It kind of stung but hey, did I really expect to get an agent right off the bat? I'm not THAT crazy! So it didn't sting so bad after that thought hit my mind. Doesn't mean it doesn't still suck.
But, a few years ago, I read Stephen King's On Writing. I'll say that this is the only writing book I really liked and could read without getting annoyed with the author telling me how to do what I do, but that's off topic. Anyhow, there was a part that really stuck out to me.
When I got the rejection slip from AHMM, I pounded a nail into the wall above the Webcor, wrote "Happy Stamps" on the rejection slip, and poked it onto the nail. ... By the time I was fourteen ... the nail on my wall would no longer support the weight of the rejection slips impaled upon it. I replaced the nail with a spike and went on writing.I loved the idea of that nail on the wall for all the rejection notes. I don't know if it was the thought of being able to see them and use them as a drive to keep on it, or the therapeutic aspect of stabbing the rejections on a nail that I liked, still have no idea which one. So I decided that when I got to the point of sending out queries, I would have my own nail.
Then, I found this on a site called pinterest:
So I did.
Here it is with my first rejection letter on it:
I think it looks so cool! And it's right above my head as I sit here on the couch. A lovely reminder. I will continue to print up my rejections and stab them onto those nails until they get full. Then I'll tear them out and get longer nails.
I'll post more pics as they fill up more.
And as a bit of a bonus, I found this kinda cool quote from MaryJanice Davidson (an author I really like) while I was looking for the quote I posted above:
"I've got a folder full of rejection slips that I keep. Know why? Because those same editors are now calling my agent hoping I'll write a book or novella for them. Things change. A rejection slip today might mean a frantic call to your agent in six months."
How do you guys deal with your rejection letters? Would you ever do anything like this?
Laters!
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I like the idea of using a nail and then a spike! I like your board too. I don't actually do this with my rejection letters. I have a file. That's it. and I don't look at them often. I used to count them, but after 30 or so, I stopped. I have a word document where I track my rejections and successes. Now that is nice. It shows me that for every 9 rejections (average) I actually sell a story or poem. I haven't gotten the courage to query my novel yet. I don't think it's ready. But the short story and poetry markets are helping me toughen my skin.
ReplyDeleteI have a spreadsheet that I list my queries on, who I sent them to, when, and what their reply was and when. Once I get an acceptance letter, I'll probably put all my letters into a folder, or maybe I'll just let them hang and actually fix them to the board as a reminder of where I came from and what it took to get where I will be. Who knows.
DeleteGood luck when your start querying you novel. Short stories is a good way to thicken your skin. Should have thought of that before, but too late now! lol