons mistakes, and if they make the time, your work shows promise. The first time I got a detailed rejection I spent the next year following up on the suggestions. Whaddayano? I got an acceptance after I learned more and made those changes. It wasn't a great acceptance, because it was from an agent that later folded, but she was a legit agent, and still works for one of the larger firms in New York in some function, not in acquisitions anymore. But, the next novel I wrote was accepted immediately by a publisher with, at that time, a good rep. Again, the place is now undergoing some horrific problems that have undermined the good rep and I'll be hunting for a new pub again, but still, before it had these probs it was a great little place, and I'd been accepted.

Long story short, never give up. Keep learning, keep growing in your talent and you'll get there.

Mickie

 

[mlyn]

To: Whispersecret

Hello. I'm not sure which novel was rejected, but I went and read all 10 chapters of Hostile Takeover. I quite enjoyed it. My writing style is "romantica" more erotic than a bodice ripper, and more characterizations than porn.


Keep on writing, please.

 

[Whispersecret]

Thank you, mlyn. I will keep writing. Be sure of it. Just when I will, I'm not sure. I'd like to think that my block has to do with the holidays and my son's impending birthday and our trip to Palm Springs next week, and not much to do with being depressed about the rejection. But we're all very good at deceiving ourselves when we want to. I am not defeated, just delayed.