kristaphillips I am so excited! I received my first rejection letter today!
I know, I know, why in the world am I excited about being REJECTED??
Well, here is how it rolls. I figure that every author has gotten rejected the first time. There may be those wonderful exceptions, but I am pretty sure they are rare. Therefore, since I am going to get rejected first anyway, it is best to get it over with now! I got the first one out of the way, and am now pumped up and ready to prove him wrong! Rejection can do one of two things: It can defeat you, or it can empower you. I am choosing to be empowered!
The great news is that I got a little comment too, which I am so excited about! He noted that it was a nice idea, but my craft needed work. I COMPLETELY agree with this! You see, the version I sent him was a rough draft. I just didn’t know it was a rough draft when I sent it back in March. I was so proud and excited and mailed my proposal off. My baby was officially out of the nest, and I sat back with giddy excitement.
A few weeks later, I was reading my MSS again, and realized that I couldn’t stand the first five pages. The beautiful manuscript that flowed perfectly and had wonderful hooks and descriptions just a few weeks earlier was now stark, ugly and just down right confusing. I would have rejected it at that point, too.
So, I cracked my knuckles, sat down at my laptop, and started writing again. I rewrote the first five pages, and did a bit more editing of the rest. The outcome is 100% better!! It is still not perfect, but is a night and day difference from the previous version. Every day I learn something new, hear a tid bit of something, and relook at my manuscript with new eyes. It is still a work in progress (although completed) but is getting to be a much better work in progress!
This agent also recommended I become a member of the ACFW (which I already did about a month ago, check that off the list!) and recommended I attend their annual conference in September. I had already planned to go as long as God provides the $$, which I am believing He will!!
My next step is: Frame my rejection letter. After that, it is off to editing land I go!
Congrats on your first rejection. You’ll always remember it because to me it makes you an official writer.
Be proud of your self because there are many people who never submit.
Learn the craft and keep submitting.
Thanks for your encouraging words!
That is exactly how I felt, too! That rejection marked the first acknowledgement that I am indeed a writer! WOOHOO!!