In the August (09) edition of The Writer magazine I read an interesting article entitled Bumper-Sticker Wisdom. Ms. Jasheway-Bryant said:
Since rejection is an unavoidable part of writing, it pays to have some other approach to it than curling up in the fetal position. My own ritual is to write a mock “Rejection Letter”, which I personalize to the situation, but generally reads something like this.
Dear Editor/Agent/Publisher
We’re sorry but we’re unable to accept your rejection letter. Although we felt it was well written and we like your style, we must turn it down because:
—-You did not include a SASE
—-We are not in the market for rejection letters at this time
—-We have rejection letters similar to this one in our inventory
The author states that she never sent the letter, but as every writer knows, imagining it is almost as good.
What do you do when your submission hits the wall?
I LOVE the letter! What a clever thing to do – and it made me laugh out loud, which is good for my mental state and my immune system!
I’m still working toward the day when my personal tale ends up in one of those anthologies of pain.
You know, “Rachel’s manuscript was rejected by all the top-selling agents and publishers in New York. Now they are all sick that the same manuscript has spent four years on the bestseller lists and she’s being touted for Nobel Prizes for Literature *and* Peace.”
What a wonderful letter, Jodie! So far my response to rejection has been a rather pathetic self-pity session, followed by reviewing all my options. i.e. What else can I do with this masterpiece? I decided to keep it on hand as a back up – should my next opus sell. If the editor asks me, “What else do you have?” I can honestly say something. By then, hopefully I’ll have the skill to polish it and bring it up the anyone’s standard. Or am I just dreaming?
LOL, Jodie! This cracked me up! You can definitely turn this into a marketing tool. Let’s talk.