Hello! This week, I’m sharing some advice on one of the tougher aspects of the writing journey—rejection.
In this video, I discuss the emotional challenge of receiving unfavorable reviews and agent rejections, and offer practical strategies to cope, stay focused, and persist.
I emphasize the importance of focusing on your work and honing your query letter, drawing on insights from Janet Reid, the Query Shark. We also explore the story of T.J. Newman, a testament to tenacity in the face of multiple rejections.
Jane Cleland here! Interesting question about rejection – getting rejected by agents, reading bad reviews. It’s so demoralizing! How do you cope?
Well, first of all, never read reviews! There’s absolutely no upside. Even when they’re good, you get a momentary little flush of delight if it’s a good review. But you know what? Reading reviews takes you away from your current project. Keep your nose to the grindstone. Keep writing. That’s what will breed success.
In terms of getting rejected by agents, I like Janet Reid’s suggestion – Janet Reid is the query shark – and she says, if you send out 10 query letters and get no takers, there’s something wrong with the query. If you get takers, but no nibbles, there’s something wrong with the manuscript, the book. I think that’s a very methodical and sensible approach.
Now, let us also remember T.J. Newman, who really hit it big with her first novel, ‘Falling.’ And she went, I think it was to a 42nd agent who took her on… 41 or 42. That’s the agent that took her on. So she had a lot of rejection on the way. You’d never know what is going to tickle someone’s fancy… either against or for. Things are just not everybody’s cup, Earl Gray.
So you’ve gotta be persistent. But first, think about the track record and make sure your query letter is good. Your synopsis, if that’s what they’re asking for, is strong. And the manuscript, of course, has to deliver on the premise and the promise.
You can do it! I know you can. Be strong, keep writing, and know that we all have to figure out how to overcome rejection. Put on your thick skin, get your nose back on that grindstone. Keep writing. I know you can do it.
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