Dealing with Rejection Letters from Agents and Publishers

If you're reading this article, you should know that it is written by an expert in rejection letters. They pile up in the corners of the office, they double as coasters on the coffee table, and they've brought more than a few bucks at the recycling center. Receiving a rejection letter is never fun, but here are a few things you should consider when you receive a rejection letter:

1.) Don't take it personally. Unless the person sending you a rejection letter knows you personally, it probably isn't personal. Most industry professionals don't have the time to bother getting personal with people they don't know, and are not very professional if they spend their time belittling strangers. If you get a letter with any specifics concerning your project, it is likely because they felt your project deserved their attention, if not their acceptance.

2.) Remember, you are not alone. This isn't in the space-alien sense of 'we are not alone'. You are not alone in being rejected. Virtually every author you can think to name has been rejected, and rejected often. Stephen King? Rejected. Frank L. Baum? Rejected. Galileo? Persecuted (there are always critics). Rejection places you with some admirable company, if some not so admirable at the same time.

3.) They're probably right. Often, a rejection letter includes in the message something to the effect of 'this isn't right for us at this time', or 'we don't believe we can give this project the necessary attention'. Either of these statements are probably true. Someone who cannot get behind the project enough is doing everyone a favor by not becoming involved. Do you really want someon who can't give your project the necessary attention, or that think they are not ready to handle it?  As tough as it may be, you actually want these people to reject you. Your project deserves the most attention it can receive.