tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post2997828706723884434..comments2024-03-27T01:07:03.944-04:00Comments on The Roses of Prose: Why I Hate Rejection by Jannine GallantAlison Hendersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12725250883303287946noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-41509781772064997992014-02-04T11:03:25.494-05:002014-02-04T11:03:25.494-05:00Chris, there must be a little masochist in us all ...Chris, there must be a little masochist in us all to do what we do!Jannine Gallanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17692098634695675967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-45924127300051756162014-02-04T07:33:46.585-05:002014-02-04T07:33:46.585-05:00Great, great post. I know I've got rejections ...Great, great post. I know I've got rejections that fall in most of your categories too. Sometimes I have to wonder if we're just gluttons for punishment, then a character whispers in my head, "No, you're not. Just keep writing."<br />Christine DePetrillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00527942532875216883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-51338057527438304882014-02-03T11:40:27.817-05:002014-02-03T11:40:27.817-05:00Hey Barb, maybe we should start a revolt to elimin...Hey Barb, maybe we should start a revolt to eliminate committees...<br />Jannine Gallanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17692098634695675967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-40811153267242390682014-02-03T10:41:13.298-05:002014-02-03T10:41:13.298-05:00Made me laugh. I have one of those the editor love...Made me laugh. I have one of those the editor loved it but the committee didn't like the villain. <br />Barbara Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10379534828904059584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-71389420462626675842014-02-02T23:45:00.107-05:002014-02-02T23:45:00.107-05:00Wow, Diane, someone was having a b%#ch attack that...Wow, Diane, someone was having a b%#ch attack that day! I bet we're all feeling better, knowing we aren't alone!Jannine Gallanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17692098634695675967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-81447049790658150092014-02-02T21:48:08.875-05:002014-02-02T21:48:08.875-05:00Good topic, Jannine. A rejection that sticks in my...Good topic, Jannine. A rejection that sticks in my mind was that my heroine (in a scifi romance) should be shoved out an airlock. Ouch! I guess she really didn't like the heroine.Diane Burtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03754105332297068271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-58375142784070606932014-02-02T14:43:41.977-05:002014-02-02T14:43:41.977-05:00"I wish I had loved it." is about on par..."I wish I had loved it." is about on par with the breakup line, "It's not you, it's me." Lame! I'd rather hear why she didn't love it. My skin is thick!Jannine Gallanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17692098634695675967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-44480636900730160422014-02-02T14:28:51.714-05:002014-02-02T14:28:51.714-05:00Excellent points, Jannine. I particularly get tor...Excellent points, Jannine. I particularly get torqued by the 'not enough sex' comment...at the same time my editor is saying I should dial back on the 'progress' of the relationship in my latest novel. Sigh. The reject phrase "I wish I had loved it..." drives me nuts. Rolynn Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09504770204968969467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-71885967193917534602014-02-02T13:10:11.427-05:002014-02-02T13:10:11.427-05:00Glenys, you must have been so frustrated! I guess ...Glenys, you must have been so frustrated! I guess timing is everything!<br /><br />Alison, we're fighting a losing battle with editors who have a specific idea of "in" careers. Another example of not really wanting something new and different!Jannine Gallanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17692098634695675967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-19357376820177290292014-02-02T12:46:59.641-05:002014-02-02T12:46:59.641-05:00My collection of rejection letters is still packed...My collection of rejection letters is still packed away so I can't share any specifics, but they were mostly of the vague, non-helpful type. However, I'll never forget the editor who rejected UNWRITTEN RULES because no one would ever buy the idea of a female bodyguard. Really!? I'd been to a presentation by an ACTUAL bodyguard who said females were at a premium because of their superior ability to blend in and protect female clients.Alison Hendersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12725250883303287946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-29305871120286446562014-02-02T12:38:09.445-05:002014-02-02T12:38:09.445-05:00Jannine - the rejection because of character caree...Jannine - the rejection because of character careers just shows how outdated the publisher is!Consider you had a lucky escape with that one:-) <br />Here's my worst/best rejection: 'I loved this book. The characters are real, the plot strong. Really held my attention. You are obviously a talented writer. However, we have just signed something similar, therefore I must pass but wish you success.' Grrrr!<br />By the way, the heroine in Saving Maggie (Crimson Romance) is a newspaper reporter/publisher....Romance Can Be Murderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12660460297680900886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-90182733872946948932014-02-02T11:57:49.779-05:002014-02-02T11:57:49.779-05:00All good points, Ally! Yep, if you're going to...All good points, Ally! Yep, if you're going to send out a revise and resubmit letter, Then shouldn't the rejection be based on the part you were asked to revise? FRUSTRATING!Jannine Gallanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17692098634695675967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-1920430869501903642014-02-02T11:34:49.097-05:002014-02-02T11:34:49.097-05:00Well, I guess we laugh to keep from crying, right?...Well, I guess we laugh to keep from crying, right? I agree, constructive rejections are great, but those that are ambiguous or totally off the mark are irritating to say the least. You are so right about the Big 5 saying they want something unique and different, but being afraid to take a chance. This type of thing is why I stopped submitting to the Big 5. I would rather handle my own career and work with small publishers and self-publishing than to beat my head against the wall and hear all these lousy reasons for not accepting my work. One of the many reasons I'm proud to be with TWRP is that we give clear, concise, and hopefully helpful reasons for rejecting. I can't count the number of times I've been THANKED for a rejection letter. ;)<br /><br />What the heck? Outdated careers??? And an editor who couldn't put your book down but a review committee rejects it? I think the Big 5 are totally out of touch with what readers want. They just keep churning out new books by the same authors instead of opening the door for new blood. UGH. Annoying.<br /><br />Sorry to be so wordy, but you've struck a nerve with all of us, I would imagine. Let's see, one of my most memorable rejections... <br /><br />I guess it would have to be when an editor said she loved Death Notice, but the way I went from first person in heroine POV to third person in others was a little distracting. She offered to look at it again if I revised to all third person. I did, and she came back with "I couldn't connect with secondary characters." REALLY??? You didn't realize that the first time your read it? All of my secondary character stuff remained the exact same in the revision. Alicia Deanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12003539473772776004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-72825211490394052452014-02-02T11:16:53.651-05:002014-02-02T11:16:53.651-05:00Yeah, I'll let you keep my story until I'm...Yeah, I'll let you keep my story until I'm old and gray on the off chance you'll change your mind and publish it. I don't think so! Glad I made you laugh, Margo.Jannine Gallanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17692098634695675967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-51785334994255112182014-02-02T10:33:50.403-05:002014-02-02T10:33:50.403-05:00First of all, I love your take -- and attitude -- ...First of all, I love your take -- and attitude -- on these rejections. One even made me laugh out loud. Hmmmm. I had to search far and wide -- yeah right -- to find a suitable rejection to share. Here's one on a short story sent to a magazine: Thank you so much for sending your material for our consideration. We liked your manuscript but will not be able to use it in the near future. However, we would like to hold your materials in the event that there is a good fit for it in the future. (Yeah, I fell for that one a few times for more a year before taking them back.) Another I love is from a different magazine after they'd asked for changes. A stock rejection letter with 'Sorry, but thanks for the revision.' All we can do it keep at it!Margo Hoornstrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00036077481652050799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-48009599324415321742014-02-02T10:13:21.785-05:002014-02-02T10:13:21.785-05:00Thanks, Leah, for validating my opinion about that...Thanks, Leah, for validating my opinion about that point. Honestly, in most cases I think they just make up an excuse instead of flat out saying, "We don't want to invest time and money in an unproven author."Jannine Gallanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17692098634695675967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9023937099212820339.post-696009220665974062014-02-02T07:27:49.496-05:002014-02-02T07:27:49.496-05:00I try to remember that rejection is always in the ...I try to remember that rejection is always in the eye of the beholder. For example, whoever came up with #3 (reporters and photographers) couldn't be more out of touch. I work in a newsroom in my day job. We focus coverage on our local community, and go we in depth--the things you won't find on CNN or even the local TV stations. That requires our reporters to fill much more than the traditional role of a reporter. They're responsible for getting the story online well before the print deadline. They're responsible for shooting photos and videos, again for our digital audience. They're not just reporters, they're multimedia journalists. The photographer's job is essentially the same but with newer technologies and tools. They're still the ones who are responsible for capturing a story without words, and that's a skill that never goes out of date. One of our photographers shot pictures of homeless people in our town and posted one each day on his Facebook page during "the holidays." It was an amazing collection of photojournalism.<br /><br />Sorry to get on a soapbox, but that struck a nerve!Leah St. Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11004006100786260893noreply@blogger.com